AUSTRALIA DAY! THE GREAT SOUTHLAND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Yesterday was Australia Day! January 26th. The day we celebrate the arrival of the First Fleet in Sydney Cove in 1788. We turn out the bunting, Aussie flags, barbecues, fireworks, entertainment (ferry-boat races, concerts, hot air balloons etc.). Many of us dress up in our national colours, but all in all its mostly a day of celebration.
This morning I saw Rosellas in my garden. So colourful! So vibrant! God certainly brought out his palette to paint these birds. They are a work of art.
The Australian Rosella is one of our national icons. We all grew up with Rosella Tomato Sauce and on Australia Day with barbecues everywhere – there was tomato sauce a plenty, slopped on sausages, chips etc.
Australia Day is a day of giving thanks for our beautiful country and celebrating its history,
The chorus of the song written by Geoff Bullock entitled “The Great Southland of the Holy Spirit” reminds us of our heritage:
This is the Great Southland of the Holy Spirit,
A land of red dust plains and summer rains,
To this sun-burnt land we will see a flood,
And to this Great Southland His Spirit comes.
Australia’s birds are beautiful creations, and the Bible tells us we can learn from the birds.
“…..let the birds tell you what’s going on.
Put your ear to the earth—learn the basics.
….Isn’t it clear that they all know and agree
that God is sovereign, that he holds all things in his hand—
Every living soul, yes,
every breathing creature?
Isn’t this all just common sense,
Do you think the elderly have a corner on wisdom,
that you have to grow old before you understand life?
“True wisdom and real power belong to God;
from him we learn how to live,
and also what to live for. ” MSG
Have you noticed how many birds hang around in flocks or groups? This too, is another lesson we can learn. You don’t see too many depressed and lonely birds when they are a part of a flock or family group.
I call our bird bath – the ‘water cooler’. It reminds me of the office water cooler where everyone gathers around, to swap news and chat.
This is what the Message Bible says about needing others in your life.
” It’s better to have a partner than go it alone.
Share the work, share the wealth.
And if one falls down, the other helps,
But if there’s no one to help, tough!
Two in a bed warm each other.
Alone, you shiver all night.
By yourself you’re unprotected.
With a friend you can face the worst.
Can you round up a third?
A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 MSG
If you are feeling isolated, find yourself a friendly church. Brothers and sisters in Christ care about each other. Loving God, leads to an overflow of love to such a degree it runs over into others. Jesus made is simple when He said:
“love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy.’ And here is the second: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ There is no other commandment that ranks with these.” Mark 12:30-31 MSG
Blessings,
Marilyn
Nature photos are the work of the author