{"id":3615,"date":"2020-10-26T11:16:29","date_gmt":"2020-10-26T00:16:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/?p=3615"},"modified":"2020-10-30T14:03:43","modified_gmt":"2020-10-30T03:03:43","slug":"barbaras-monday-email-26-10-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/?p=3615","title":{"rendered":"Barbara’s Monday Email 26-10-2020"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hello Faith Pals,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

As I watch the wind tossing the leaves outside (writing that reminds me of the Australian Christmas carol: ‘The north wind is tossing the leaves, the red dust is over the town…’)\u00a0 I think back to the reflection in With Love To The World<\/em>, which was set for yesterday.\u00a0 It was about Psalm 1:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

‘Happy are those<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

who do not follow the advice of the wicked.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

or take the path that sinners tread,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

or sit in the seat of the scoffers;<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

but their delight is in the law of the Lord,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

and on his law they meditate day and night.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

They are like trees planted by streams of water,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

which yield their fruit in its season,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

and their leaves do not wither.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In all that they do, they prosper.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The wicked are not so.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

but are like chaff that the wind drives away.’<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

-Psalm 1: 1-4<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We learn a lot from modern takes of this psalm.\u00a0 In James Taylor’s (NOT the American singer) Everyday Psalms<\/em>, this Canadian writer:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

‘They stand like trees growing by a lake.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Their roots go down deep,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

drawing strength from the whole history of human experience,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

waters that will never dry up.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

They blossom in spring and bear fruit in the fall.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

They will not wither in tough times.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The drifters are not like that;<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

their roots are as shallow as tumbleweeds.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In the heat of the summer, they blow away in the wind.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

They have nothing to hold them upright.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

They cannot hold on when storms howl.’<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In the late Bruce Prewer’s book, Australian Psalms<\/em>, he give us a more familiar Australian mage :<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

‘Such people are like great red gums<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

growing by the riverside;<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Flowering every season, defying drought,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

and constantly putting forth new growth.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Not so unloving people;<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

they are like grass in a willy-willy.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

When pressure is on they can’t take it,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

nor can they stand the company of good folk.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Those who love have their tap-roots in God;<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

the unloving are rootless.’<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

So my question to you is: what sort of tree\/bush\/shrub are you?\u00a0 A tall gum?\u00a0 If you are feeling burdened at present, perhaps you are more like a weeping willow?\u00a0 A gentle silver birch (with a\u00a0 strong network of roots!), a lavender bush?\u00a0 A Japanese maple?\u00a0 We have 3 in our garden.\u00a0 One is very small, and I thought it had died but no!\u00a0 It has finally announced itself with bright red leaves. Have a think about it.\u00a0 The writer of Sunday’s reflection, Rev Charissa Suli, ended her piece with these words:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

‘Today, let us reflect on which parts of our lives are flourishing like a tree planted by streams of water, and which parts are withering and in need of nourishment.’<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

News: a reminder that Lex Ross will be going into Epworth hospital on Wednesday for open heart surgery.\u00a0 I hope to update you regarding his progress, probably on Friday evening after speaking to Leora.\u00a0 Lex will be in ICU for several days, and Leora will be unable to visit him until he is on the cardiac ward.\u00a0 We hold them in our prayers, in our hearts, with love.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We continue to pray for Bruce and Maggie, Alan and Fredrica, Rohini and Jaya, Shirley Edwards, Ed Bahn, Marj Brownjohn, and Joan Addinsall.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We have a new prayer request, from Rob Weir.\u00a0 You may remember that back in July Rob’s Uncle Kev died, and we prayed for Rob’s Aunty Elv.\u00a0 We continue to hold her in our prayers, and now include her son, Martin who returns to Thailand on Tuesday, to be reunited with his wife Noy and son Jack. They run a backpacker’s resort on the island of Koh Phangan.\u00a0 We pray for safe travel, and also for an easing in Covid 19 so that their business gets back on track.\u00a0 We also pray for Jack, who is facing surgery early in the new year.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

There is a Church Council meeting tonight, so we include the members of Church Council in our prayers, aware of all the work they are doing behind the scenes, during this difficult time.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Here is a beautiful song\/prayer which was in a Presbytery email last week.\u00a0 Robin Mann is so gifted, and a humble man:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Because we bear your name<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Robin Mann<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Lord Jesus, we belong to you,\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

you live in us, we live in you;\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

we live and work for you \u2014<\/strong><\/span>
\nbecause we bear your name.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Help us receive each other, Lord,\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

for you receive the least of us\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

and come to us in them\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>
\nbecause we bear your name.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Keep us from missing out on life;\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

give hands that help,\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

and single sight,\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

and feet that walk your way \u2014\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>
\nbecause we bear your name.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Hear the whole song online:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=FGCoJy5fwFQ<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Well, that is probably enough to keep you going!\u00a0 I have concluded this email with a beautiful story that Lex Ross sent to me.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Blessings and love<\/strong><\/span>
\nBarbara<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/th>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/th>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/th>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/th>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/th>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The\u00a0Cab Ride\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I arrived at the address and honked the horn.\u00a0After waiting a few minutes, I walked to the\u00a0door and knocked.. ‘Just a minute’, answered a\u00a0frail, elderly voice. I could hear something\u00a0being dragged across the floor.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

