Wondering Pilgrim

Nostalgia – a good place to visit but would you want to live there?

Mrs Wondering Pilgrim and I are just back from a night out at the local multiplex. With a birthday just around the corner, we thought it a good idea to use a Gold Class gift voucher and enjoy some special cuisine while we luxuriated in some plush recliners.

With this sort of setup, one selects the movie very carefully – and what better offering than Midnight in Paris. Forget the storyline for a moment. Just breathe in the bon vivant atmosphere that floats off the screen as you are immersed in Parisien streetscapes and partake in the cafe scene of eras now and bye-gone – not so difficult as your own waiter serves up decadent delights while you watch.

The movie is vintage Woody Allen – a comedy borne of the sadness of something not quite right or missing. In this instance, Owen Wilson plays a Hollywood scriptwriter who dreams of publishing his first novel. (Hello all you NaNoWriMo athletes out there!). He is in Paris with his fiancee and prospective in-laws whose agendas are at variance with his dream – a dream that sees his nocturnal walks time-warp into the night-life Paris of the 1920s. There he encounters the lives and loves of such literary and artistic giants as Ernest Hemingway, Picasso,Salvador Dali and others. You don’t have to be au fait with their work to enjoy the exchanges and the conflict that the protagonist finds himself in as he moves backwards and forwards from the demands of the modern era to the romance of what he understands as a Parisien Golden Age. A turn of events and an unlikely romance brings clarity – nostalgia has its place, but needs something more tangible to fulfill the promise it seems to offer. We were not left with unfulfilling angst, but with a note of promise alighting from “an insight of a minor nature” (to quote our self-effacing hero).

Four stars out of five!

Principles for a coherent refugee policy – Eureka Street

Fr Frank Brennan lays out a coherent groundwork should our politicians suddenly say “This is all too silly – let’s get back to a decent way of assessing and caring for those who seek asylum.” He lays it all out in Principles for a coherent refugee policy – Eureka Street.

Requiem for Shooty

Villawood Detention Centre, Sydney — Image by .M. via Flickr

Thomas Keneally, Australian author, has written an open letter to ‘Shooty’ whose despair under incarceration led to an untimely death. Read it at Sri Lankan Asylum Seeker Commits Suicide in Villawood.

As a resident of the city that just hosted CHOGM as well as a refugee advocate who has just about run dry of “appalled” responses to our labyrinthine asylum seeker assessment regime, I experience Keneally’s piece opening up fresh reserves of focused anger and lament that our country has come to this. My previous post feted some of the positive aspects of CHOGM. Today’s post acknowledges the dark side. What might a Commonwealth of Nations that is at one under a charter of human decency require of repressive governments, both those that create the huge people movements of this era and those who fail to properly receive those seeking refuge?

How long before we have an inkling?

Suicide sparks mandatory detention plea (heraldsun.com.au)

CHOGM and Prayer

Looks like stranded CHOGM delegates no longer have to sing “We still call Australia home” and can now board their Qantas flights to their destinations. The streets of Perth are returning to normal and I could even drive along Riverside Drive following the cathedral service marking the end of CHOGM.

Yesterday’s “Celebration of the Nations” service was a parallel event marking the culmination of an eclectic planning exercise involving a range of Christian traditions across the 54 Commonwealth nations. The diversity found full expression through music, dance and language during a colourful, vibrating evensong. My lasting impression will be the high church procession to the sound of a symphony of drumbeats from Sierra Leone, Ghana, United Kingdom, Papua New Guinea and Cameroon. Liturgical order and spontaneous rhythm demonstrated a compatibility that few would imagine. This harmony of diversity continued throughout the prayers with excerpts from Handel’s Messiah sung by a Maltese tenor, duet by harp and sitar, and traditional Thillana dance from South India adding to an even greater range of multilingual input. It was a delight for us to meet with a family from the Seychelles, the country my church had adopted as a focal interest for the 12 months leading to CHOGM. One of the smallest nations represented (about 150,000 pop.), it was great to observe their participation along with the other 53.

CHOGM is not without controversy. It’s relevance has been questioned as, like the United Nations, it is difficult to reach agreement on significant issues such as environmental and economical management and human rights. Even within the Christian tradition there are varying views and approaches, ranging from prayers inside the church walls for stability and order and protests beyond the walls urging redress for a range off justice matters. Everything has its season, and CHOGM was an occasion for both prayer and protest.

