Veena Sahajwalla is a woman quietly making a big difference in our world. Raised in Mumbai, Veena was fascinated from a young age how almost everything was ingeniously recycled. When she moved to Australia, she found a very different story and dedicated herself to fixing it. Now an engineer, Veena inspires teams of people with her unflinching and creative determination to find solutions for hard to use waste products. Veena was recently featured on ABC Australian Story: The Tipping Point . As I admire new, creative solutions that produce a positive outcome, Veena inspires me. I also love her modus operandi: a quiet, unselfish determination to do some lasting good for all. Veena dedicates her life to this passion. She doesn’t complain, but there is an underlying sacrifice required for the intensity of her mission.

Who or what inspires you? Answering this question helps to counter the bombardment of so much dark news. Is it a sports person, an actor, an activist, natural beauty or your Dad? What is it about them that inspires you to be a better person? You could reward them by telling them what they mean to you.

For many people throughout the centuries, inspiration has come from God, augmented by the associated writings which help them understand a little more about that often -mysterious Source. Like all inspiration, belief in a higher power beyond ourselves, gives us hope. The Easter story is one of sacrificial love of God for all people. Beyond even Veena’s passion, Jesus’ absolute passion was for humanity’s reconciliation with God, a passion worth sacrificing his young life for. As a result, millions of people have been inspired to find and enact their life’s purpose to benefit the world.

Inspire! is a new gathering being designed to give hope and inspiration for those who desire to explore following God through Christian practices, readings and community. Outdoor contemplative practices such as Dadirri help connect us to creation and our place within it. Deeply spiritual Communion encourages our connection to God, augmented by prayer. Communal creativity engages our unique expression in combination with others.  I am expecting peace, reverence, joy and hope to emerge. Contact me to know more.
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We are all called to find out and express the inspiration we have been given, for the benefit of all.

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends (The Bible, John 15:13 NIV)

Quietly spoken Dr. Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr, captured my attention in her ‘2021 Senior Australian of the Year’ acceptance speech, when she spoke of the greatest gift to our nation. She named ‘dadirri’ as that gift. Dadirri (da-did-ee) is a term from the Aboriginal peoples of the Daly River region, referring to the ‘deep spring’ in all of us and the ability to tap into it. ‘Inner, deep listening and quiet, still awareness’ is required. Miriam-Rose assures us: ‘The contemplative way of dadirri spreads over our whole life. It renews us and brings us peace. It makes us feel whole again…’ This renewal extends to healing from grief and other forms of pain we encounter. Whereas she finds her stillness by a riverbank and in other natural spaces, it can be found in the city too, as we listen quietly to one another.
Although my roots are Anglo-Celtic, I resonate with Miriam-Rose. I respectfully practise dadirri and lead others to do so too, in bush settings in or near Lane Cove. It is harder to slow down and find that deep, inner spring when engaged in city life – but so very important. It is an antidote to rushed lives, allowing spiritual wisdom to surface that can otherwise be missed. ‘Be still and know that I am God’ (the Bible, Psalm 46:10) is a treasure I have long respected from my Christian tradition. We struggle to ‘be still’ at our own peril. So many of us have lost the ability to ‘simply be in God’s presence’, but Miriam-Rose tells us that Aboriginal people feel close to their Creator easily.

Does Miriam-Rose go too far in describing dadirri as ‘our most unique gift’ and ‘perhaps the greatest gift we (Aboriginal peoples) can give to our fellow Australians? There are gifts of understanding the Australian bush that indigenous people possess, which could be utilised to reduce bushfires, preserving water sources and so much more. Yet, I suggest this wisdom has come from this same deep source within, originally. Quiet observation of this land and its inhabitants over thousands of years, observing its response to challenges, combined with a deep inner knowing, has created a unique depth of wisdom. Let us respect and seek that wisdom from Aboriginal people and learn to engage it for ourselves through the practice of dadirri.

Quotes from Miriam Rose Ungunmerr can be found in their full context at
https://www.miriamrosefoundation.org.au/about-dadirri
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Standing above the clouds on a Nepalese mountain was sublime. Our party had climbed from sea level over several days to this point, making it even more special for the exertion expended. The wonder of that wild place is etched into my being. Surrounding mountain peaks poked through the clouds, creating a surreal landscape reminiscent of islands in a frothy sea. Times of wonder such as these, are spiritual experiences, which I attribute to a Creator who revels in beauty.

