Here's my research...

This blog was started to chart my sabbatical, and the research I did while travelling. It ended up including far less research, and far more odd thoughts, than I expected - but that's OK. I've now written up my conclusions about retelling Bible stories to children. If you'd like to know what they are, please open up the pages above. (You can do this by clicking each page.)

By the way - this seems a very messy way of adding an article to my blog, but I haven't been able to find a better one. If you'd prefer a Word copy of the article, please let me know. And if I discover a way of adding a Word document to this blog, I will do so...

Loss

I lost my 'cello teacher this week. (Sounds a bit careless doesn't it?) Having wanted to play the 'cello since I was 10, I eventually made it 31 years later. An inheritance from my much-loved Granny paid for an instrument and a few lessons. I had no idea it could take so long just to play in TUNE (!) - but two and a half years later, I still love learning.

But now K, my 'cello teacher, is leaving. I heard this week that we only have one more lesson together. In truth, I'm gutted. I've really enjoyed her lessons. But it's more than that. At the time I started, I was really quite ill. I'd had to pull out of most of my church commitments, which meant a plethora of free evenings. Probably for the first time in my adult life, I truly had the time to learn an instrument and practise it each day. My 'cello playing has accompanied my gradual move from sickness to health, and K has been alongside me throughout. So losing her is a bit of a shock. I'm feeling a little bereft.

K isn't my only loss this summer. Just before my trip, I had my last meeting with M, my counsellor. While K was accompanying my painful screechings on the 'cello, M was accompanying an even more painful experience, as I ploughed my way through the horrors of deep depression. My current health is largely a tribute to M's wisdom, skill and kindness. There is much to celebrate in regaining my health, but it was still very difficult to say goodbye.

So, I've lost two significant people in two months - people I have seen weekly for over two years. And it's got me thinking. Relationships matter so much to us - and much more, of course, when they are close family or friends. Loss is a regular part of our lives. But the loss of these two relationships made me think of THE relationship. The loss of two people who have been important in my life, points me back to the ONE who is all-important. In John 6 v 39, Jesus says this: 'This is the will of Him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that He has given me, but raise them up at the last day.'

My wonderful Saviour will never lose me. That perfect relationship is secure for eternity. We experience loss now - and it hurts - but there's no need to fear losing my Lord and Saviour. My hope is Him is certain.

Different... but the same

Well, I'm back. It was a l-o-n-g journey, made perfect by spending 51 minutes waiting at the baggage carousel at Heathrow. (Yes, I am that sad person who times how long she spends at carousels. I'd like to blame it on jetlag, but it wouldn't really be true.) I then spent the weekend mostly comatose, trying to adjust to my fourth shift of time zone in six weeks. The general consensus since reappearing from my cocoon is that I look rested and refreshed. The photo was taken yesterday, so you can decide whether you agree.

Am I glad to be back. Oh Yes! Did it live up to my longings? Not really. Towards the end of my trip, I was longing for home, and especially the peace and space that go with it. But the peaceful, spacious flat I craved turned out to be cramped, cluttered and a bit claustrophobic. Maybe it's because I've been staying in a series of large homes. Maybe distance made the hearth grow bigger (!). Even though it's been great to catch up with family and friends, I have to confess that my homecoming was a bit of a let-down.

BUT it's got me thinking about the perspectives I've gained from my trip. It's easy to get ensnared by the novelty of other countries and the allure of foreign fields. However, one thing I've learned this trip is that many things are different, but actually the same. The country and culture may be different, but 'doing life' is still the same. Ministry may have a different flavour, but essentially it's still the same. The children we work with have different accents (and deeper sun tans!) but we teach them the same Bible and introduce them to the same Lord. And as I wander round creation - Yes, I relish seeing different delights I haven't met before, but they still point me to the same Creator.

I enjoyed an early-morning stroll along a nearby stream. I've never been there at 6.30 am before - definitely a plus-point of jetlag! The birds were in full throat. Less raucous than their Aussie cousins (although I did actually have a small flock of parakeets wheeling overhead!) The walk was great, and gave me a chance to reassess my feelings of disappointment at feeling so crowded and quashed at home. I can never admire creation without looking to the Creator. This time, He reminded me again that my home isn't in Surbiton. It's with Him. And when I finally see Him face to face in the new creation, there's no risk at all of feeling let down. Thank You, Father!

The funnest thing you can do on water?

Yesterday was easily the funnest day of my trip! After an early meeting (not the fun bit!), my god-daughter and I caught a train (I love the Sydney double-decker trains!) down to Circular Quay and went jet-boating. Lots of screaming. Lots of being thrown around. Lots of getting wet. It was the funnest, coolest, wettest joyride you can imagine. :D

After a lazy lunch, overlooking the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, we then mosied on to the cinema, for a lazy afternoon with the Fantastic Four, lounging on the most comfortable cinema seats I've ever met. Then we wandered back home, for a special meal with some very good friends (accompanied by some very, very good Shiraz.) :D

I head home tomorrow - and I'm still really looking forward to being home - but it's been lovely to have such a yummy day at the end of my trip. :D

Longing for home

I flew out of Heathrow five weeks ago today. I am SO ready to go home!! I love Sydney. I loved New York and Vancouver, too. But I'm now longing for home. It's not that Surbiton is that exciting - it's not in danger of winning any favourite town awards! The first photo shows Berrylands railway station - which is only three doors away from my flat. You can see what a picturesque area I live in! The second photo is Sydney Opera House, where I enjoyed a performance of Othello on Thursday night, and which was declared, that very day, a world heritage sight. Surbiton or Sydney? There's no contest really.

BUT Sydney isn't home. I miss home. I miss my friends. I miss my family. I miss work (honestly!). But most of all I miss the peace and quiet of my own home. For the past five weeks I've been with people all the time. I've stayed with great people - all of them - who've been welcoming, kind and generous. Really terrific. But I am SO ready to have some time on my own - my own space, and no noise. It's the PEACE and SPACE I can't wait to get back to...

I was reminded in this evening's sermon that followers of Jesus are all living away from home. Our home isn't in Sydney. Or even Surbiton. It's with Jesus, in the new creation. One of my favourite books is Philippians. In 4 v 20-21 it says this:

'Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.'

New bodies - a new creation - and seeing our Lord face to face. I really am longing to get back to Surbiton - but, oh, what a wonderful future home I have to look forward to!

More thoughts on why God made trees

I met up with a friend this week, who told me about a book he's been reading - Cat and Dog Theology by Bob Sjogren. I haven't read it yet, but I'd like to. The title is based on an old joke:

A dog says, 'You pet me, you feed me, you shelter me, you love me, you must be God.' A cat says, 'You pet me, you feed me, you shelter me, you love me, I must be God.'

My friend mentioned the book, because we'd been discussing my musings on why God made trees. He pointed out that we can tend towards a cat-like view of creation - that it was created for us and our pleasure - rather than a dog-like view - that God created it for Himself, for His pleasure and glory.

Hmm... I was out walking again this afternoon, and pondering this as I walked. Why did God create wonders in the ocean depths, which people will never see? Why did God make the whole of the Great Barrier Reef a stunning jewel of delight, rather than just the bit that the tourists visit? It can't be for us! (Although my realisation a few years ago that the majority of the barrier reef would never be seen by humans, led me to an increased wonder at the lavish creativity of God, simply because I couldn't see it for myself.)

Romans 1 v 20 tells us that 'since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made'. Psalm 19 v 1 says that 'The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands'. Creation points us to God and His glory. That suggests to me that creation is made for God - but also for us. And it's wonderful. I'm so glad we're able to share it.