Knocked out by training day

Why was this delegate flattened at a recent training day for children's leaders? Answers on a postcard to... (or add your suggestions to this blog)

My mystery bird

Here it is - it's an Australian White Ibis, and they're BIG. I was excited to see such an exotic-looking bird on my travels - but apparently they're a bit of a pest. As are possums, even ones that have just alighted from the Parramatta train. They're still cool, though!

Snatched time and growling playgrounds

It was back to my beloved trees today - Australian ones this time, rather than Canadian. Having worked extra hours yesterday, I unexpectedly had free time this afternoon. There's something delightful about snatched time - freedom when you weren't expecting it - that makes you walk tall and breathe deep. Bliss! My walk took me to the depths of Flat Rock Creek, scrambling over rocks to reach the bottom of the gully. At one point I veered off the path, through the undergrowth, to reach a spot of dappled sunlight I hoped would photograph well. Suddenly, I remembered this was Aussie undergrowth I was invading, and that most of the creatures in it could probably kill me. I still took my photo, but didn't hang around for too long afterwards...

On my way back from the creek, I explored a delightful children's park. It had slides built into the rocks, mini roadways and bridges, a water pump to create your own creek and rocks carved into the shapes of jungle animals, which growled as you passed them. How cool is that! It made me want to borrow someone's toddler so that I had an excuse to do it all again. In a field next to the park, there was a large wading bird digging for its afternoon tea. (It was wading in the grass, not the water.) It had a white body, black tail, and a small black head with extremely long, curved bill for filleting out tasty morsels. I've no idea what it was - maybe the twitcher I met in New York could tell me. At the same time, two red and green parrots were circling and squawking overhead. Not a sight I see regularly in Surbiton!

Which reminds me - two days ago, while walking back from the station, I followed a possum along the pavement. I think he'd just got off the 17.54 to Parramatta. This is a great country!

Pure joy

Stop for a moment, and ask yourself when you last felt joyful? Where and when - and what were you rejoicing in?

Since I'm in the land of Oz, my mind inevitably goes back four years to a wonderful day snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef. I'd never snorkelled before. Never seen a reef. Never been face to face with such amphibious marvels. Never worn a lycra bodysuit before, either!! Apart from the lycra, the experience was wonderful, inspirational, enthralling, and has a special place in my memory. It was pure joy.

But I was ill at the time. Became more so later. And ended up in a psychiatrist's chair trying to establish just how deep my depression had become. When he asked me, that wonderful visit to the reef was the only happy memory I could think of during the whole of the previous year.

A subsequent training series on the Sovereignty of God meant wrestling deeply with my understanding of my illness. When things go pear-shaped, it's easy to doubt either God's sovereignty, or His goodness. But the Bible clearly shows that God is both good and in charge. So I ended up understanding that my illness was God's loving gift to me, and that He had brought it into my life because He knew it was the best way to help me to grow, and become more like Jesus.

What does all this have to do with joy? I heard a cracking sermon on Sunday (thanks Graham) from James 1. Verses 2-4 say this: 'Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverence. Perseverence must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.' I find that both encouraging and challenging. God works in us, through many kinds of trials, to bring us to maturity. We're in good hands! But what does it mean to 'consider it pure joy'? Is it a choice to view things in a particular way? Is it an action - a way of responding? Is it an emotional response? These are things I'm still pondering on...

A limey down under

Greetings from Down Under - where we're about to be lashed with gale-force winds. Anyone who thinks Australia is the land of never-ending sun should have been here for the past four days. Perpetual rain would be nearer the mark...

It's great to be here, though. I fell in love with Sydney six years ago, and it's still my favourite city. Today I took a day off (from preparing training material for Saturday) and hopped onto one of Sydney's fab double-decker trains. I ended up at Darling harbour ('all those boats, darling') and the Maritime Museum. I clambered over, under and through four ships (wishing I was a foot shorter) which bobbed ever more gamely as the impending gales drew nearer.

The replica of Cook's Endeavor is fascinating. They built in an extra floor to accommodate civilian scientists, with the result that you stoop through a four-foot-high deck reminiscent of the mezzanine floor in 'Being John Malkovich'. I also enjoyed a 19th century 3-masted barque, a naval destroyer and a sub (sadly, not yellow). I expected the sub to be the most cramped - but the Endeavor wins that battle with ease.

And why am I a limey? The title comes from the habit in the 19th century of British sailors being given lime juice to combat scurvey. On the Endeavor, they used sauerkraut for the same purpose. So, which would you rather be named? A limey (green and sharp) or sauerkraut (green and sour). What a sweet choice...

