The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.
Pablo Picasso

It’s another 10 year anniversary for Pádraig this year.

It was just two years after he had been knocked off his bike by Mr Couto that we went to Lourdes for the first time. I had just arrived from Dublin in Hamburg at 2am with his first wheelchair car, donated to him by good friends in Dublin, when we set off to Diepholz to catch the German pilgrim train to Lourdes at dawn. Two days and a night later we arrived. Despite the medical support provided by the Order of Malta on the train, we were more than nervous. This was his first trip after a year and a half in hospital. With more than one scare.

10 years after, three days ago, Pádraig joined a Dublin group and took a plane. This week, there are approximately 1,500 Dubliners in Lourdes. He knows many of them from previous years. Recognises them, shares with them one of his great smiles and waves when he sees old friends. Without them, this now annual trip, our whole journey, would not be possible. He is travelling, we are travelling On Eagles Wings.

Hundreds of young people are here who are going out of their way to help those who need help. Those who in their daily life have to fight for everything. Those who usually are locked away in nursing homes. Without much of, or no voice at all. Who are rarely asked what they would like to do next or whether they would like to go somewhere. Maybe for a meal in one of the street-side restaurants and cafés.

While the world has changed almost beyond recognition, Lourdes has not.

Strolling through the streets, really tacky shops still sell really tacky stuff. Marias of every size and colour. Candles that look like they’d burn into eternity.

Away from the tackiness, however, there is no place on earth coming even close to the spirit of Lourdes.. And getting out of my routine always allows me to see life in a different way.

Since we arrived here two days ago, it became increasingly clear to me that it is not us who help Pádraig. It is the other way around. He is helping us. To see, feel, and understand what is really important in life. To find what everybody is looking for and many people never find. Meaning and purpose.

It doesn’t take away the moments of almost unbearable sadness and those thoughts about “what if”. What if Couto had watched out for Pádraig and had put his foot on the breaks to avoid the car heading straight at him, rather than putting his foot on the accelerator? What if he had not crossed those double yellow lines and had stayed behind Pádraig for a few minutes, with a bit of patience, rather than thinking of his next appointment that he was rushing to?

I am thinking, in all my sadness and my tears, that there is another side to the devastating events of 12 years ago.

In a most terrible and at the same time most profoundly beautiful way, Pádraig has found his gift and with it the meaning of his life. More, he found purpose. He is making us better people.

By giving his gift away.

Sharing it with us.