Travel Teddy

"But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."*

I know that I am going to miss my home, family and friends, but I also know that I will not be alone. Not only am I travelling with a wonderful uni friend, Emma, but I will also be bringing along a teddy!

...home away from home: Tabulum the Teddy

'Tabulum' is an Australian Aboriginal name that means 'My home'. I chose it because I'd like him to be my reminder that...

My home is where my heart is

My heart is where my treasure is

My treasure is... in heaven.

Everything on earth however precious will eventually be lost somehow or other. While I am attached to my bedroom and home, my local shops and my fun job, my church and local community... I hope that I am also prepared and comfortable to leave it all behind and pick up other belongings and meet other people on my travels. Tabulum will feature in a few pictures like a Travelling Gnome!

My heart is toward heaven. I know that God loves me. I hope and trust in Jesus' promise that He has prepared a place for me in heaven**. And while I am here, exploring the world, I make it my aim to please the one who has given me a home that will last forever!*** How can I do that, what does it look like? Well it's multi dimensional, but here is a nice summary:

He has told you, O man, what is good;

and what does the LORD require of you

but to do justice, and to love kindness,

and to walk humbly with your God?****

And I hope that Tabulum will remind me of this.

*Matthew 6:20-21

**John 14:3

***2 Corinthians 5:9

****Micah 6:8

Promise?

"Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’"*

As I say goodbye to friends and family there is one thing in common with them all, a promise to stay in touch! I'm usually pretty good at keeping in contact, it's made especially easy with internet and social networking sites! But I don't just leave it at that promise, somehow each time people ask for me to stay in touch I promise that I will write them a postcard. This is a great idea, and would work splendidly, if I actually wrote down a list of everyone I was making that promise to and their addresses!

I have also promised a few friends that I will catch up with them before I leave, and as the days until I leave shrink I wonder how it's all going to work... but I will try to make sure it does! I have also promised people that when I get back we will catch up -how I am going to remember all this in my head I have no idea! But yes, I have made a lot of promises to many different people in the last few days and weeks. I hope some of my friends will remind me of my promises, so that I can keep them.

Nevertheless, it has got me thinking about promises and carrying them out. And the quote from Jesus above came into my mind. If I say 'maybe' is that actually yes or no? In some cultures -e.g. where I grew up in Tanzania- it means ‘yes’, in other cultures -e.g. in Australia where I live- maybe really means ‘no’. And if I say 'yes' but don't do it, I am letting people down! The context in which Jesus says those words suggests that we should avoid promising on anything that we cannot control or that doesn't really belong to us anyway.

Yet I know that a broken promise is hurtful. When someone says they'll pay you back, and it takes them a little longer than they said, it can put a strain on your trust. When someone promises to help set up or volunteer for something, and are late or forget, that can be frustrating. When I promise mum to help clean up the kitchen and then forget, it's disappointing. Even when I promise myself I will eat less, or walk more, or keep my room tidy, and then I don't do any of those things... It's disheartening!!

I guess part of being human means we are not perfect, and can't do everything we say or hope to achieve. We will let one another down. But that doesn't mean we should stop making promises! I think they help deepen friendships, build trust, establish an understanding, and enable partnership.

One of my favourite board games is RISK. It is played on a world map and each player has an army and a mission to capture certain parts of the world -or achieve world domination! Promises are essential to the game's functioning, in the form of alliances and treaties. I promise not to attack my neighbour on one side for 3 turns, so that I can focus on a different opponent, for example. Yet, in the world of games, part of the strategy -sometimes- is to break those promises while the “enemy/ally” is unprepared and vulnerable! Yet, I do not think that in real life one can or should use strategy as an excuse for breaking promises! Nor is it right to take advantage of people who are vulnerable or unprepared!

It reminds me of the lines of a song I sing in church, "And so we know that Your promises are sure"**. Even if I can't keep my promises, I know that there is one who can and does.  

"For no matter how many promises God has made [and he has made a lot!], they are “Yes” [answered] in Christ."*** 

God knows and commands the future, and so He can make promises and fulfil them. Christmas is an exciting time where I remember that God does fulfil promises.

