Wildflowers of Beauty

The outback is awash with colour. It is amazing how quickly wild

flowers appear after heavy rains.
Between Woomera and Roxby Downs in the far north of the state,

Aussie there are carpets of Sturt Desert Pea, South Australia's floral emblem.
It has a distinctive silvery grey-green foliage, deep red petals, and a
black eye in the centre of the flower. It is my favourite Australian
wildflower.
Parables The Sturt Desert Pea grows best in harsh outback conditions - in the
dry red dust soil, in wide open spaces, often buffeted by strong winds.
The secret of its ability to survive and thrive in such conditions is it's
unusual root system. The plant has a deep tap root to draw sustenance
from well below the surface, and strong lateral roots creeping across
the ground, which give it stability in the harsh climate.
For me, the Sturt Desert Pea is an analogy of how our lives can be
colourful and strong.
In order to survive well, we need to draw our nourishment for life from
hidden sources. Many folk nourish their lives by their passion for art,
culture, travel, sport, family etc. The most sustaining nourishment
comes from faith in God the Creator and Life giver, seen best in the life
of Jesus. Those who live by faith in Him, unseen, yet very real, survive
well in the harsh situations which life brings to us – illness, loss of a
loved one, strained relationships, tough financial situations, the loss of
a job, turmoil of various kinds.
Coupled with this is our need to be in healthy relationships with other
people. The support of family and friends encourages us and builds us
Rev. Leigh Wilson up when the going is tough. And we are to give encouragement to
others, as much as to receive it from them. So we need opportunities
or causes to contribute to the lives of others.
When a religious scholar asked Jesus, “which command in God's law
is the most important?” Jesus replied, “love the Lord your God with all
your passion, prayer and intelligence. And love others as well as you
love your self.” When both of these are an ongoing aspect of our lives,
we too will bring colour and delight to those around us, just like the
Sturt Desert Pea.
Sturt Desert Pea
Travellers in the outback soon become accustomed to the stark
dryness of the countryside. At times, the brown earth is brightened by
the sharp colours of the Sturt Desert Pea.
The rich red flower with its jet black centre and its grey-green foliage
brings a freshness to the harsh landscape. In some of the most
unexpected places, the Sturt Desert Pea blooms, at times spreading
widely across the sandy surroundings.
How doe such a beautiful flower bloom in such inhospitable soil, where
the rainfall is sparse, and harsh sandstorms come and go ?
The secret is its root system. The Sturt Desert Pea has a long tap root
which reaches down to water sources well below the surface, and a
web of lateral roots which spread across the ground, holding the plant
steady in the strong winds that blow across the open spaces.
We often face harsh situations and strong storms - broken or
strained relationships within our family or social circle, serious illness
or the death of someone close to us, financial difficulties, the loss of a
job, or an opportunity that means something to us. And we wonder how
we will survive.
Like the Sturt Desert Pea, we need to obtain nourishment from a
hidden source. Faith in God, Who created us, and wants to be our
Father, provides us with this. But we also need to be sustained on the
surface. Healthy and meaningful relationships with other people help
to give us the stability we need in the crises we face.
Faith in the Living God, by itself, or strong relationships with family and
friends, by themselves, are not enough. We need both, so that we are
able to live strong and satisfying lives. Then our lives will bring delight
to others, as much as the Sturt Pea does to outback travellers.
Harvest Time
A recent trip to Western Australia was an opportunity for my new wife
and I to meet up with each other's relatives. It was also wildflower
season, so we delighted in the wide variety of shapes and colours, as
we drove along country roads. Some were unique to a small area, and
were never spotted again, while others were seen for many kilometres.
It was also nearing harvest time as we drove through the Wheat Belt.
The crops were ripening, and some were very healthy, while others
were sparse. We talked with locals, who pointed out that a few
kilometres can make a big difference in the rainfall, and thus the health
of the crop.
In Mukinbudin, as small town in the middle of the Wheat Belt, the last
two seasons in the district had been very poor, placing pressure on the
local economy and on the families. Some friends drove us past “prayer
corner” and told us its story. Some Christians from Perth, three hours
drive away, visited the town, to share their concern with the locals and
to pray with the farmers and their families.
As they did so, the light dawned. ”We believe in God, we know He is
the Creator; we believe He cares for us and hears our prayers. Why
didn't we think to pray to Him about the harvest?”
So one of the famers invited others to join him in his paddock to pray
for their crops. And the rains came, and the crop was healthier than the
previous two seasons. They didn't stop praying when the harvest was
good - now they meet there regularly to talk with their heavenly Father
about their farming.
