In this age of individualism I can still see the Anzac tradition of mateship.

Just when I think that the younger generation has been spoiled by instant gratification and an inflated sense of themselves, I see the willingness of our country’s youth to contribute to the community.

Our local Anzac day march today was well attended. School students made up the majority of the marching public, along with the older generations of returned soldiers and their families. It was a pleasure to see this sense of togetherness.

What is it about Anzac day that inspires all generations of Australians to come together?

John 15:13 says:

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 

This extract has long been associated with our Anzacs, and I can’t help thinking that it is this great  ‘spirit’ of love and sacrifice that attracts us each year to the marches and memorials. We want to pay respect to the spirit of the Anzacs. We want to give back. But what about the rest of the year? What can we do to carry on this spirit of giving?

Very few of us will ever have to make the decision to lay down our lives for another, but we can love one another each day. Sometimes it’s just a smile and a hello. Sometimes it is a good deed done without thought of repayment. Sometimes it’s a small gift, sometimes it’s a great one. We can show this selfless spirit in so many ways.

So when tomorrow comes, think about what this spirit of love means to you, and how you can foster it in your community each and every day.