Dear friends,

In the rush to return to normal, use this time to consider

which parts of normal are worth rushing back to.”

Dave Hollis

Christian Students Uniting presents the CSU CLIMATE FEST!

This unique event will focus on young people sharing what gives them hope and also what they know about living sustainably with the Church. RSVP here: https://bit.ly/ClimateFestEvent

Dear friends, 

A grandfather was talking to his grandson about his feelings. He said, “I feel as if I have two wolves fighting in my heart. One wolf is unforgiving, angry, and violent. The other wolf is loving, kind, and compassionate.”The grandson asked him, “Which wolf will win the fight in your heart?”The grandfather answered, “The one I feed.”

Traditional Native American parable

Dear friends,

Finding your joy.

There is no doubt in my mind that this year has so far been filled with struggle and disappointment on a very widespread scale. And when hope seems to rise up and encourage us to think that things will be better soon, something else happens that knocks us around and challenges our sense of hopefulness. Or maybe this is not as widespread as it is feeling to me at the moment?

I was catching up with a friend over the phone this week. She moved to Brisbane last year and it had been a while since we last spoke. When we started catching up about our lives and the conversation turned to work - she said to me, “Have you found you’ve been doing even more work during COVID-19?” 

Well lucky for me I spent two weeks on leave a little while ago - and it was marvellous!

While some businesses and organisations are asking their employees to take leave to reduce their overall liability during this period, I took leave purely out of the need to. I had originally planned on taking leave at the beginning of April to coincide with Easter. But changed my plans when the possibility of being able to “get away” became unavailable. I will hopefully find my way to Kosciuszko another time.

Dear friends, 

“Relax. Have fun. Enjoy life. Live in Christ”

Kennon Callahan 

Many, many years ago I read one of Kennon Callahan’s books prior to starting in a new ministry placement. It is one of my books someone asked to borrow and I haven’t seen it since, so I guess they found it valuable. (It is probably somewhere in South Australia. It had my name in it, so maybe it will return to me one day?) The book was called “A New Beginning for Pastors and Congregations.” At the time I really appreciated the book and what I could learn from it.

Dear friends, 

“By the rivers of Babylon — there we sat down

and there we wept when we remembered Zion.”

(Psalm 137:1)

(I wonder if you’re singing the song in your head as you read it too?)

Several conversations recently have focused on the theme of exile. Right from the outset, I want to declare that I have not experienced the devastation of exile — I have not been forcibly removed from my home or country, nor have I been forced to separate from people and places that give me a sense belonging and identity. On a small scale, although it felt large enough to me at the time, I have experienced being rejected by my childhood peers, and recall the loss of identity and “place” that accompanied the hurtful things my fellow schoolmates inflicted. And I have an active imagination.

Live & Laid Back w/ Liu & Andrew Episode Two featured an extremely powerful conversation with Chantelle Ogilvie-Ellis

Dear friends, 

“If you want to make everyone happy, don’t be a leader. Sell ice cream.”

(Eric Geiger)

 Amongst a growing excitement and thankfulness, I’ve been hearing from others and experiencing myself as restrictions have started to lift, and with a greater sense of emerging freedom to engage in activities we have been missing over the past several months, we are also encountering a rising concern as COVID-19 ‘hotspots’ have been growing in Victoria. It has very much felt like a reminder of what we might face across our nation if we are not mindful about following the guidance we are given through the Health Department and Government.

Dear friends,

“The bird sings in the morning to celebrate that it survived another night.” 

(Unknown author)

 I have a sense that there are many leaders and members of our congregations who are breathing a sigh of relief that the Government is beginning to lift restrictions on gathering. It feels like the early morning bird-song, even before it is light. A song of hope and trust that the night is almost over.