It sounds like magic – pray, and ask for what you want and you will get
it – like an automatic wish machine. But prayer is different -- it doesn't
automatically bring us what we ask for - it's a matter of learning to co-
operate with the Creator and follow His instructions.
One of the Bible writers puts it this way, “tell God every details of your
needs in earnest and thankful prayer, and the peace of God will stand
guard over your hearts and minds as they rest in Christ Jesus” Surely
that's better than any magic wish dispenser!
Travelling home
Recently I entertained my brother and sister for a few days. My sister
was holidaying in Australia from her home on the island of Crete, and
my brother lives in Victoria. So it was a rare get-together for us.
On the first day with me I took them to the Whispering Wall and they
were amazed. I said “wait, there's more!” and took them on to Lyndoch,
Tanunda and Nuriootpa for museums and coffee shops, and then
drove home through Seppeltsfield. They gasped at the magnificent
avenue of palms, and again I said “wait, there's more!” as we drove
past the Mausoleum and explored the grand buildings of the winery.
For the next couple of days we continue to explore many of the
attractions close by –
Roseworthy College, with its miniature train and Engineering museum,
Balaklava with its Federation Wall, and the historic buildings of
Kapunda. Often I repeated the mantra, “wait, there’s more!”
I thoroughly enjoyed the time they spent with me, but my greatest
disappointment was that I couldn't share in a family reunion in Victoria
the following weekend.
While we travelled around, we reminisced about our parents and older
brother who are no longer living. The fact is, for all of us, there are
gaps in every family circle.
For Christians, life is a journey of adventure, and with it the mantra,
"wait, there's more!"
The promise of God is that they, and their loved ones who have put
their trust in Him, will go to a new home in heaven with their loving
Father, and for all of us there will be the greatest reunion of all.
This is how Jesus describes it, "I am going away to prepare a place for
you…. I'm coming again to welcome you into my own home, so that
you may be where I am”
Anyone can be part of His ever-expanding family, and share in that
great reunion. Why not talk to one of his family members about how
you can be part of His family?
Going Forwards
Sometimes you will see them along the side of the roads. The bodies
of kangaroos hit by passing cars or trucks. It's a pity, but a fact of life,
and often a real inconvenience. But why ?
Having a kangaroo as a pet some years ago, gave me the opportunity
to understand some of the unusual characteristics of this native animal.
Our pet kangaroo roamed around the yard, and played with our cat
happily, until we put milk in the cat's dish. When the kangaroo began
drinking the milk, the cat would react strongly. The 'roo didn't fight back
- instead it jumped over the cat.
A kangaroo can't back off - its heavy tail, so necessary for balance,
won't let it move backwards when it is in danger. That's probably why
so many come to grief along the roads. And that's why there's a
kangaroo on the Australian Coat of Arms - an encouragement for us to
always go forwards.
Refugees, wars, unemployment, drugs, and so many other problems
around us, may cause us to feel that we are going backwards. Maybe
we would do well to learn a lesson from our national emblems, and
determine to go forwards, not backwards, whatever happens.
One of the early Christians, the apostle Paul, in God's Word, also
encourages us to go forward. He didn't have it easy, with people and
situations often against him. He said, "I'm not turning back; God is
calling me on to what He has in store for me, in Jesus."
Now and again, all of us have experienced events that have hurt or
disappointed us - arguments with family or friends, insults, mistakes,
misbehaviour. I'm sure the apostle Paul didn't mean that we can
pretend that these past events haven't hurt us or disappointed us.
Once we have come to terms with them, then they are in the past, and
we are to go forward. What he is saying is that the presence of Jesus
in our lives can give us the energy, the hope and the will to keep
moving on, and to make the most of whatever happens in our lives.
Possum
A man they called "Possum" lived on the Murray River between
Renmark and Wentworth for most of his life. He survived on rabbits,
fish and other bush food.
Born in New Zealand, Possum came to Australia to shear sheep.
When he ran out of money and his Union ticket lapsed, he couldn’t
work in the shearing sheds so he went bush and kept away from
people. Whenever he saw other people nearby, he would swim across
the river to avoid them or climb a gum tree - that’s how he earned his
nickname, "Possum"
He spent his time walking the length of the river, and made many trips
to the Murray mouth. He would stop to pull burrs from the wool of
sheep, he would crutch lambs, and mend broken fences.
When a shearer's camp moved on, he would help himself to the
leftovers, and he had several stores of supplies along the river. The
only things he ever asked for were salt, which was his all-purpose
healer, matches and newspapers, so he could keep in touch with the
outside world.
A policeman from Renmark eventually tracked him down, and over the
years won his confidence. In this way he learned enough to write
"Possum's" story.