Eco theology was a recent topic of study for me, focusing on the relationship between God and ecology. It is a relatively new, and increasingly urgent topic, to inform a practical religious response to benefit our planet. A motherly role, that seeks to nurture, protect and restore the created order, is suggested. One that listens to incorporate the wisdom of indigenous people, who have lived lightly on the Earth for thousands of years. One that hears the suffering of the most affected peoples on Earth, (who have contributed least to the problem) and seeks solutions with them. One that seeks to work together with scientists and all who stand for our Earth and its creatures.

Given the vast destruction industrialised humanity has wrought on our planet, a new world view is needed. We are a co-dependent part of the whole of creation, rather than mere utilisers of its ‘resources’. Some of our dependencies have become apparent while others are still to be revealed. We humans are a needy composite of creatures anyway! Our microbiome of bacteria, fungi, protozoa and viruses protects us against pathogens, breaks down food to release energy, and produces vitamins.

Recognition of our role to nurture and tend our planet as a co-dependent creature, naturally leads to lifestyle adjustments. Consume only what we need and use everything acquired. (Indigenous people kill an animal and use it all, nose to tail). Choose local, minimally processed and packaged goods. Recycle as much as possible. Walking, bike riding, using public transport or even carpooling reduces our carbon footprint. Political activism to keep carbon (e.g. coal) in the ground, rather than the air, may begin to have an impact. Stand with those communities already disaffected by global warming e.g. in low lying Tuvalu (see www.unitingworld.org.au/paradiseandpain ) and Torres Strait Islands. Encourage creatures native to your area to thrive, by providing water and safe homes for them. Start a vegetable garden. Join our walking groups!
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Embracing our wild connection to Earth and Creator enables hope and healing for us too. Is there a way you can begin now?

Descending from the busy highway, waves of refreshment wash over me as I enter the quieter, natural space below. It’s so close, but it seems like a different world. I retreat from the frenetic pace above gratefully. Lane Cove is delightfully rich in such experiences, with its beautiful gullies and preserved bushland. It’s common to hear kookaburras laugh amongst a variety of bird calls. Seasonal native flowers attract my eye and bring a sense of wonder. Recently, I spied a large stingray gliding gracefully along the edge of Lane Cove River and glimpsed a shy wallaby bounding away on the other side. Being amidst such diverse creation is good and restful for our souls.

As we head into the New Year, I hope you’ve had the opportunity to rest and be refreshed for the year to come. What refreshes you? What brings joy to your soul? It’s important to take regular opportunities to rest, so we can be our best for others and the demands of life. It’s written into our design according to the Bible. The seventh day was made for rest from the very beginning and longer periods of rest are advocated too.

Whereas productivity appears to be the enemy of rest, as we are urged to work relentlessly on, it’s a false assumption. To be efficient, productive and especially to be creative, we need to be in good working order. Even machines need to stop and be serviced, so how much more do people, who are also psycho-spiritual beings? Our body, mind, spirit and relationships, all need good care. Creating this balance in our lives is challenging, but it is our own responsibility. Whereas no one else can do this for you, an ally or two can be found. I have a bike riding buddy, a tennis four, a book club, and a mentor who all help me keep doing the things that refresh me. Who can you bring into your corner?
I may be one of those people for you potentially! If you enjoy walking in nature or want to experience soothing meditation, join a book club or a spiritual discussion and practice group, or just want to chat over coffee or dinner, I can help you. Contact me here .

Take action now to get the rest you need to keep you in good working order for 2021 and beyond. We will all be so pleased you did!

​‘You’re one of us now’ indicates inclusion, often through an initiation. My daughter’s partner longs for the day Australia includes him via citizenship. It will be a huge milestone, passing from stateless to citizen. Less formal initiations hold significance for us too: acceptance into a social group, a sports team, or a local community group. Then there’s the darker side – the groups we reluctantly fit into and find hard to leave.

Christmas is founded upon God generously becoming one of us, with the incarnation of Jesus, the God-man. Born into humble, risky circumstances, this young family soon ran for their lives, becoming refugees. No longer ‘one of us’ but ‘one of them’. Surprisingly, Jesus didn’t come as a ruler, but identified with various disenfranchised people. Joan Osborne pictures God as ‘just a stranger on the bus’ in her song One of Us . That’s a long stretch from some of our ideas about God, but captures the common humanity of Jesus well, with a subtle, (very biblical!), implication to care for the strangers around us too.