So I will try and do what I have promised, and if (rather, when) I fail, please forgive me. I won't promise on anything that I can’t control, but say honestly: 'Yes, I will’ to the things I can, while “No, I won’t” to things I don’t plan to do. Letting my yes be yes, and my no be no, and trying to avoid the 'maybe' which is just confusing!

*Matthew 5:37

**'Thanksgiving' by Rob Smith 1988 (http://au.emumusic.com/thanksgiving)

***2 Corinthians 1:20

gray hair

"The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old."*

Two years ago I had my wisdom teeth pulled out. It was a dramatic moment in my life as I speculated if I had lost or gained some wisdom in the process! I usually opted for the first; I was now a foolish young adult, while I had been a wise teenager!

What shook me to the core on the morning of my first exam this semester as I brushed my teeth was a white glitter above my right ear! It was a white hair!!! Either the stress of exams is getting to me, or as I grow older I am becoming ever wiser, and this is the evidence of that?!?

Am I stressed? What would indicate that I am getting getting wiser?

Usually I enjoy exams; the trill of having to express to the lecturer all that I have learnt in that subject, and prove that even under pressure I can bring forth that information. It's a challenge, but makes me use my brain... something I don't do much of these days with google being so accessible! I like seeing my mind pull things together that I was unsure I had retained.

I rest on the knowledge that God is a great guide and has things planned for my life than are better than my understanding**. He also gives peace to those who tell Him what is worrying them. So when it came time to study during the study period, I handed over that time to God, that I might be productive. When I sit down in the exam, I pray that He will keep me calm and focused, and express all that I need to. This hope and peace is founded on God's promise....

"Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."***

So, that must mean that I am getting wiser!!!! :D ...and that news is splendid!
And another cool thing, I don't have to wait until I get gray hair to be wise. I can ask for wisdom now, even though I am young and foolish... (and strong?).
Indeed, I can ask God for more than just peace...

"If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking."****

So I ask my generous God to continue to give me peace and wisdom as my hair get's grayer with each passing exam...

*Proverbs 20:29
**Proverbs 3:5-6
***Philippians 4:6-7
****James 1:5

Reliable

"for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness"*

I have a laptop, a mobile phone, an ipod, internet access, a printer, a television, a radio.... they are useful technology, but they are temperamental. I trust them to do things for me, but sometimes they don't follow through. I rely on them for tasks like communicating with friends and family, learning about issues in the world, sharing information, enjoying movies and music, and any number of other things.

But my internet is slow, and recently has failed altogether at times. My printer is no longer on speaking terms with my laptop, nor the household computer! My ipod has frozen. My television only likes certain remote controls and needs to be moved depending on which channel we want to watch. My radio likes to sit crookedly or else it crackles and the antenna actually makes it worse! I was even rejected by the family car yesterday when it refused to turn on so I could go home!! I sat in the car park talking to the stubborn car, imploring it that the key could and would turn, and the car start! ...eventually it did work, but not after a long struggle! (ok, enough ranting!)

The sad thing is I don’t think I am alone in being disappointed in technology failing me. We continue to increase our use and hence reliance on technology. And when it stalls, or slows or stops, we panic! We don’t know how to live without it, myself included! Of course, there are some great things about technology; I’m not denying that, I couldn’t become a real Luddite (someone who opposes technical or technological change)!

Essentially, I just don't put as much of my hopes and expectations on technology anymore. They can be unreliable. (doesn't give me much hope as I step into a plane!!!) But there is one place, where my trust and hope have not been misplaced, where I have not been let down, and that is with God.

This year I have learnt some amazing things about God's faithfulness! Even when I don't reach out to Him or put my trust in His abilities 24/7 like He asks me to, He still finds ways to care for me, to grow me, to bless me. He surrounds me with people who enjoy my company! And when I do feel lonely, He comforts me, and gives me peace and joy. He will never leave me stuck in a car park with no way home, or freeze when I need to hear His love for me. He doesn't make me jump through hoops, or stand on one leg to get answers. His only condition is that I trust in His unconditional love or grace.

