hope

Sometimes I surprise myself at how I can be blind to obvious solutions. For too long I have endured a load of stress trying to navigate Sydney traffic trying to get to appointments on time.

Traffic can be upended so easily if there is an accident or other interruption so we use a live traffic gps program all the time to avoid getting stuck in a jam. Even then though it can be unpredictable and frustrating.

For too long I have found myself getting very stressed trying to be on time. This morning driving to Tai Chi the traffic was challenging, then the obvious dawned on me.

I could turn this problem into a procedure by simply planning to arrive ten minutes early. If I am early I have some time up my sleeve. If I am delayed then I will still be on time without stress.

So simple, so promising.

I am in court today, this is so out of my comfort zone. The 3 year legal fight we recently endured, and won, means it’s quite triggering bring here.

Four weeks ago a lady fleeing domestic violence moved into the charity my Wife and I run. She has been in Australia for four months after arriving from Iran. Her abusive husband has kept her under his control and kept her as a virtual slave. In an attempt to escape she damaged some of his things and was arrested.

Today she will appear before the court in this matter. I have helped prepare a defence for her. Praying this case is resolved favourably and very quickly. I really don’t want to be here.

Update: The judge asked me to speak about the charity my Wife and I run. He asked lots of questions. He could see that living there offers an incredible opportunity for this lady to be safe and also turn her life around.

He put her on a 2 year good behaviour bond but more importantly recorded no conviction. This means she doesn’t have a criminal record. This is the absolute best outcome possible. I am exhausted but so happy.

Yesterday we drove 7 hours from Sydney to the town of Mallacoota. We are staying with good friends. 5 years ago this small town was engulfed by unprecedented bush fires. 300 homes were destroyed and 4000 people from Mallacoota and surrounding towns were evacuated to the beach for their safety. The navy had to send ships to rescue the residents.

This morning walking on the beach I saw this blackened tree that had been burnt in the fire but surrounded by new growth.

Our hard seasons might look barren and devastating. Yet, eventually hope of a new day comes. Hold on. Hope is calling your name.

Watching the memorial of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and Birkenau concentration camps has been very emotional.

Some years ago my Wife and I visited the Auschwitz camp as her Grandmother was enslaved there as forced Polish labour. It was harrowing and confronting in so many ways.

The depravity that humanity is capable off is frightening. The challenge for me is what do I do in response to this awakening. I can’t change history but I can change the future. How?

By loving those are different to me. By seeing everyone I meet as having worth. By practicing forgiveness and kindness. By being grateful.

By never forgetting.

Whatever you are facing right on. To the storm you are navigating. In answer to the desperate prayer you are silently praying. This is for you. You are seen. You are loved.

Seeing I have a perfect track record of keeping this New Year Resolution for 3 years in a row, I’m sticking with it.

Care to join me?

I resolve to drink coffee only on days ending in “Y”.

I am also aiming to send 1 encouraging text message to someone I know each week.

Happy Christmas everyone. It’s Boxing Day here in Australia. Yesterday was a great day. Catching up with family and friends, some we see once a year.

I know these days can have a range of conflicting emotions for many. Yesterday before my Mother in law arrived we all planned a way to manage her toxic behaviour. This largely worked.

I did choose to withdraw at times for some solitude. That was a blessing. My Wife knew not to panic, that me withdrawing at times was a necessary step.

I hope you find laughter and joy in your day. I am quietly confident 2025 is going to be a great year!!!

I was going through some old correspondence this week and I found a letter from an old friend, Colin. He wrote it in 1986, at the end of 1987 he died.

I will never forget the phone call he made to his Mum telling her he was gay. She had already figured that out. He then told her the shocking news he had AIDS.

Colin died aged 27. A life cut so short. In late 1987 he came to visit us. AIDS was fairly new and there was a lot of hysteria about it. Colin asked if he could hold our new born baby. We said, of course. He then asked permission to kiss her on the cheek. We said yes. He then burst into tears.

He explained his siblings won’t let him near his nephews and nieces. We had consulted a medical friend who assured us that AIDS couldn’t be passed on with minimal contact. I miss him a lot, he was a great friend.

I hate prejudice. I have seen it, all over the word, in many different forms. Racism, Ageism, Sexism, Gender prejudice etc.

Prejudice says so much more about biased person than it does about their target. God loves everyone, without bias or favouritism. That’s our example to follow.

Sometimes the ministry is a real challenge. Other times, you realise what a privilege it is to be able to make a difference in someone’s life. Today was one of those days.

My church isn’t big but they punch well above their weight. Today we delivered over 200 boxes of Lego to an agency working with families in crisis and 200 boxes of Lego to our local children’s hospital.

While at the hospital the chaplain saw two patients he knows and gave them a big box of Lego. The smile on the child’s face and also their parent, was absolutely priceless.

Tomorrow, as we do, every Friday we will give away 200 kilos of free fruit and vegetables, free bread and over 500 fresh meals.

Some people look at Australia and think it’s a land of abundance, and it is an amazing place to live, but over 3 million Aussies live below the poverty line.

Being able to make a tangible difference in people’s lives is challenging sometimes, but days like today, remind you why you keep showing up.