By Sam Clear
Ten years ago I was trekking through Russia, 10,500km into a 15,600km walk around the world praying for unity when two drunken men attacked me. I think they were just bored and I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. The men beat me up, and in doing so snapped my carbon fibre walking poles in half and ripped the top strap off my backpack. I defended myself by grabbing them around the throat and locking my elbows out. I had a Russian in both hands and we danced an ugly tango down a snow-covered road. It was frantic. The men then began clawing at my hands causing damage that’s still visible today, before I was able to lose myself from them (by introducing them to each other with a thud) and run as hard as I could.
That fight could’ve been just a cool story to tell my mates when I arrived home, but here’s the twist; just before I was set upon, I happened to be praying a rosary and was meditating on the passion of Christ, specifically his docility before his aggressors. I couldn’t do that. I could not remain docile before my aggressors and let them take everything. I had every right to defend myself, but for the first time in my life, I realised that Jesus did too. He didn’t just have the right though – he also had the might. He remained docile. A fight in the snow on the side of a Russian road became an invaluable lesson in humility and the incredible love of God. Jesus loves us that much.
Every time I present myself at Mass now and I look up at the elevated Eucharist, His body given for us, I’m struck at just how humbling God’s love is - that the creator of the universe would become bread for our consumption. Love and humility manifesting before out eyes. Perhaps one day I’ll find those two Russian guys and share a laugh and a meal with them. Perhaps there’s even a chance we might be able to share in the heavenly meal. There’d probably better be some confessions heard first!
Setting out on the 16th of December 2006, Sam Clear walked 15,500km from the easternmost point of Brazil, through South America, Central America and North America, across Siberia on the Trans-Siberian Railway and on foot again from Moscow to the westernmost point of Spain, all for the sake of Christian unity. Having to find food and water every day and relying on the hospitality of complete strangers, he was mugged at knife point, threatened at gun point, bashed on the side of the road, came face to face with dangerous animals and experienced 80°C of temperatures from -33°C to 47°C, yet through it all what stood tall was God’s love in action under the most incredible circumstances.
Sam will be speaking at our inaugural Pints with Padre events for Parents and working with the School Staff of Holy Family School as part of their ongoing commitment to professional development.