After\u00a0a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in\u00a0her 90’s stood before me. She was wearing a\u00a0print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned\u00a0on it, like somebody out of a 1940’s\u00a0movie.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

By her side was a small nylon\u00a0suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had\u00a0lived in it for years. All the furniture was\u00a0covered with sheets.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

There were no\u00a0clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils\u00a0on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard\u00a0box filled with photos and\u00a0glassware.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

‘Would you carry my bag\u00a0out to the car?’ she said. I took the suitcase\u00a0to the cab, then returned to assist the\u00a0woman.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

She took my arm and we walked\u00a0slowly toward the curb.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

She kept\u00a0thanking me for my kindness. ‘It’s nothing’, I\u00a0told her.. ‘I just try to treat my passengers\u00a0the way I would want my mother to be treated.’<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

‘Oh, you’re such a good\u00a0boy, she said. When we got in the cab, she gave\u00a0me an address and then asked, ‘Could you drive\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>
\nthrough downtown?’<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

‘It’s not the\u00a0shortest way,’ I answered\u00a0quickly..<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

‘Oh, I don’t mind,’ she\u00a0said. ‘I’m in no hurry. I’m on my way to a\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>
\nhospice.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I looked in the rear-view\u00a0mirror. Her eyes were glistening. ‘I don’t have\u00a0any family left,’ she continued in a soft\u00a0voice. ‘The doctor says I don’t have very\u00a0long.’ I quietly reached over and shut off the\u00a0meter.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

‘What route would you like me\u00a0to take?’ I asked.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

For the next two\u00a0hours, we drove through the city. She showed me\u00a0the building where she had once worked as an\u00a0elevator operator.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We drove through the\u00a0neighborhood where she and her husband had lived\u00a0when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in\u00a0front of a furniture warehouse that had once\u00a0been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a\u00a0girl.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Sometimes she’d ask me to slow\u00a0in front of a particular building or corner and\u00a0would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

As the first hint of sun was\u00a0creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, ‘I’m\u00a0tired. Let’s go now’.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We drove in\u00a0silence to the address she had given me. It was\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>
\na low building, like a small convalescent home,\u00a0with a driveway that passed under a\u00a0portico.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Two orderlies came out to\u00a0the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were\u00a0Solicitous and intent, watching her every move.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>
\nThey must have been expecting her.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I\u00a0opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to\u00a0the door. The woman was already seated in a\u00a0wheelchair.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

‘How much do I owe you?’\u00a0She asked, reaching into her\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>
\npurse.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

‘Nothing,’ I\u00a0said<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

‘You have to make a living,’ she\u00a0answered.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

‘There are other\u00a0passengers,’ I responded.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Almost\u00a0without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She\u00a0held onto me tightly.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

‘You gave an\u00a0old woman a little moment of joy,’ she\u00a0said.<\/strong><\/span>
\n‘Thank you.’<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I squeezed her\u00a0hand, and then walked into the dim morning\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>
\nlight.. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound\u00a0of the closing of a life..<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I didn’t\u00a0pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove\u00a0aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that\u00a0day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had\u00a0gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient\u00a0to end his shift?\u00a0 What\u00a0if I had refused to take the run, or had honked\u00a0once, then driven away?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

On a quick\u00a0review, I don’t think that I have done anything\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>
\nmore important in my life.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We’re\u00a0conditioned to think that our lives revolve\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>
\naround great moments.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

