A lucky escape?

Today brought a rather hair-raising experience.

We had to travel from one town to another along the highway. The trip would take about an hour. As we drove along, we noticed the 4x4 car in front of us towing a caravan, which began to sway. The swaying became worse and worse, and as we slowed down the car crossed to the wrong side of the road, flipped, and ended on its side, caravan and all. The drivers were facing us, still in their seatbelts, stunned.

There were three other cars who quickly parked on either side of the highway and got out to help. My mother was in our car and she called the police as I parked in a safe spot. My kids watched the whole thing silently. Slowly the passersby pulled the windscreen off so that the couple could get out, and then they all stood at the side waiting for help to come.

For the next half an hour, I stood and helped to direct traffic, as only one direction could go at a time. My mother comforted the driver and his wife who were understandably shaken by the whole event. Slowly the other drivers melted away: one had to go to work, one was on his way to a funeral in Sydney. A tow truck driver arrived. He very helpfully handed flourescent vests to the two of us who were directing traffic (another man took the traffic from the other side). Then the police, the ambulance and fire brigade arrived, and finally everything was in the hands of the professionals.

It is a strange thing to witness an accident. Everything seems to happen in slow motion, yet details don't quite sink in. The one thing that sticks out is how well God looked after us in the whole event.

These are things I am grateful for:
* The driver and his wife were unhurt by the accident
* All cars in both directions were at a safe distance when the caravan lost its footing, so no other cars were involved in the accident. In a 100km/h zone, this is a great blessing.
* We were able to provide help to the couple until the police arrived, so they weren't left to fret alone.
* My kids were wonderfully patient, and even though we were on our way to a concert they waited quietly while we helped.
* Drivers going in either direction kept their heads, and let civilians tell them when they could move to the other side of the road.
* The police were lovely.

After it all calmed down, my son said "Well, that was a lucky escape!"

I don't think luck had anything to do with it.

Partisanship and other musings

As usual, I am procrastinating. I should be preparing a talk right now, but I'm blogging instead.

Never mind. :)

This morning, I've been meditating on our propensity to partisanship. It seems to be a very easy thing to divide into ever-smaller homogeneous groups. Perhaps it feels more secure to be surrounded only by people who completely agree with you. Perhaps the thought that someone might disagree is a far too threatening prospect for some. Perhaps being correct about issues is seen as more important than maintaining caring relationships between people. I've actually heard that as an argument for why women shouldn't be in leadership - we're too soft hearted and prefer to maintain good relationships rather than be right about an issue. I'm not commenting on that particular issue, but just on the question of whether we sometimes find it too easy to divide and separate.

Sometimes there is the necessity for partisanship. When someone is obviously in error and is leading others astray, then it's necessary to protect the group by separating from the danger point. However, it requires discernment as to when division is necessary, and division should always be a last resort after all mediation, discussion and reconciliation efforts have been exhausted.

But when is it not OK to be separate from someone? Having been to a college outside the accepted group, I have been blissfully unaware of certain divisions and separations that apparently I'm supposed to avoid. The focus was on commonality and cooperation in a college with students from 15 denominations. But the longer I've been working in a particular setting, the more aware of partisanship I've become. I've become aware of my own organisation's separateness, and also of those around who are trying to separate our people from us.

God is not of a single denomination. Each group that practices separation seems to operate on the principle that God is behind their individual decision. I have yet to meet anyone who knowingly believes they are wrong about a division-causing issue but holds on to it anyway. But as the great revivals and evangelistic crusades of the past have shown, God is more powerfully at work when his people are moved to prayer and to cooperation, rather than separation. As long as we hide behind a veneer of suspicion and partisanship, God is not going to bless our efforts to any great degree. After all, he would end up blessing little personal empires rather than people's quest for his glory.

Having just finished John Newton's biography (yes, it has taken a while, hasn't it?), one of the things that struck me was his affability with the dissenters. He worked in the established church, yet he wasn't particularly partisan. His chief loyalty was to Jesus, and that allowed him to have much in common with all others who followed Christ. He achieved a great deal by avoiding partisanship rather than spending undue time trying to make everything "correct".