I am glad that I have something that is much more reliable than technology in my life! Something I can trust, that doesn't let me down!

*Psalm 26:3

messy or clean?

"And when all things are brought out to the light, then their true nature is clearly revealed; for anything that is clearly revealed becomes light."*

I like to keep the blinds down in my room, not because I have Heliophobia (fear of the sun) or Augophobia (fear of bright lights, glare, sunlight) or any other phobia. No, indeed, I keep my room relatively dark so that I don't have to worry about the mess I make.

The problem with opening my blinds (or letting my mother in :p ) and letting the light in, is I have to acknowledge there is a mess. Mess is not useful, hygienic, beautiful, comfortable or productive. Often by the time I notice, it has built up to the point there is only a clear path from my door to my bed (any teenager would get that, right?). It is only once I truly see it, that I have a chance of fixing it. Often, cleaning up is a task which takes me days! Because if you're going to do it, might as well do it properly! Why am I talking about this now?? Because, I have to tidy up!!!

As I prepare to leave home for a 6 month trip to Europe I realise that my room should look better than it does... my true nature is revealed in that mess, I am lazy! and I'm ashamed of that, as deep down, I like tidy rooms; they're fresh and orderly.

Unfortunately like my room, my life is messy. And so often I keep my eyes averted, my blinds down -so to speak. I am selfish, lazy, impatient, rude ...the list goes on. The truth is, even if I don't acknowledge it, those negative qualities still exist in my life. And by not attending to them they can be damaging to myself, my friendships, and my relationship with God. But they're not permanent traits to my character, these things can change. Until I acknowledge to myself, others, and especially God, that there are some things in my life that need fixing, why would I bother to clean it all up? It's fine the way it is... isn't it? Just avoid that corner, walk over the mess, ignore the desk... well, moving -or any other change or trial- can force us to acknowledge mess, in rooms and life.

There is a passage in the Bible that I find challenging but true (the 'I', is you and me; the 'you', is God)
"I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night—but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you."**

Whether or not my room is bright, it's still often messy. Whether or not I acknowledge the mess it my life, God can still see it and He cares enough to want to help make it tidy.

As I allow God into rooms in my life, to see the ugly mess that is there, He is great because he helps me tidy up. Not only that... "as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us."*** -He gets rid of the mess completely!!!

*Ephesians 5:13-14
**Psalm 139:11-12

*** Psalm 103:12

Under the Sea

“So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds..... And God saw that it was good.”*

**

I am so thankful for the invention of SCUBA equipment! It has enabled me, and many others, to explore a part of this planet the extent of which we have only begun to investigate.

The last time I went exploring below sea level, we saw a few Port Jackson Sharks! They were beautiful and quite docile, but it was still exciting to be so close to a wild animal!

There are three things I love about the ocean (and SCUBA diving especially); the feeling of freedom, the beauty of the ocean, and the responsibility to care for it.

Freedom: When one goes for a dive, you need to take a few things with you: weights to keep you below the ocean and air to ensure you don’t land on the bottom. When done properly, you can glide effortlessly. Soaring over rocks, around seaweed, into a school of fish, beside a Port Jackson shark... it’s just thrilling! And liberating! And playful! And reminds me of The Little Mermaid song ‘Under the Sea’:

...Under the sea
Under the sea
Darling it's better
Down where it's wetter
Take it from me
Up on the shore they work all day
Out in the sun they slave away
While we devotin'
Full time to floatin'
Under the sea....***

Beauty: The more I see of the world the more I am in awe of its complexity and many elements, yet simplicity and effectiveness. The Port Jackson sharks that we saw were so intricate and detailed, strong and striking, perfect for their environment. After the dive, as we told what we each saw, it was interesting to hear how different our experiences had been, despite going together. One said he saw 12 Port Jacksons, I thought it was more like 6-7, another thought it was around 4-5! Nevertheless, we all agreed that it was an awesome experience and that they were beautiful. I get really excited seeing a wild animal up close!!

