A SPIDER’S WISDOM

Near the front wall of our home, sheltered a bit from the weather, is a tiny hole. Around it emerges a tiny all-encompassing structure, an intricately woven spider’s web, with dried bits of leaves to reinforce and protect it. A tiny spider and her family live inside.

The web is a net and storehouse for a snared fly or insect, food for a growing family. Looking at the nest, we believe there must be an escape tunnel leading away from any threatening intruder. Such is the creative wisdom and family care in the Creator’s provision for just one of nature’s marvels.

The psalmist knew about that. Maybe he was a priest daily at worship and service in the temple:

“How lovely is your dwelling place O lord of hosts! Nothing can match the majesty and holiness of this house of God. He is full of praise. His whole person sings with the joy he feels within the structure and atmosphere of the Temple of the Living God!”

And then he raised his eyes and saw tiny evidences of God’s wonderful love, care and provision for all creatures. There, in that holiest of places, amidst all the reverence and awe which surrounded it, ”even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O lord of hosts, my King and my God.”

Reflection: Read psalm 84:1-4.In church on Sunday, look for something small you have bypassed before as insignificant.Is there something you have missed or taken for granted? Praise God for all things small, which are equally important in the mind and eye of the Lord of hosts.

Bill Pugh

MARRIED TO THE MOB

A poem dedicated to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and their kin.

I yet know your faces, I know not your names, I do know your smiles, and of your cultural ways.

I understand your dreamtime traditions, love of the red earth you wander, the stolen generations; colonial plunder.

I know of your connections to the land, sky and sea, yours is a culture of traditions, in my belief something sacred, so important to see.

History is translated, passed on to further generations, through dreamtime and stories, proud and resourceful, your Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nations.

The respect all display to each of your elders shows, that with time, honour and perseverance, a community grows.

Tribal leaders and their wisdom speak of respect for the inhabitants of the land, of helping your mob, of lending a hand.

Your art and your music, it speaks to my heart. In its history and expression I long to be a part.

Can I share with you, what you have shared with me? Your troubles, your triumphs, a way of life shared in solidarity.

My stories, my heart and my life are all that I own; within them is room, enough for everyone to walk about, to roam.

We could sit for a time; laugh, cry and sing. I could get to know you; you could get to know me.

In my dreamtime space, my dreamtime place, I have planted something all are welcomed to see; chosen to protect us all is the love in my heart,

As large and strong as the sacred desert bloodwood tree.

Reflection: how can we as a nation better honour the contributions, history and culture of our Indigenous neighbours?

Russell Hawkins

THE GIFT OF FRIENDSHIP

The renowned deaf-blind trailblazer Helen Keller once said “I would rather walk with a friend in the dark, than alone in the light”.

One of Keller’s lifelong friends was her mentor Anne Sullivan. Sullivan helped Keller overcome the language difficulties imposed by her disability and paved the way for her to become the first deaf-blind person to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree. When Sullivan later became ill, her beloved student was by her bedside, comforting her as she passed away.

If we take a look at Jesus’ ministry, we learn that friendships can sometimes be hard. Jesus was mocked for dining with tax collectors, sinners and other marginalised people. When we become friends with people who are unpopular, we may be ostracised for showing solidarity with them.

Friends can also let us down. Jesus’ disciples fell asleep in Gethsemane on the night he was arrested. Judas betrayed Jesus to the Romans. Peter denied Jesus three times.

But on the cross, Jesus asked God to forgive those who crucified him. He gave his life for all of us, so that we can be saved from our sins. Truly, there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for his friends (John 15:13).

Reflection:

We have a friend in Jesus who will always walk with us in the dark. How can we walk with our friends when they are going through tough times?

Pauline Murphy

BEGINNING THE DAY

A long time ago in ourchurch school, we began the day with morning assembly, a Bible reading,prayer and hymns.

We often sang loudly Wesley’s great hymn Forth in thy name O Lord, I go, singing about tasks assigned by God to be fulfilled, cheerfully finding God’s presence in everything we do.Every moment watching and praying.Delightfully using all of our God-given talents.

But did we really enjoy learning algebra, logarithms, Latin declensions, and remembering lists of British Kings and Queens? And what about detentions for poor work, and lunchtimes spent picking up rubbish in the schoolyard?

Whatever our perceived value of some subjects, we learntthe importance of self-discipline. We learnt the importance of perseverance and concentration to achieve our goals.Our attitude to the tasks of each day and each year needed to be positive.

Discipleship involves acceptance of each task and duty with the right attitude, to ‘delightfully employ’ the gifts God has given each of us. It is not an easy road. But we can be assured of his wisdom, guidance and strength, as we go forward.

Reflection: Beginning each day with God is important. As a meditation, take time to consider Wesley’s words. See TIS 571.

Bill Pugh