A recent sermon I listened to asked the question "Does God have a sense of humour?" The answer is yes. The preacher highlighted the fact that God pokes fun at people "who take themselves too seriously, and God too lightly". Sometimes in our effort to be correct, we are instead taking our own opinions far more seriously than God's intentions, and the result is disastrous. If the gospel is to be shared to the ends of the earth, we're going to have to do it together.

Lord, help me to repent of my partisanship.

The Christian Onion

Back in my uni days, I was a great fan of The Onion*. It was a satirical online newspaper that poked fun at some of the overly serious American politics.

Now, I've discovered a satirical Christian version: Lark News. None of the news reports should be taken seriously, and only click on the link if you're willing to laugh at yourself.




*I haven't read it recently, so wouldn't necessarily recommend it these days...

Signs of Baby Brain, pt 457

Is this another sign of baby brain, or just a complete lack of taste in regards to humour?

Today, we went to a local dam where some sailing races were in full swing. Hubby mentioned his experience on a friend's catamaran, but accidentally pronounced it "catamarang".

My response: Is that the pavlova boat?



Geddit? Catameringue... pavlova boat... funny??


... Yet another example of "Dad Humour", I fear...

Which Star Wars Character are you?

Which Star Wars Character Are You? Your Result: Yoda You are a passive green creature with a speech impediment. You always try to find a peaceful resolution to your problems, but also aren't afraid to kick some ass if you need to.
Jar Jar Binks
Princess Leia
Luke SkyWalker
Han Solo
Boba Fett
Darth Vader
Jabba the Hutt
Which Star Wars Character Are You? Create Your Own Quiz

... and on a lighter note...

Moving now to disasters of a far less serious nature.

My ipod seems to have died. It's just an object, but it's one that has brought me a great deal of comfort. I've been able to listen to sermons and good music while cleaning the house or cooking dinner. The sermons, particularly, have been a great help. As a mother of toddlers, listening to the sermons in church is a hit-and-miss affair: sometimes I'm able to attend to them, but sometimes the kids are just too ratty at night for me to get anything, much.


I hope it's just pining for the Fjords...

Desensitive

Friday night. Sitting down to watch a movie, I flicked about as I usually do (I used to try and watch three at once, but with ad-break convergence I don't really bother any more). I happened on a deep and meaningful murder mystery.

The scene I flicked to was where a weeping woman talked of how to tell her son that someone was dead. And that's where it hit me.

Why on earth would this be entertainment? Through the medium of movies, we are dragged through emotional scenes, given glimpses of heartbreak and grief, shown family members in deep despair. The woman acting the part did very well. But is it entertainment? Should such a devastating event as the death of a loved one be reduced to a two-dimensional caricature?

Do we become desensitised to the reality of grief by watching it in neat, 3 minute TV scenes?

How is it entertaining?


I stopped watching a lot of the crime shows a while back for the very reason that it seemed to make me callous to the human realities behind the whodunit. The real human relationships and loss were secondary to the shallow discussion of which family member/close friend/ former lover had been the guilty one. They also seemed to go for ever more sensational deaths and situations, which just served to harden you all the more.

All entertainment to a certain extent makes you an observer of life rather than a participant in it.
Sometimes, however, it feels more like manipulation than observation.

Easter Hops around

It's on the way again, and to start us going I thought I'd make a list...

Things that frustrate me about Easter:

1. The Name. The links with the pagan goddess Eastre are really hard to explain to kids who ask why a festival about Jesus has such a funny name.
2. The Chocolate. OK, I actually reeeally like the chocolate. But it's given me far more weight than I'm happy with, so I'm left in a no-win situation at easter. I want the chocolate, but I don't want to go up two dress sizes. I particularly like the Red Tulip Elegant Rabbits...
3. The Bunny. It's a fertility symbol, transformed into the Santa Claus of chocolate eggs. My main frustration is just that it becomes the default present for the anti-chocolatiers. "Your kids shouldn't have chocolate? Here! Have a stuffed rabbit!"
4. The Shops. New Year is barely over and we're bombarded with shelves of hot cross buns and chocolate eggs. Can't they wait until March???