For a culminating event however, I found the cathedral celebration expressing the possibility of harmony through diversity a powerful counterpoint to notions of despair and fragmentation that are frequently abroad.

Such is life?…

Often a picture does it best. I’ve seen reams written on “the six (sometimes seven) stages of life” and even run the odd workshop or two myself. I found this silent but eloquent expression on imgur.com. The caption is a bit of a worry. That’s why I’ve inserted the question mark.

“Such is life!” These are the final words of Ned Kelly, Australia’s much feted anti-hero, just before the trapdoor dropped in Pentridge prison. Such, indeed, is the fatalistic outlook that has been woven around his story.

P J Harvey and Peggy Lee ask “Is that all there is?” Take your pick! (I like them both for different reasons)

The implication in the lyrics is that we must look beyond this life to satisfactorily answer this question, and one might expect that I would agree, and because of my vocation, point to the Christian affirmation of “something better beyond.”

I prefer, however, to point to the possibility of fulfillment through each of these stages. It is evident to me that this is central to the kingdom talk of Jesus, who continually announces the “reign of God” was upon us (literally “breathing down our necks”). Live out his radical teaching of muscular and proactive compassion and lay these down as the building blocks of a wholesome community.

The “something better beyond” then finds expression through each of those six stages of life’s journey, whatever our contextual challenge, whatever the circumstances.

Marking November how?

November is approaching – the harbinger of low temperatures by climate on the the top half of the planet and air conditioner in the countries “down under” the equator. (Australia’s not the only country “down under”, by the way).

Personally, November is a bit of a bookmark month, being the month of my arrival on this planet, so I tend to mark it in different ways, like celebrating a birthday, remembering to have my annual medical check, reviewing insurances, registrations and other exciting things! When I was younger, the anniversary of my arrival coincided roughly with the Adelaide John Martin’s Christmas Pageant, the harbinger of the magic festive season. So November has always carried an aura of “specialness” about it.

Others will also make hay while the November sun shines. “Movember” will encourage those of us who can to grow moustaches to raise awareness of men’s health issues – particularly prostate and testicular cancer prevention and treatment, and depression. Whilst supportive, I can hardly participate as my whiskers are a permanent feature of my face-scape.

Right now the prospect of November Novel Writing is nagging. I have four days to decide whether I will subject myself to the challenge of writing 1000 words a day for 30 days under the auspices of National Novel Writing Month . I’ve just registered with the site, but not yet sure that I’m committed to it. There is an idea that I am keen to pursue and that should be some incentive. I think it will be a decision to grasp the nettle and just go with whatever comes off the keyboard. Life AFK (Away From Keyboard) is very insistent, but not dictatorial if I don’t let it be.

So some decisions need to be made in the next 48 hours, so should I go ahead, I will at least have time to plan an approach!

It’s 9 pm and I’m bombed out from a 3 am rise for a run to the airport this morning. Musing on what I can write before I nod off completely, something is tickling my ear. Mrs Wondering Pilgrim is in Wagga Wagga tonight so I know it’s not her. Now it’s the other ear! Suddenly it lands on my desk – a Diplocephalus cristatus – or money spider! Oh goody, now I’ll be rich, according to the legend of such creatures. So tiny, little more than 3mm across.

Reminds me of this story about money and spiders that pops up from time to time under a variety of guises.

This one’s from Nine News MSN

Below is the complete email conversation that Adelaide man David Thorne claims he had with a utility company chasing payment of an overdue bill.

From: Jane Gilles
Date: Wednesday 8 Oct 2008 12.19pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Overdue account

Dear David,
Our records indicate that your account is overdue by the amount of $233.95. If you have already made this payment please contact us within the next 7 days to confirm payment has been applied to your account and is no longer outstanding.

Yours sincerely, Jane Gilles
From: David Thorne
Date: Wednesday 8 Oct 2008 12.37pm
To: Jane Gilles
Subject: Re: Overdue account

Dear Jane,
I do not have any money so am sending you this drawing I did of a spider instead. I value the drawing at $233.95 so trust that this settles the matter.

Regards, David.

From: Jane Gilles
Date: Thursday 9 Oct 2008 10.07am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Overdue account

Dear David,
Thankyou for contacting us. Unfortunately we are unable to accept drawings as payment and your account remains in arrears of $233.95. Please contact us within the next 7 days to confirm payment has been applied to your account and is no longer outstanding.

