The Anzac Spirit

The Anzac Spirit

I never met my father’s father. His name was Zackery Carl, and my unknown grandfather grew up in a home with six other rambunctious siblings. The family, of good Irish stock, ran a dairy farm on a small island community in the Hastings River in Australia. Rawdon Island boasted twenty seven dairy farms in total, two churches, a community store, a one room school house, and of course, a football team. Life was slow paced in the tight knit community made up of many extended family members. Then life, as it was once known, changed, as World War I broke out on July 28th 1914. It was the Great War. Australia was still linked closely to England, having only obtained Federation to form the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. If England was at war, then so was Australia. Zackery, a youthful lad of sixteen years of age, was caught up in the excitement of it all. Patriotic posters, filled with messages of heroism, called to the young men to voluntarily enlist. My grandfather, desiring a thrilling life outside of the quiet farming community, and  ready to see the world, enlisted. In January 1915, Zackery was only seventeen instead of the required twenty one years of age; so lying about his birthdate, he found himself in the Fourth  Regiment of the 1st Battalion and training for war.

My Grandfather, Zackery Carl

World War I was under way, and as fighting on the Western Front in France in late 1914 deteriorated into a stalemate, the  British War Council decided that Germany could best be defeated by attacking her allies which were, Austria, Hungary and Turkey. Australian troops were sent off to train in Egypt with the New Zealand troops, and together they formed the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, or as they are commonly known, the ANZAC’s. My grandfather, Zackery, became an ANZAC. The destination for the ANZACs was Gallipoli, in the Dardanelles, in the country of Turkey. 

The ANZACs fought valiantly against the Turks, digging trenches and suffering dreadful losses as murderous machine gun, rifle and shrapnel fire was only interrupted by hand to hand combat. The fighting was over a confined area on a cliff face, after the troops, having embarked from a ship in the cove on April 25 1915,  headed for the cliff’s and dug in heroically. Zackery came in on the second landing in mid May. Soon the area took on the appearance of a rabbit warren as the battle front of just two kilometres housed twenty thousand soldiers all living in dug out holes. Zackery and other soldiers bravely stood their ground several times, refusing the poorly planned and deadly British orders to head up and out of the trenches, to just be immediately shot down by the Turks, thus preserving their lives to continue the battle in a more successful way. Stores landed on the beach under the cover of darkness and the troops soldiered on day after day. Zackery’s  battalion was given a short rest on a nearby Greek Island during the campaign but it was soon back to heavy combat once again. Australia lost the Battle at Gallipoli, after suffering much hardship and the heavy loss of over 8000 lives. Zackery, starting to suffer from influenza, was evacuated with the rest of the ANZAC troops in December of 1915.

The ANZAC spirit captured the nation of Australia and forged our country together in a mateship of endurance, courage, ingenuity and humour. It became the birth and the defining moment of the Australian spirit and of the nation. Our country’s Veteran’s day is celebrated each year on April 25th, in commemoration of the landing at Gallipoli, and the day is called ANZAC day.

Australia lost that battle but they won the war of World War I. They entered Gallipoli as unseasoned soldiers and left with the character traits of discipline, initiative, great courage and incredible endurance. How often do we in our christian experience feel like we have lost a battle? We fall into temptation, we feel like we just did the same wrong thing, yet again. We can feel like it is hopeless. We can struggle on during trials not realising that Jesus already won the war for us. Jesus will take a lost battle or a discouraging trial and turn it around for good in our lives. He can develop the character traits of courage, endurance, fearlessness, and initiative in us. The war has been won. We have hope. Will I stand in the full armour of God and claim His victory today?

Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Eph 6:13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

Future Fretfulness

Future Fretfulness

I was never one of those young children who first drove a car, perched excitedly on my father’s lap. In fact, I was one of those kids who got car sick, terribly car sick. I disliked cars as a child. I hated being squished in the back with a pile of other children, in the days before compulsory seat belts. I intensely disliked  being caught in crawling traffic on a summer Sunday afternoon, because the freeway north of Sydney was yet to be constructed. I would sit crammed and hot and feeling sick and always decidedly bored. Thankfully for me, my car rides were few and far between because my father worked for the State Rail Authority and one of the perks of that desk job was free train travel. Travelling everywhere by train worked successfully well for the most part, except we lived on a train line with fewer rail services and we were limited in what events and people and places we could visit. Our family’s schedule and ability to catch trains on time ran like a well oiled machine. There were those times, nevertheless, that family and friends cheerfully drove us home from the varying places we visited.