Things I like about Easter:

1. Remembrance. The three-day reminder of Jesus' sacrifice. It's great to have that real-time sense of how the disciples might have felt on Friday and Sunday.
2. Chocolate. OK. It's in both. I just like it, alright!
3. Family traditions. We had little Easter traditions when I was a kid, like a treasure hunt and bible story times. I'm looking forward to continuing those with our kids now that they're a little older and able to understand things more.
   

What are your frustrations and joys?

Out of the Mouths of Babes...

During play time with Eldest yesterday, I asked him which of his toys he would like to focus on.
His response came with index finger pointed in the air:

"Ding! I have an idea!"


... he's doing his own sound effects, now.

Baby Brain kicks in again...

Yes, I'm about two weeks late in discovering this news, but here you are: more evidence that having children affects your brain.


According to the Sydney Morning Herald article (link):

An Australian analysis of 14 research studies around the world since 1990 provides "clear cut findings" that pregnancy impairs memory for up to 80 per cent of pregnant women and new mothers.

The study by the University of NSW and Australian Catholic University compared the memory performances of more than 1000 pregnant women, new mothers and healthy non-pregnant females.

"The results indicate that pregnant women are significantly impaired on some, but not all, measures of memory. And, specifically, memory measures that place relatively high demands on executive cognitive control may be selectively disrupted," the study said.

"The same specific deficits associated with pregnancy are also observed post-partum."

So now you have an excuse for why you can't find your keys, your sunglasses, or your youngest child anymore.

But apparently all is not lost... or is it?

But Julie Henry, a study author and psychology researcher at the University of NSW, emphasised the effect was "very, very subtle".

"It's a pretty modest deficit similar to what you would find if you were to compare healthy 20 year-olds with healthy 60 year olds," Dr Henry said.

So be happy. If we've had children our brains are similar to those of healthy 60 year olds!


... durned senior citizen brain...

Moments in History

There are years where particularly momentous things happen. This year seems to be shaping up as one of those.

On home shores we had The Apology. Today, we learn that Fidel Castro is retiring. For a long time an icon of communism and the cold war, now at 80 he's decided to hang up his hat.

The times, they are a-changing...

Creepy?

Having to run Child Protection courses for our volunteer teams has made me a little sensitive these days. But I was left wondering by an encounter we had yesterday...

It was my father's birthday, so we went for a little trip to a well-known tourist attraction. I stood at the fence of the lookout with my daughter while she took in the view for the first time in her life - she was enraptured by the location and wanted to get a better look, so we moved away to another fence.

When my husband caught up with us afterwards, he said there was a man pointing a camera in our direction, and when we moved he was heard muttering, "Missed." (My husband was standing behind him)

Am I being paranoid, or is that a bit creepy?

Optimist, Pessimist, Realist?

I've been struck by how bittersweet my experiences with my kids have been. For some reason, my joyful times with them are tinged with uncertainty, or even pessimism. Yesterday, for example, I loved the fact that my daughter ran and literally jumped into my arms. But my joy was tinged with the thought, "Make the most of it. One day she won't want to run to you."

I wish I could be more of a hedonist, and just live in the moment. Jumping forward to adolescence just spoils the fun...

Sorry

Text of the Apology to be read in the Australian parliament on 13th Feb, 2008:

Today we honour the Indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human history.

We reflect on their past mistreatment.

We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were Stolen Generations - this blemished chapter in our nation's history.

The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia's history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the future.

We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians.

We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.

For the pain, suffering and hurt of these Stolen Generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.

To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.

And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry.

We the Parliament of Australia respectfully request that this apology be received in the spirit in which it is offered as part of the healing of the nation.

For the future we take heart; resolving that this new page in the history of our great continent can now be written.

We today take this first step by acknowledging the past and laying claim to a future that embraces all Australians.