Responsibility: I feel a great responsibility to care for the ocean. Maybe it is because I have spent the last 9 years of my life near it, but I also think it comes back to an age old duty handed down from Adam and Eve, given to them by God, to “Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”**** Since my first dive I have been picking up broken glass, empty cans, fishing hooks, plastic bags... it’s my little bit to clean a tiny part of ocean floor. Some may think it is pointless (hehe, sharps) to go to such effort picking up alien objects in the sea, but as a human I have an opportunity and responsibility to care for the environment I find myself in, or go exploring in.

Basically, I am thankful that God made all the amazing creatures of the sea; they are beautiful, precious... and good!

*Genesis 1:21

** photo taken near Bear Island, Sydney by my father, 2.10,12

***first chorus of Under the Sea, by The Little Mermaid

****Genesis 1:28

Mussel shell

"Never treat people in different ways according to their outward appearance"*

**

A while back, when I was still in school, I was walking along a beach collecting shells contemplating friends and people in general. When I picked up an empty mussel shell, I was delighted by what I discovered. The outside was rough, rather boring, and slimy with seaweed. Yet, when I opened it, the inside was rippling with colour, smooth and glossy, delicate and beautiful. I was overcome with the idea that such beauty is created and yet out of sight for much of it's existence!

As I gingerly held the mussel shell in my hand I realised that previously I had always looked at mussel shells as boring and not worthy to be collected and treasured. And much to my own shame, that is how I often saw and treated people. Despite the saying 'don't judge a book by it's cover', I did and often still do. I see a person in the street, at the shops, in my class, at a conference, in church... and by their appearance or behaviour, their accent or language, I decide if I will befriend them or not.

But deep down I knew that people are valuable. EVERY person has something to contribute to society. I realised then and there, on that beach, that I wanted to look beyond what I could see, to the individual people behind.

What I found, and still do, is a wealth of richness! Someone I originally thought was quiet and dull became someone with an awesome sense of humour. Someone who appeared loud and obnoxious became a person seeking to be appreciated. Someone I would naturally have assumed would have nothing in common with me, became a close friend. I began to see that behind all our masks -however beautiful we dress them up or ugly we view them- there is a valuable individual, worthy of love and respect and dignity.

Only once you allow yourself to see beyond the outward appearance, will you see the beautiful person inside.

*James 2:1
** retrieved from http://www.123rf.com/photo_4366818_closeup-macro-shot-of-half-a-mussel-shell-taken-against-beachwood-as-a-backdrop--deep-purple-tones-m.html

True Friend

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”*

I -like most, if not all, people- want to be a good friend.

In my short life I have learnt some of the ups and downs of friendship. (This post is not going to be a reminiscence of my friendships :p) however, it has appeared to me over time that there is a running theme or underlying principle to what makes a good friend.

It appears in the friend who shuffles around a busy life to spend half a day on the other side of the city simply hanging out. In the friend who decides to spontaneously buy you dinner. I see it in the friend who takes the time to ask -and listen- to how ones day/week/month has been. It’s evident by a friend doing things they feel uncomfortable doing, but know I appreciate. It comes in the form of a compromise in favour of the friend.

Whether it is attention, time, money, priorities, choices... When people lay down their own needs, desires, preferences, opinions and/or commitments to value someone else; that is heart warming stuff!!

I guess it can be summed up as laying down one’s life for another. Not literally ones life, but ultimately it could go to that extreme. Rather it’s in the small things like letting my time be spent cheering up a friend rather than buried in a book, or visiting an unknown place in order to fulfill a promise to a friend rather than stay in my comfort zone, or going to see a movie I know is not my genre but will enjoy nonetheless because I am with friends...

What that sort of friendship shows, is love. Not the kind of love that is romantic or the one that expects something in return (although it’ll probably be reciprocal). Sometimes, giving things up, can actually mean we gain more. Living “without” could result in a richer fuller life.

I’d like to love my friends better, I want to be more than a good friend; I want to be a true friend.

*John 15:13