As a child I grew up with another family who boasted of an almost innumerable amount of children, with ages ranging likes steps from the eldest to the youngest. I was placed in age among the older children in the family and I spent many enjoyable moments with them all. Frequently, after spending an afternoon with my friends, their mother would happily drive me home. They owned an old, aged, large, white station wagon with red leather seats. All of us children would scramble over one another, vying for the best spots, and there we would be, huddled together for the drive to my house. The mother in the family was relaxed and full of laughter as she kept her brood under some semblance of order. However, once behind the steering wheel, she would take on the look of a rally driver, hunched over the steering wheel in full concentration, and stopping for nothing, she would drive on.

Then the day came when the mother did stop the car. She stopped it for me. Randomly she offered to allow me to drive the car. I was thirteen and she thought it was a great opportunity for me to experience driving the car for the first time. I clambered out from among the gaggle of children and sat behind the steering wheel. I was tall for my age and I could see quite clearly across the white bonnet of the car and down the sealed road, stretching out peacefully in front of me. I eased the car forward, gripping the steering wheel in wonder and taking on the delights of driving. I kept my eyes peeled on the lonely road, looking far ahead. The mob of children bouncing in the back quietened as I slowly drove along. Then there was a sudden silence in the car followed by a loud audible gasp from everyone as their words tumbled over each other. “ You just made it past that car,” they cried out. “You were so close I thought you would hit it for sure,” they called. In my mind I was thinking, “What car?” I glanced in the rear view vision mirror and discovered, to my horror, a car parked by the road side. I have driven past it without giving it a wide berth and I had come within a hair’s breadth of scraping it’s entire side. I had never seen the car. Well, I probably had seen it but a long time before I actually passed it. You see, I had never driven a car before. I did not know that when driving a car you need to be aware of traffic conditions ahead, far ahead and just near the car. All I was doing was gazing far ahead, oblivious to the road and traffic conditions just ahead of me or even of those around me. 

I realise in life I can be like that. I can get caught up looking so far ahead, fearing “end time events”, or worrying over future finances, or stressing about life problems that may or may not happen so far into the future, that I forget to look just ahead or even just around me. God wants me to be connected to Him in the present. He wants be to abide in Him and He in me today. He promises that His grace is sufficient for me for one day at a time. I can safely rest my far off future in His capable hands while trusting in Him each day at a time, each week at a time and each month at a time as they stretch out into each year at a time with Him. Will I place my future securely in God’s hands or will I fret my way out of His rest? Will you?

Matt 6:33, 34 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Lam 3:23 “The LORD'S loving kindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.”

Jer 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”

The Come-As-You- Are Party

The Come-As-You- Are Party

I am a self confessed extrovert. I love people and  I love crowds of people and I love parties, parties full of people. I emotionally bounce into a place of excitement and happiness when surrounded by hoards of people. I love to receive invitations and I am always eager to attend any event I am invited to, from weddings to children’s birthdays to Christmas gatherings. I am bound to clear my schedule to try and appear, it if at all possible, to anything that involves celebrations and gatherings of people. My most favourite party is a themed dress up event. I love the challenge of creating an outfit based on the theme. When I arrive at the party I enjoy all the different ideas that people have come up with for their attire. 

Wild animal party ~ a tiger

Zebras

International Night, My Aussie husband and me from Papua New Guinea

I definitely have had my favourite themed parties. I have attended a cowboy party, colour themed  ones , Bible character events which  included a  Lazarus all mummified, a Super Heroes party, where I went, of course, as my own Super Hero, Super Sue and my husband was Mighty Mike. I have been a tiger, a zebra, worn a variety of hats, including a one that looked like a spider, dressed in International clothing at a wide variety of events, attended Australia day parties, Hawaiian and beach themed parties and one of my favourites was a backwards themed party. At this party we all wore out clothing back to front. We sang “Happy Birthday" backwards and we cut the cake and ate dessert before the main part of the meal. There have been many laughs and lots of fun with family and friends.

Super Sue and Might Mike

Hat party ~ The Cow and the Spider

Different friends of mine have attended other themed parties, which they have, with much laughter told me about. One friend was woken suddenly by loud, insistent knocking at the front door early one Sunday morning as she was just emerging from bed. Sleepily, while still in her pyjamas, she traipsed to the door as the knocking grew only more intense. As she opened the door, there stood several of her friends enthusiastically yelling, “Surprise!!!! You have been invited to ‘a-come-as-you-are’ party!”. In her groggy state, my friend’s mind tried to register what the excitement was exactly all about. As everyone hastily jumbled their words over everyone else, the realisation slowly dawned on her that she was invited to a party and all the guests were to wear exactly what they were wearing at the moment of their invitation, which for her meant attending a party in her pyjamas. There was eventually much laughter and fun as my friend did go to the party in her pyjamas and she found all friends attending in either similar attire or sports uniforms, work uniforms , evening wear, gym apparel or casual at home clothing. 