Hence, Lane Cove Community Chaplaincy was created to intentionally enable people to become ‘one of us’ without major barriers. A Chaplain has been provided by Lane Cove Uniting Church to be welcoming, supportive, available and non-judgemental for anyone in our community. This can be simply a chat over coffee or as part of a group. Being ‘one of us’ can look very different to attending a Church service these days. Contact me (details below) if you are interested.

We were designed to be in relationships which bring mutual richness to our lives. Christmas should be a time of joyously giving and receiving love. Hence, this Christmas, I encourage you to prioritise your relationships, to build on the ‘us’ you may have been blessed with. Others are not so fortunate. Can you help to welcome someone into your circle? Especially this Christmas when many are stranded away from their loved ones. Alternatively, donate to others who are providing Christmas hospitality like Wayside Chapel .

It’s been a tough year, so let’s be gentle with ourselves and gracious to others.
‘Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other’ – Jesus

Wishing you a joyful Christmas and a refreshing break from all of us at Lane Cove Community Chaplaincy.

 I recently attended a full week's teaching on the topic of Eco theology. It is the Church's contribution to face its responsibilities in our current ecological crisis. Global warming and other damage to our Earth is a 'wicked problem' requiring an inter-disciplinary approach. Communities of faith have a unique role to play, which we were trying to uncover. This is all very complex and I am happy to talk with you about it, rather than unpack it simplistically in a few words here.

We were given an interesting exercise to do, which incorporated many themes of the week for me. Not everyone will appreciate the exercise we were given  - to apply an eco-feminist view point to a Bible passage of our choice. But others have appreciated it, so I share it with you. I chose Psalm 23. You can find a more standard version here. 
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Psalm 23 (KPV😉)
Creator God is my shepherd,
Balancing my needs amongst all creation,
I have all that I need – but no more.
She let’s me rest in green forests, desert landscapes, amazing coral reefs, under the blue sky,
To renew my strength in grateful communion with them.
These are right paths of peace,
Honouring the Creator and all creation.
Even when I walk through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
Because God is already there, inhabiting his Creation.
Loving Creator, we will continue to listen to your voice,
Attending to your principles,
From those wise ones gone before,
And from the living Earth,
So we may discern good from evil.
Then we may all share in the feast you have initiated,
Having confronted Earth’s enemies and destructive powers.
Let all creation live in harmony,
Honouring every part,
So these mutual blessings may go on and on
For all generations of all creatures, land, water and sky,
Who you the Creator love and will live amongst forever.
Amen

​‘I did but see her passing by, yet I will love her till I die,’ – these are words former Prime Minister Robert Menzies used when making a speech to the Queen when she first visited Australia. We’ll never know if the Prime Minister was genuinely swept away by the Queen’s aura as he gazed at her or if he was making the most of a chance to ingratiate himself with her. But we know of other similar stories which may be less ambiguous: for instance, the Renaissance author Dante Alighieri when he caught sight of the beautiful Beatrice, was so carried away by the sight of her that Beatrice became his model for characters in his famous writings even though the two never met again.
 
My point is that every moment of ordinary life can be seen to be rich with special, even sacred meaning - full of spiritual meaning -  if only we have the eyes to see. Jesus himself says: ‘Let anyone with ears to hear, listen,’ [Mk 4:23] and he asks, ‘Do you have eyes and fail to see? Do you have ears and fail to hear?’[Mk 8:18] and finally, [‘What I say to you, I say to all, “Keep awake!” [Mk 13:37]
 
Just recently, I noticed an item on my screen encouraging the viewer to take time to observe momentary and unexpected events of special beauty or appeal in the midst of ordinary life and to commit that small observation to memory so it could be recalled and savoured at a later time.
 
I have also heard Catholic Franciscan Priest, Fr Richard Rohr advise much the same thing, only he says to observe the event for at least 15 seconds before letting our attention move away because we need that length of time to commit the moment to memory for later recall.
 