Possum's attitude to life was he was kind to animals, helpful to people
and he lived simply and had faith in a God who cared for him, “The
Lord above watches over me, that's why I live under the canopy of
heaven” he said to the policeman. His one regret was that he had not
kept in touch with his mother in New Zealand.
Jesus summed up God's commandments in two sentences -
Love God with heart, soul, mind and strength,
and love others as you love yourself.
Both are essential if we are to live fulfilling lives.
Mantle of Safety
John Flynn is famous for providing a “mantle of safety” for people in the
outback.
John was Presbyterian minister to people in the northern parts of South
Australia, whos nearest neighbours were many kilometres away. He
became aware of their isolation and loneliness, and the fears they
experienced .
He dreamed of providing a “mantle of safety” for these people, so that
they would have medical help when they needed it. From his efforts,
the Royal Flying Doctor Service came into existence, bringing medical
assistance to the residents of the outback.
All of us need a “mantle of safety” - an awareness that there is support
available to us when we are in danger, or lose our balance, or face
situations of risk. It’s like the safety net in a circus tent, enabling the
acrobats to perform risky manoeuvres high above the ground.
Often our family, our friends, other supportive people and community
agencies provide such a mantle. Jesus Christ is also able to give us
this support.
Making contact with the support when we need it is essential. John
Flynn had the assistance of Adelaide engineer Alf Traeger who
developed the pedal wireless, enabling all outback families to contact
help immediately.
For us, prayer is the immediate means of contact with Jesus Christ,
when we need Him. The apostle Paul says,
“Don’t worry over anything whatever; tell God every detail of your
needs, in earnest and thankful prayer, and the peace of God, which
transcends human understanding, will keep constant guard over your
hearts and minds as they rest in Christ Jesus.”
Prayer needn’t be limited to our times of need. If we are on friendly
terms with Jesus, we can talk to Him about anything, anytime, just as
folk use the pedal wireless to keep in touch with each other.
Either way, it’s a bonus !
Attitude matters most
Matthew Flinders was among the world’s greatest navigators, though
his journeys were mostly in leaky, rotten ships. One such vessel was
the "Investigator" in which Flinders sailed from England to map the
southern coast of Australia.
The task completed, he reached Sydney, where the ship was
overhauled so he could map the northern coast. Then, in the Timor
Sea, the ship began leaking badly. An examination showed it would
barely last another six months. Flinders circumnavigated the continent,
sailing through the Bight in mid winter, and reached Sydney safely.
Naval inspectors found the timbers to be rotten through, and
condemned the ship.
On a later voyage, eight of his men drowned off Eyre Peninsula. And
on his trip back to England, he was imprisoned in Mauritius for six
years. Despite these setbacks and the hardships he faced on his
voyages, he accomplished a great deal, making the Unknown Coast
known to future navigators.
Maybe we think we aren’t up to scratch - we haven't had a good
education, we suffer from poor health, our family life is in tatters, we
are too young, or too old, so we don’t feel we can accomplish much
with our lives.
If we love God with heart, soul and mind, and love our neighbour as we
love ourselves, God can use our efforts. We can make a difference to
our neighbourhood or community, we can bring cheer into other
people’s lives, we can help others to find meaning in life.
The important thing is the attitude of our hearts. Man looks at the
outward appearance, but God looks at the heart. That makes us pretty
special, if our heart is set on Him.
Apples from junk
How many apples are there in one seed?
From one seed, Granny Smith apples are now as plentiful as flies on a
summer’s day. And their beginnings go back to the early days of
Australia as a colony.
One of the pioneer women, Maria Smith, was a midwife, present at the
births of many of the first freeborn Australians. She became
affectionately known as Granny Smith. To support her sick husband,
she ran a farm and orchard, as well as being a midwife.
On one of her visits to the market, she bought a barrel of crab apples,
intending to make apple tarts. She used some, but the rest were bad,
so she dumped them on a rubbish pile near a creek at the back of her
property.
Months later, she discovered a small tree pushing its way through the
rubbish. She nurtured the tree, and sometime later harvested the
world’s first crop of green apples. The locals soon discovered the
apples, which they affectionately called Granny Smiths apples
Many folk asked Maria Smith for the secret of her unusually tasty
apples. She would smile, as she explained, “isn’t that just like God - the
very stuff we chuck away, He uses to bring into being a new thing. And
God keeps on doing that.
Australia was established as a colony to be the rubbish tip for people
who had committed offences in Britain. From these first settlers, God
brought into being a new community of people.
Many people have been tossed onto the scrap heap by family and
friends, because of mistakes they have made. God can make them into
new people, when they allow Jesus Christ to take control of their lives.
And in the process, they bring happiness to others and make a
worthwhile contribution to society.