Bible characters

Hawaiians

Jesus invites us to “come as we are” to Him and He will receive us. It is not about our clothing like at my friend’s party, but it is about our hearts, who we are inside. So often we hang our heads in shame, thinking that somehow we need to do better, act more appropriately, or be good enough to come to Him. Jesus asks us to do none of those things. When we come to Him, just as we are, He loves us and then works in our lives to take us from where we are, to who we can become in Him. Come to Jesus, just as you are and allow Him to do an amazing work in your life today. Will I come? Will you come?

Matt 11:28 "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.

Rev 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let the one who hears say, "Come!" Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

Foxes of Discouragement

Foxes of Discouragement

New Year’s Eve in Australia is always a warm, summer’s evening. Outdoor activities and fireworks in cities and towns across the nation are all part of bringing in the new year with gusto. This past New year’s eve, my husband and I, headed to a peaceful bay just north of our home. It was a warm, sunny afternoon. The beautiful, large spreading trees shaded soft, green grasses by a peaceful beach of gentle lapping waters. People were starting to arrive as we parked our car and hauled our picnic chairs, table, and food out of the car. We set up a perfect picnic spot overlooking the sparkling, azure waters, under the cool of the trees, along with many others. Street entertainers provided music, balloons, bubbles and “magic tricks”. There was laughter and friendship.The atmosphere was happy, families gathered, friends talked, people who had never met before chatted with one another, children splashed by the waters edge and played in the sand as we all picnicked together and watched the sun slowly setting. In the gathering dark many children brought out their glowsticks; the fluorescent colours being waved around excitedly, brightening the blackening night. With an expected bang the sky lit up with the wonder of colour as  fireworks exploded before our eyes and the crowds gasped in delight.It was all over way too soon and in the darkness we all started to pack up and leave.

Our drive home took us on quiet, lonely, country roads with no street lights. The  trees of the Australian bush flanked the sides of the narrow road and my husband drove with caution as this is the time that kangaroos, koalas  and other animals can be found crossing the road. Suddenly a red fox appeared on the road, it’s eyes glowing in our car headlights. It stopped, mesmerised. My husband braked and swerved slightly to avoid colliding with the stationary fox, but it panicked and dashed back towards the direction we had swerved. Thud! Crunch! We hit it hard. It’s poor little body shattered instantly to pieces under the left side of the bumper bar of our car. The bumper cracked, lights broke and over $1000 worth of damage occurred, but we were safe and the car was still able to be driven.

I was tempted to feel so discouraged. Insurance covered the damage but in Australia, to access our insurance, we need to pay a lump sum called an excess, which was $650. A sum of money we couldn’t really afford to part with. I was tempted to lose my joy in the Lord. The Bible talks about foxes and grape vines. Jesus is the grape vine and we live a connected life to Him like a branch to the vine. The foxes in the bible were running through the vineyard spoiling the young vines that were in flower, damaging the branches. Do you sometimes feel discouraged , you’re losing your joy and things just seem to be going wrong? Are there “foxes” in your life trying to disconnect you from the vine, knocking the flowers out of your life that will produce the fruit of joy, love and peace within? Look to Jesus. He will deal with the “foxes” in your life. Will I choose to stay connected to Him? Will you?

Song of Sol 2:15 "Catch the foxes for us, The little foxes that are ruining the vineyards, While our vineyards are in blossom."

John 15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

Healed Hearts

Healed Hearts

Scars! We all have them. Physical scars, reminders of past stories in our lives, some good and some bad. Childhood memories float lazily through my mind whenever I notice the scar on my lower leg. Times of hot summer days living on a quarter of an acre block with three older siblings. I remember the long lush summer grass under my bare feet. I remember happy times with my older brother as we chased each other through that grass, panting and laughing in the haze of summer holidays. My father had carefully placed sheets of corrugated iron up the back of the yard. One day I took what I thought would be a short cut over those sheets of corrugated iron, bare feet pounding on the hot metal. One sheet bowed and the edge of the top sheet curled up. My lower leg came in contact with the sharp metal edge and I received a deep wound on my leg. My wound eventually healed but it left a scar. 

We can carry emotional wounds. Unforgiveness, bitterness, anger and hurt make our wounds fester deep in our hearts, unhealed. They impact our lives, the pain always fresh. God wants to heal our wounds. He wants to give us the gift of forgiving others. He wants to take away the bitterness, the anger and the pain. He wants to leave just the scar of a healed wound,  just the memory, a reminder of His mercies to us that we may remember how God has healed and that we may have a story of healing to share. Will I let God heal me today? Will you?

Ps 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Ps 34:18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53iNPgFfFVU