Its been a while

    Sometimes life dips deep into the unknown. In these places I hang on to God, close my eyes, pray for supernatural strength and grace. Then I wait in faith for the ride to level out again. And level out it will.
    But on the ride my brain seems to recede - or maybe it is over used? So the body protects it. I watch very little television, read less books and more of the Word, and write seldom! So I apologise for not communicating with you for so long.
    But I've been clawing life back in a few areas.
    My legs became very weak, due to drugs for high cholesterol. I replaced the drug with coconut oil and have been rebuilding strength in my muscles, with the help of a dear friend who regularly massages the knots from my hips and calves.
    Little by little, I have increased my walk from a slow kilometer to about three kilometers at medium pace. This morning, I decided to try my favorite route, the one I had followed most days of the week, until my legs made it appear impossible.
   I did it quite easily! What an adventure!
   I paused on the little wooden bridge to absorb the reflections, watch the ducks and marvel at dragon flies. 
    Walking further, I saw this koala, one of many in the trees along the creek. They are always well camouflaged. Fellow walkers on the track exposed this fellow's perch. Doesn't he look unsafe? They sit on the thinnest branches!

    The creek is bridged by our local shopping center. Here I met a group of local walkers who feed eels, water fowl, and ducks. I watched the baby water fowl, chasing their parents on long gangly legs, their little red beaks flashing in the sun. Leaving there, my attention is drawn to the big black crow flying across the car park, a helpless mouse hanging from his beak.
     Heading toward home, I'm alerted by a familiar thump on the ground. I scanned the bush until I spied this little wallaby. (Can you see him?) His family lives in this tiny bit of scrub that is bordered by a road, the shopping center, creek and a park, but rarely do they allow themselves to be seen.

    Although it is only a kilometer to walk around the narrow strip of reserve, from my house it is a three and a half kilometers circuit. But I arrived home invigorated. I feel so fortunate to live in such a place. However there about a six hundred homes within a kilometer of this miniature wildlife wonderland. 
    How many people know? Have they taken the time to explore?
    What about you? Where is your closest nature retreat? It may be closer than you think.
    As for me, I think I'll go back again tomorrow. Be strong, legs!

God loves grey days

Dull. Drab. Grey.

Where is the sun? This is Queensland!  I need vivid blue skies and bright sun to warm my world. I'm used to clear horizons and running all day with a light jacket.

But this week is different.

I have to drag myself out of bed for my not-so-early walk. Where are the colours of the sunrise, the shafts of early morning light that brighten my world and form dancing reflections in the little creek? These are the things that make my heart worship everyday. The greens that usually sparkled in countless different shades are all dull greyish green
Walking along the creek, I spy two koalas, high in the gum trees, huddled against the cool day. Then across the creek there is one little head with two pricked ears . A wallaby! I haven't seen one on this tiny reserve for a couple of years. As I stand and watch, he turns and jumps above the long grass so I can see him. He's a large black wallaby with a white tip on his tail. He disappears into the long grass, completely hidden again. The day seems brighter. 

I walk another hundred metres past my local supermarket. My route takes me down a suburban street which skirts the other side of the same reserve that follows the creek. The birds are going crazy. Crows are yelling, parrots are squawking and two galahs are screeching as they fly around in a large circle.
There is always a reason for birds to be so disturbed. I stop, forgetting the demands of the pedometer in my pocket. I watch. What are they concerned about. The galahs are circling the tallest gum tree and there, in the top branches, is an eagle. Too high for me to see clearly, he is about six times larger than the crows. He seems unperturbed by their screaming at him as they swoop past. The only thing that moves is his head. I watch until the parrots settle in a branch above him, the galahs disappear and the crows return to normal behaviour. 
Realising that he isn't going to fly, I head home. What a wonderful walk I had on a grey morning. Then I noticed the wonderful pale pink blossom on a Eucalyptus tree. Somehow the dull background highlighted the pale colour.

Ah, God, I think I'm starting to understand. Today you have spoken in a different way. You're always speaking but sometimes I don't hear because you don't always communicate the same way. You have so many differnt languages. In shine and in rain, in good times and bad your voice is always there. Please tune my ear and train my eye to see it. I want to know you more and more and more.
As the words came out of my mouth He replied. Right there in front of me. A love letter from God!

Whose favourite kid are you?

'Ma, are you okay in there?'
Miss Four's little voice wafted through the cubicle door. Witt the help of her big sister, she was ready to go swimming and was getting a little impatient.
'Thanks, Darling. Ma's okay.'
As I opened the door, she was propped in front of me, arms wide, bottom out, head back. She wore her brand new pink and white bathers. She spun and twirled for me, knowing that I would confirm her stunning beauty. We left the changing rooms heading toward the surf. Miss Four walked the sand catwalk to the beach, sure the whole world was watching her entrance.
She loves the surf. Her eyes sparkle as the wall of water overshadows her. She screams and grabs my hand, expecting me to swing her out of the water. Her sister encourages her to hide behind me. Soon she discovers she can duck behind my expansive behind and be protected until the white water passes!
It's no wonder Jesus loved the little children. I'm sure they accepted his love and returned it triple fold. They never question His love for them, his motives or his genuineness.
 I'm trying to become more childlike in His presence, because that is the gate into the Kingdom of heaven.
Many adults think I'm a little crazy when I pick up a special rock on the beach and claim God put it there for me, or when I exult over the extravagant sunrise God colours for me. Or when I stoop to examine the tiny flower that blooms so confidently beside the path, somehow avoiding the boots of thoughtless, hurrying humans.

Yet this craziness opens the door of heaven. An extravagant creator loves to have his handiwork noticed, photographed, exclaimed over. In my little corner of Australia, I often see koalas, many beautiful birds, water fowl and an occasional wallaby. All this on my morning walk. So I claim I'm God's favourite - and so I am!
However God is always seeking more favourites. Applications are open. But you must have eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart to fall in love with Him. But guess what? He's as keen to have your love and admiration, as Miss Four was for my admiration, love and protection . So keen that if you ask, he will open your eyes, ears and heart. Try it! You'll be amazed at what you see.