The point of both observations is to remind us that today’s ordinary everyday life, even for those who have retired or are unemployed, can be rushed and stressful. We experience vast amounts of stimulation coming in to our minds all the time and this makes it very difficult to stay in the moment. In being held constantly mentally busy, we lose touch not only with ourselves but with the transcendent world unavailable to the passing glance.  So it becomes important to rediscover inner stillness to put us back in touch with that world. We can do this at least in part by stopping to pay attention to and savouring the world around us.  Pausing to notice small events happening around us is a way to reduce anxiety immediately and also to provide at the very least, some pleasant moments for reflection at the end of the day. And even better than that, these experiences can become a focus for thanksgiving for the blessings of life, or to reality, or to the universal consciousness or to God – whichever your view of what is ultimate might be.
 
It goes without saying that such quiet reflection later in the day on the small but lovely or fascinating events we come across is a fine way in to meditation.  More prosaically, recalling to mind those events which make us smile in wonder and delight can be a very useful antidote to those times when we can’t sleep in the middle of the night.  That 2.00 – 3.00 a.m. wakefulness is often supercharged with anxiety as we worry about all kinds of issues, past, present and not even here yet and about which – at that moment – we can do nothing.  How much more calming and positive it can be to recall the good things!
 
But going further than that, I would suggest that experiencing such ordinary/extraordinary moments through our senses as we relate to  perhaps a beautiful sunset; the song of a bird at dawn; the taste of a meal lovingly prepared; the perfume of a dry landscape suddenly wet with rain or the silky feel of a newborn’s skin are also reminders that God is in everything. Our response of awe or delight is but a reminder of that divine mystery which surrounds us.
 
And if we walk this rediscovered path with God as our companion and become newly aware that it is in God that we live and move and have our being, who knows where our path will lead us.  It may not be to writing famous novels, or becoming influential leaders or martyrs for a cause, but we may become a source of hope, courage and new life to those we meet.
 
Now, while our chances of having a major life-change may be limited, we may have had a moment which gave a silver lining to the clouds of our day or even changed us in some way. Let’s think about that and give thanks.

Over a coffee recently, I learned that to ‘encourage one another and build each other up’ is not the norm! My coffee partner was a young Lane Cove woman discovering the riches of Christianity. She was quite taken by this piece of biblical wisdom (1 Thessalonians 5:11) which I had shared on Facebook recently. I was surprised, because I thought this was obvious. As we discussed it further, it became clear her surprise was justified. Encouraging and building each other up can easily be replaced by a competitive spirit. Unfortunately, people tend to be pitted against each other in business, sporting, educational and many other environments. Relationships can become a trade commodity based upon, ‘How can you benefit me?’ When this carries over into family dynamics, it is particularly sad. Commodifying someone is to dehumanise them.

I enjoy competitive games and I like to win, but not at all costs. (I hope this doesn’t come as a surprise to my family and sporting friends!) Valuing my opponents as people and their self-esteem should always be my first priority. Competitive environments are the trickiest area for me in applying this wisdom. Seeking to encourage others is now a way of life for me in other areas. It causes me to reflect that it hasn’t always been this way. It is something I have learned through a drip feed of decades of Christian teaching. My self-esteem has also grown via the same source and through wonderful encouragers, who told me what they saw in me, when I couldn’t see it myself. Hearing the teaching, augmented by my personal experience of encouragement, combined to produce this good fruit in me, over time.
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To sincerely encourage someone can help them tremendously. They may not tell you, nor show immediate signs of the benefit. If they have been subject to many discouraging or dehumanising experiences, they may even reject your encouragement initially. Their emotional ‘bucket’ may be so depleted of helpful, encouraging content that it will take a long time to fill again. They may not be able to ‘hear’ encouragement, particularly in some areas of their lives where damage has been done. But if you do care for them, continue to try and find an area of their life to build up where they can hear you.  Remember, there is good and bad in everyone. Let’s choose to focus on the good and acknowledge it.

​My life was rich and full in my late 40’s. I was happily married with 3 young adult children whose lives were full of interest and change, completing high school and discerning career pathways. I loved my role as Associate Pastor at our local Church which was diverse and demanded my best effort. Why pursue this Period of Discernment when it hadn’t led in the direction I was discerning? Because I am a woman of my word – and I had committed to the full process. Besides, there was still a niggle that there may be a further call on my life.

