Giving yourself to Jesus
One of the things that has come through the current inspiring discipleship course that I have been attending - ‘Practising The Way’-, is the need to commit to becoming an apprentice of Jesus. It requires a full bloodied commitment in the same way that Jesus’ first disciples literally left their livelihoods to follow Jesus in a totally whole hearted way. In modern society we find that ‘all or nothing’ approach really daunting and we often fall short, sticking with the life we have rather than the life God has prepared for us.
One shining example of what can happen when we are totally obedient to God is the remarkable life of Clare Crockett, someone you may not have heard of. She was born and lived in trouble torn Derry City (or Londonderry depending on what side of the Irish Sea you are from!). Growing up during ‘The Troubles’ in Northern Ireland of the 1980/90s she was an upbeat and full of life teenager. As a young woman she did what people of her age did – drunk and smoke too much, partied hard and loved going out with boys.
Clare also was a bit of a self-confessed ‘drama queen’. Her desire was to be famous, and she was very talented. At the age of just 14 she had her own acting agency, she went on to become a Channel Four presenter and appeared in a major feature film (‘Sunday’ with ex Dr Who Christopher Ecclestone) but despite her potential, and her fame, it was not enough to fill the void she felt within her. She once said “I achieved everything, but I had nothing”.
That changed when as an 18 year old she went to Spain in what was termed a ‘God-incidence’ (not a co-incidence) expecting to party some more but instead ended up on a pilgrimage. She attended a church service on Good Friday 2000, queued up to kiss the feet of a statue of Christ. She looked up at Him and later said: “I remember looking at Him and in that moment I felt the mercy of God. It was my sins that nailed Him to the cross. He loves me and He died for me”. She just cried and cried, realising “I had to change how I was living my life”.
She felt she was being called by God to be one of his ‘Sisters’ (a nun) hearing God tell her “I want you to live in poverty, chastity and obedience. If you do this, I will give you the grace and strength to bear it”.
Clare Crockett then gave up her family back in Derry, the partying lifestyle, her acting career despite the protestations of her agent that she was on the cusp of acting success, becoming ‘Sister Clare Maria of the Trinity and the Heart of Mary’ in Spain. There she travelled to the USA and Ecuador carrying out God’s work in teaching and missionary work for pupils, especially those who lived in extreme poverty.
In April 2016, an earthquake hit the town of Playa Prieta in Ecuador including the school Clare and other Sisters were teaching and living at. The building collapsed as she was trying to get the children and her Sisters back down the stairs. Her dead body was found with her guitar in her hand and with arms protecting children. The earthquake in Ecuador killed almost 700 people and injuring more than 23,000. Clare was just 33.
Her death was reported around the world, and her body was repatriated back to Derry for her funeral mass. Although as a young person she wanted to be famous and get on the Hollywood red carpet, she lived a much more productive and God driven life. Various miracles have been attributed to her and the work she did. It’s a great example of what can happen when you truly give your life to God.
Tags: Dr Who, Derry City, Londonderry, Christopher Ecclestone, Channel Four, Clare Crockett, Playa Prieta