Yours sincerely, Jane Gilles
From: David Thorne
Date: Thursday 9 Oct 2008 10.32am
To: Jane Gilles
Subject: Re: Overdue account

Dear Jane,
Can I have my drawing of a spider back then please.

Regards, David.
From: Jane Gilles
Date: Thursday 9 Oct 2008 11.42am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Overdue account

Dear David,
You emailed the drawing to me. Do you want me to email it back to you?

Yours sincerely, Jane Gilles
From: David Thorne
Date: Thursday 9 Oct 2008 11.56am
To: Jane Gilles
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Overdue account

Dear Jane,

Yes please.

Regards, David.
From: Jane Gilles
Date: Thursday 9 Oct 2008 12.14pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Overdue account

Attached

From: David Thorne
Date: Friday 10 Oct 2008 09.22am
To: Jane Gilles
Subject: Whose spider is that?

Dear Jane, Are you sure this drawing of a spider is the one I sent you? This spider only has seven legs and I do not feel I would have made such an elementary mistake when I drew it.

Regards, David.
From: Jane Gilles
Date: Friday 10 Oct 2008 11.03am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Whose spider is that?

Dear David, Yes it is the same drawing. I copied and pasted it from the email you sent me on the 8th. David your account is still overdue by the amount of $233.95. Please make this payment as soon as possible.

Yours sincerely, Jane Gilles
From: David Thorne
Date: Friday 10 Oct 2008 11.05am
To: Jane Gilles
Subject: Automated Out of Office Response

Thankyou for contacting me. I am currently away on leave, traveling through time and will be returning last week.

Regards, David.
From: David Thorne
Date: Friday 10 Oct 2008 11.08am
To: Jane Gilles
Subject: Re: Re: Whose spider is that?

Hello, I am back and have read through your emails and accept that despite missing a leg, that drawing of a spider may indeed be the one I sent you. I realise with hindsight that it is possible you rejected the drawing of a spider due to this obvious limb ommission but did not point it out in an effort to avoid hurting my feelings. As such, I am sending you a revised drawing with the correct number of legs as full payment for any amount outstanding. I trust this will bring the matter to a conclusion.

Regards, David.

From: Jane Gilles
Date: Monday 13 Oct 2008 2.51pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Whose spider is that?

Dear David, As I have stated, we do not accept drawings in lei of money for accounts outstanding. We accept cheque, bank cheque, money order or cash. Please make a payment this week to avoid incurring any additional fees.

Yours sincerely, Jane Gilles
From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 13 Oct 2008 3.17pm
To: Jane Gilles
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Whose spider is that?

I understand and will definately make a payment this week if I remember. As you have not accepted my second drawing as payment, please return the drawing to me as soon as possible. It was silly of me to assume I could provide you with something of completely no value whatsoever, waste your time and then attach such a large amount to it.

Regards, David.
From: Jane Gilles
Date: Tuesday 14 Oct 2008 11.18am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Whose spider is that?

Attached

Perth does CHOGM

Perth Western Australia at night. — Image via Wikipedia

Fighter jets flying overhead and rattling my office windows.
Concentration of police and security in the Central Business District.
Vehicles and personnel are being stopped and searched under special temporary laws.
The homeless have been moved on.

The Prime Minister & Cabinet move into the city and set up house.
The red carpet is no doubt being cleaned and shampooed before being rolled out for HM’s arrival on Wednesday.
We are told that some of the world’s most powerful will be rolling in over the next few days…
… and the local expression of OWS will seek to test them.

Should be an interesting week here in Perth as the Commonwealth Heads of Government gather.

In the meantime, we will continue to push back domestic chaos as we make early morning runs to the airport on family business and attend to the continuing round of daily distractions, opportunities and conundrums.

Versatile Blogging Award

Just when you thought it was safe to give up blogging… along comes Granny Dog to nominate you for the Versatile Blogging Award! While it’s been one of those time poor weeks where even the basics of life, like eating and sleeping, jostle for their allotted times – it’s easy to ask, “What can I do without?” A daily commitment to blogging inevitably comes onto the radar. But then again, as a teacher and a pastor, communication is my stock in trade and it deserves at least as much consideration as rest and nourishment. So thanks Granny Dog, for rattling my cage! These are the rules should you be nominated. Of course, whether you decide to abide by the rules is up to you!

Thank the person who gave you the award.
Include a link to their blog. Here’s how.
Next, select 15 blogs/bloggers that you’ve recently discovered or follow regularly.
Nominate those 15 bloggers for the Versatile Blogger Award — you might include a link to this site.
Finally, tell the person who nominated you 7 things about yourself.