PS
If you're still wondering why one of my Thursdays went missing - see the comments on my previous blog. It's something to do with 80 days' worth of fairy dust!

One of my Thursdays is missing...

Yesterday was my last full day in Vancouver, mostly spent at Granville Island, as shown in the photo (meeting M, the nephew of a family friend).

Today, I jump on a plane to Sydney. I leave on Wednesday afternoon, nip over the date line, and land on Friday morning. But where's Thursday?

My trip lasts for 41 days - from Sun 27th May, to Fri 6th July. But I'm only going to experience 40 days. One of my Thursdays is missing! Has it gone for a picnic? Did it join Wallace & Gromit on the moon? Is it sulking somewhere? Is there an International Thursday Convention this week?

I know I've had the same number of hours, minutes, seconds as everyone else - but there's something solid and satisfying about experiencing a full day. I unaccountably feel cheated...

Giving in to temptation

Yesterday I wrote about one of my passions - trees. My guess is that a number of you agreed my views on that one.

Today, I gave in to another passion - but suspect you'll be less convinced...

I met up this morning with the nephew of an old friend of the family. He happens to live at Granville Island, in Vancouver. When I was here two years ago, Granville Island was my top priority for a visit. Was it for the famous market? No. Was it the craft shops? No. Was it the waterfront and views? No. It was...

Granville Island Model Trains Museum!

I'm sorry. I know most of you now have me cast off as a hopeless, sad member of the human race - but I have to confess that one of my passions is model railways. So when I found I had an hour to spare, I gave in to temptation, and went back to see the trains. It was a delight! :) And I found myself yet again wandering if I can somehow squeeze a layout into my small flat...

For those of you who are unimpressed - sorry - hopefully you'll find my next blog rather more erudite.
For anyone who is a fellow enthusiast - you can find out more here.

Why did God make trees?

This blog has been wriggling around in my head for days now. This is my first chance to access a computer and set it free...

My question is this: Why did God make trees?
He didn't have to. He could have created our world with just low foliage - or none at all - so why trees?

I've been in Vancouver for a week, and have managed three visits so far to my favourite woods. When I was here two years ago, I wasn't at all well. These woods were where I started to heal. So I headed back to them just as soon as I could. And found myself asking that question - why did God make trees?

• Is it because their height makes us look up?
• Is it the shade they give from the sun?
• Or the protection from wind and rain?
• Were they designed specifically to create those sparkling dapples of light, as it oozes through their leaves?
• Does their variety and beauty exist to point us to the creativity of the One who invented them?

For myself, I cannot wander under their boughs without my thoughts turning to the loving Creator they point to. They help me to look at things from His point of view, and regain His perspective when I have lost it. (I guess that's the opposite of 'not being able to see the wood for the trees'!)

Why did God make trees? I don't know - but I'm so glad He did.

Kindness and grace

I've been thinking about kindness recently - mainly because I've been shown so much.

* Some of it has been funny - like the man who helped me to escape when I got trapped on the wrong side of the barriers in the New York subway! (I had to crawl out...)

* Some of it has been very moving - I had a meeting with S, a children's author, who made a very kind comment about the personal cost of writing, and how we may be surprised by what God is most pleased with when we see Him face-to-face. (I'm still pondering on that one.)

* Some of it was so generous and unlooked for - my delightful hosts, T & C, in Connecticut were SO kind, SO generous, SO welcoming. It struck me that they had no reason for their kindness - they'd never met me before - it was purely graceful kindness.

My favourite definition of GRACE is that it is God's HUGE kindness to people who don't deserve it. I feel that I've seen little images of that grace this week - something I've greatly appreciated, and which has pointed me back to our wonderful God of all grace. What joy - as people who know we are undeserving - if we can say with confidence that, because of Jesus, we know God's grace and have the privilege of calling Him our Father.

Being surreal in Connecticut

It's fun being in the States. SO many new experiences:

* Staying in a Condominium (with my delightful hosts)
* Going to a clambake (clam chowder, followed by swashbuckling swordfish)
* Baking in the 90+ heat of the day
* Baking even more under the stage lights for our concert rehearsal
* Spotting wild turkeys (big) and chipmunks (small)

BUT my abiding memory will be the clambake, in a small hall on the beach, surrounded by windows. We were treated to a fantastic storm, with lightning flashes all round. Two choirs together, after a couple of hours of munching and drinking, inevitably started a sing-song. Hence I found myself standing in an open doorway, with the rain on my face, the lightning dazzling me from all sides, while behind me came a succession of rousing show tunes! Surreal...