A future where this Parliament resolves that the injustices of the past must never, never happen again.

A future where we harness the determination of all Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to close the gap that lies between us in life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity.

A future where we embrace the possibility of new solutions to enduring problems where old approaches have failed.

A future based on mutual respect, mutual resolve and mutual responsibility.

A future where all Australians, whatever their origins, are truly equal partners, with equal opportunities and with an equal stake in shaping the next chapter in the history of this great country, Australia.

The Problem of Emotion

Haven't posted for a while, because I've been working a bit. This week I'm giving a talk to a Women's Breakfast (I know. I'm not a morning person so there's my first challenge), so I've been busy working on what I'm going to say.

I have a problem. It seems to have appeared since I've had children. I'm not sure what to do with it or how to deal with it. It appears in public places, usually when I'm in front of people, and it causes me great consternation.

I have become a public blubberer.

The first time it happened was during a public prayer time in church. I'd asked for volunteers and while praying for the farmers affected by drought, I became overcome with emotion. It caused a great deal of embarrassed silence in the congregation.

It might have been a once-off, but since then I've had to fight to stave off tears at several inopportune moments. I've effectively become what I used to disdain: a teary woman.

Why is this such a problem? It comes up when I am talking about the great thing God did for us in sending Jesus. It appears when I am talking about God's love and our rejection of him. It might be ok in the privacy of my own home, but when I am trying to explain this to others my tears distract people from listening to the words I am saying.

I used to feel bemused about women who cried at weddings, or went teary at the drop of a hat. Now in the irony of it all I've developed this barely-restrained waterworks that spout forth at any time.

I'm seriously thinking that I have to try not to feel so much of what I am speaking. But insincerity comes through when you're talking, doesn't it? So how do I get back to feeling without blubbering?

Quote of the Day

"Every one says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive."

CS Lewis, Mere Christianity

The little mummy

She loves babies. We're starting to wonder whether we should give her one. What do you think?

Injustice and all that...

OK, I'm starting to sound like a broken record now, but I really, really like the biography of John Newton I'm reading.

An interesting insight into Newton's life is that he actually captained a slave ship after he had a conversion experience, and it wasn't until he was a relatively old man that he realised the injustice of slavery.

It made me think about a couple of things. Firstly, we don't automatically recognise injustice when we see it. There are often things our society accepts that are quite unjust, but until people stand up against it we don't notice.

The second thing is that as a society we are actually rather fatigued with campaigns against injustice. In the 80s we had Band Aid - which didn't really do much to provide lasting change in Ethiopia. Then we had the Jubilee 2000 campaign, which failed to achieve anything by the year 2000, so it's morphed into "Let's make Poverty History". What did that boil down to for most people? White silicone wrist bands. Has anything changed? Well, we had some fun concerts last year...

The third thing is that we are cynical, now. We doubt the ability to achieve anything so we don't try. We see people bring injustice upon themselves and so don't go into bat for them. Take the pokies for example. James Packer is Australia's richest man, and his fortune now largely rests on the misfortune of the poor people in our society. How? He's slowly reducing his stake in media companies and increasing his wealth through online gambling, casinos and poker machines. He's used his influence to get Morris Iemma to pressure the Gaming Minister into allowing Betfair to run in NSW. These systems are patently unfair. By giving away a bare minimum of money they enslave people into losing their homes, families, and livelihoods on a regular basis. But we sit back and think "well, people have a choice, and they let themselves be sucked in to this stuff".

Slavery is alive and well in our country - a voluntary slavery to the flashing lights and false promises of prosperity. Sure, people submit themselves to this false promise, but let's see it for the blight it is. The clubs don't want to lose the revenue, but their plush lobbies and atriums are built on the backs of debt-ridden struggling families. It's not the wealthy Eastern Suburbs residents who donate their wealth to poker machines. Where are the largest clubs in Sydney? Penrith. Rooty Hill. Fairfield. Not exactly brimming with Maybachs and private yachts...


Here endeth the rant. :)