But great\u00a0moments often catch us unaware-beautifully \u00a0wrapped in what others may consider a small\u00a0one.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY\u00a0WHAT YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID ~BUT~THEY WILL\u00a0ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM\u00a0FEEL.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Life
\nmay not be the party we hoped for, but while we\u00a0are here we might as well dance.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nVirus-free. www.avg.com<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hello Faith Pals, As I watch the wind tossing the leaves outside (writing that reminds me of the Australian Christmas carol: ‘The north wind is tossing the leaves, the red dust is over the town…’)\u00a0 I think back to the reflection in With Love To The World, which was set for yesterday.\u00a0 It was about Psalm 1: ‘Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked. or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of the scoffers; but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper. The wicked are not so. but are like chaff that the wind drives away.’ -Psalm 1: 1-4 We learn a lot from modern takes of this psalm.\u00a0 In James Taylor’s (NOT the American singer) Everyday Psalms, this Canadian writer: ‘They stand like trees growing by a lake. Their roots go down deep, drawing strength from the whole history of human experience, waters that will never dry up. They blossom in spring and bear fruit in the fall. They will not wither in tough times. The drifters are not like that; their roots are as shallow as tumbleweeds. In the heat of the summer, they blow away in the wind. They have nothing to hold them upright. They cannot hold on when storms howl.’ In the late Bruce Prewer’s book, Australian Psalms, he give us a more familiar Australian mage : ‘Such people are like great red gums growing by the riverside; Flowering every season, defying drought, and constantly putting forth new growth. Not so unloving people; they are like grass in a willy-willy. When pressure is on they can’t take it, nor can they stand the company of good folk. Those who love have their tap-roots in God; the unloving are rootless.’ So my question to you is: what sort of tree\/bush\/shrub are you?\u00a0 A tall gum?\u00a0 If you are feeling burdened at present, perhaps you are more like a weeping willow?\u00a0 A gentle silver birch (with a\u00a0 strong network of roots!), a lavender bush?\u00a0 A Japanese maple?\u00a0 We have 3 in our garden.\u00a0 One is very small, and I thought it had died but no!\u00a0 It has finally announced itself with bright red leaves. Have a think about it.\u00a0 The writer of Sunday’s reflection, Rev Charissa Suli, ended her piece with these words: ‘Today, let us reflect on which parts of our lives are flourishing like a tree planted by streams of water, and which parts are withering and in need of nourishment.’ News: a reminder that Lex Ross will be going into Epworth hospital on Wednesday for open heart surgery.\u00a0 I hope to update you regarding his progress, probably on Friday evening after speaking to Leora.\u00a0 Lex will be in ICU for several days, and Leora will be unable to visit him until he is on the cardiac ward.\u00a0 We hold them in our prayers, in our hearts, with love. We continue to pray for Bruce and Maggie, Alan and Fredrica, Rohini and Jaya, Shirley Edwards, Ed Bahn, Marj Brownjohn, and Joan Addinsall. We have a new prayer request, from Rob Weir.\u00a0 You may remember that back in July Rob’s Uncle Kev died, and we prayed for Rob’s Aunty Elv.\u00a0 We continue to hold her in our prayers, and now include her son, Martin who returns to Thailand on Tuesday, to be reunited with his wife Noy and son Jack. They run a backpacker’s resort on the island of Koh Phangan.\u00a0 We pray for safe travel, and also for an easing in Covid 19 so that their business gets back on track.\u00a0 We also pray for Jack, who is facing surgery early in the new year. There is a Church Council meeting tonight, so we include the members of Church Council in our prayers, aware of all the work they are doing behind the scenes, during this difficult time. Here is a beautiful song\/prayer which was in a Presbytery email last week.\u00a0 Robin Mann is so gifted, and a humble man: Because we bear your name Robin Mann Lord Jesus, we belong to you,\u00a0 you live in us, we live in you;\u00a0 we live and work for you \u2014 because we bear your name. Help us receive each other, Lord,\u00a0 for you receive the least of us\u00a0 and come to us in them\u00a0 because we bear your name.\u00a0 Keep us from missing out on life;\u00a0 give hands that help,\u00a0 and single sight,\u00a0 and feet that walk your way \u2014\u00a0 because we bear your name.\u00a0 Hear the whole song online: https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=FGCoJy5fwFQ Well, that is probably enough to keep you going!\u00a0 I have concluded this email with a beautiful story that Lex Ross sent to me. Blessings and love Barbara       The\u00a0Cab Ride\u00a0\u00a0 I arrived at the address and honked the horn.\u00a0After waiting a few minutes, I walked to the\u00a0door and knocked.. ‘Just a minute’, answered a\u00a0frail, elderly voice. I could hear something\u00a0being dragged across the floor. After\u00a0a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in\u00a0her 90’s stood before me. She was wearing a\u00a0print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned\u00a0on it, like somebody out of a 1940’s\u00a0movie. By her side was a small nylon\u00a0suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had\u00a0lived in it for years. All the furniture was\u00a0covered with sheets. There were no\u00a0clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils\u00a0on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard\u00a0box filled with photos and\u00a0glassware. ‘Would you carry my bag\u00a0out to the car?’ she said. I took the suitcase\u00a0to the cab, then returned to assist the\u00a0woman. She took my arm and we walked\u00a0slowly toward the curb. She kept\u00a0thanking me for my kindness. ‘It’s nothing’, I\u00a0told her.. ‘I just try to treat my passengers\u00a0the way I would want my mother to be treated.’<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3615","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorised"],"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"Leighmoor.Master","author_link":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/author\/leighmoor-master"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"Other Posts<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"Hello Faith Pals, As I watch the wind tossing the leaves outside (writing that reminds me of the Australian Christmas carol: ‘The north wind is tossing the leaves, the red dust is over the town…’)\u00a0 I think back to the reflection in With Love To The World, which was set for yesterday.\u00a0 It was about…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3615","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3615"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3615\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3617,"href":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3615\/revisions\/3617"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3615"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3615"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3615"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}