Seven things about myself that I haven’t made transparent already? Well, here goes:

I’m third generation Aussie on my mother’s side, fourth on my father’s.
My father’s people arrived from Cornwall in Moonta, South Australia, in 1853.
I have lived in South Australia, Victoria, Australian Capital Territory and Western Australia.
I have travelled to Jordan, Israel, Greece and the USA.
USA states I have visited – California, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia.
I aspire to travel with my church team to Zimbabwe in 2012 for a fraternal visit to supported churches and relief work and sharing of ideas and skills.
I would like to travel again to the USA and enhance my training in teaching the Enneagram, a powerful pastoral/spiritual tool that I have been using.

Fifteen sites to which I would now offer the Versatile Blogging Award? Well there are 12 in my blogfeed and I will have to seek out 3 to add. In no particular order:

coobarietwo – my sister is not a habitual blogger, but this is a travel journal climaxing at Kitgum, Uganda, where she and her husband, Des, have just finished working for three weeks in support of an orphanage, hospital and school developed in response to the armed struggle there. So keep blogging, sis, now that you’re home
bwinwnbwimusic – a thoughtful journey involving one person’s pilgrimage, philosophy and music
The Holy Irritant – I have great respect for church folk who think outside the box. Holy Irritant is one.
Kate Shrewsday – I have never come away from Kate’s blog without learning something interesting or simply being won over by her knack for story-telling
If Darwin Prayed – evolutionary spirituality & the path of Christ. I met Bruce Sanguin earlier this year and have continued to enjoy his reflections.
A Feather Adrift – a favourite daily read of someone whose daily homespun commentary on things of and beyond US politics keeps me both informed and entertained.
Love vs.Goliath – the ongoing story of a compelling intercountry marriage that has negotiated Australia’s Kafkaesque immigration regime. Puts a human face on the acerbic refugee debate.
The Go Between God – thoughtful, incisive essays on local current affairs and discussions from a faith perspective by my colleague and predecessor at Wembley Downs
allaboutwordswa – a fellow Sandgroper simply blogs about her life in a simple and winsome fashion. A good friendly read.
So Far From Heaven – from deep in the middle of Texas Hill Country, Old Jules writes his blog with a prose that is deeply musical.
The Christian Left Blog – while the title may alienate some it attracted me. Its content is more radical (grass-roots) than left, and that suits me fine! Some fine commentary on the OWS movement right now.
Call To Radical Discipleship – my nephew’s blog. He is innovative,entrepreneurial and compassionate and writes transparently about the projects to which he is summoned.

Well, I’m looking for three more. When I ‘ve found some, I’ll fill in the blanks.

Foodbanks in a land of plenty – World Food Day

: Image by Rrrrred via Flickr

By world standards, Australia is one of the best fed countries. In spite of the vicissitudes of climate and a creeping drought line, we produce plenty of food, trade vigorously and respond to appeals for help in world famine trouble spots, sometimes generously, sometimes not as much as we could.

Even the most prosperous nations, however, have people who go hungry and whose children are malnourished. Within the urban sprawl of of our most populous cities and quieter regional centres, where surplus food is tossed or culled, there are families who wonder where their next meal is going to come from.

In the so-called leafy western suburbs of Perth, where old money and young professionals build family nests, there are also those who are down on their luck. The stereotype just doesn’t wash. Within a 5km radius of this expensive piece of real estate, there is a mix of brokenness, hard luck, income reduced by illness, separation, mental health, accident and a variety of human circumstances that overwhelm – whether it’s “one off”, periodically or chronically. And it’s Foodbank – An Australia Without Hunger to the rescue.

Our local expression is organised by four or five neighbouring churches. Locals know there is a place that’s open on Wednesday mornings where they can go and stock up without charge on fresh vegetables, staples and maybe even one or two luxuries. Donations from the local community, the regional Foodbank warehouse, and a generous citrus orcharder keep the shelves flowing over. A friendly “help yourself” policy sees respectful response as first time clients overcome natural tentativeness at seeking help and slowly become part of the community that gathers and lingers over coffee and cake, swapping yarns – helper and client alike.

World Food Day is a great opportunity to reflect on how much of our life and our community revolves around the hospitality of food – whether its plenteous or meagre. Involvement in the local Foodbank advances such contemplation.

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