Over the decades of going to Church, I had on 2 occasions read a leaflet near noticeboards about Deacon (previously Deaconess) Ministry. Both times I remember thinking that the description of a Deacon fitted my interests perfectly. But I quickly dismissed them with an attitude of ‘I’m not good enough to be ordained and haven’t been called to it in anyway’. Coincidentally, both my Period of Discernment (PoD) Supervisor and my Ministry Supervisor were both Deacons, despite this being a minority role in the Uniting Church. One had been a long-term missionary in south-east Asia, the other a Mental Health Chaplain. A Deacon role was concerned with making a way for congregational members to enact their Christian faith in service of their local community; enactment of social justice; and as an innovative and passionate leader creating new forms of Christian leadership – to name a few. My PoD Supervisor suggested books for me to read and one of them connected with this last aspect of leading innovative change in the Church. This book spoke to me convincingly, as I read with amazement how I embodied the suggested characteristics of such a ministry agent so fully. Maybe this dissatisfaction with the status quo of our thriving church was from God after all?

I finally decided to become a Candidate for Minister of Deacon while doing the required introductory subject about Ministry in the Uniting Church. I was doing my reading while flying over to Tasmania to see my brother, concerning roles of Minister of the Word (MoW) and Minister of Pastor. It felt dead to me. I was already a Pastor in my Church and the MoW description just didn’t resonate with me. Again, I thought the process was over. On the flight home, I read the Minister of Deacon summary. It was very similar to the MoW description – just giving a different emphasis to which ministry roles were prioritised – more of an outward-looking, community focus. Unexpectedly at the time, this one resonated! Looking back, I see this as unsurprising, but at the time it startled me into action.

Both Minister of the Word and Minister of Deacon are ordained roles in the Uniting Church of equal status. Ordination has different meanings and regulations in the variety of Christian denominations, but basically the person to be ordained commits to lifelong availability for service within the Church. The Church confers a new status upon the person and also commits to their welfare. More details here .

Much process and many hurdles followed, including becoming an extremely reluctant Bachelor of Ministry student at age 50! But most subjects were enlivening and eye-opening, and at times, extremely challenging. I wouldn’t have made it through, especially given some huge personal hurdles over this period, if it hadn’t been very clear to me that I was called to this. Life was hectic and I learned that perfectionism had to go if I was going to make it through.

Despite the difficult path and clear call, it appeared there was no placement for me to be ordained into that matched my specific passion to be a change agent in the Church. But after I prayed for direction for my future, my current position of Community Chaplain, 1400kms away in Sydney, was brought to my attention within 20 minutes! This is a whole new story, but suffice to say for now that God led me very surely to meet a faithful, generous congregation, who had been arduously planning this role for many years too.
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Numbers 23:19 (ESV Bible)
“God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?”
Hebrews 10:23 (ESV Bible) 
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”

​My voluntary Church role began with providing and organising pastoral care for the congregation and caring for our newcomers. I loved it and my areas of responsibility expanded. Several years in, the Church decided to formalise the role to Pastoral Assistant and paid me too! The Church continued to grow and more help was required, so a new role of Associate Pastor was created to replace the former one. I experienced most ministry roles in this position and often mixed with ordained Ministers from many denominations, thanks to our inclusive Senior Minister who loved to mentor and encourage me. My view of the Church and its role in our community enlarged further.

However, I was shy and eschewed most ‘platform ministry’, preferring to remain behind the scenes. Over this period, I was challenged by a few people to add preaching to my role. Usually there wasn’t much need to do so and as I had no aspirations in this direction, I simply declined. When the Senior Minister asked me to fill in for a specific date, a few months’ ahead, I wondered if God may be giving me a nudge. Still not keen, I offered God a deal – if I was to pursue preaching, I wanted to be trained to do so before that date. It shouldn’t have happened, as most preaching courses require a semester and the time was less than this. However, a local Church of another Denomination suddenly offered a short preaching course for lay people, so I concluded God had answered me in the positive. Facing my fears, I  was trained and immediately preached my first sermon.

Still feeling inadequate as a preacher, I enrolled in a Public Speaking course at our Theological College sometime later. If I was going to do this, I wanted to do it well! I was directly challenged – twice – to consider ordained ministry over this time. I reluctantly accepted a leaflet. Whereas I continued to enjoy my role at the Church, a little dissatisfaction had been bubbling under the surface for some time, with regard to those who didn’t come to worship on Sunday. We had playgroups, Breakfast Club in the local school, various outreaches and invitations to the wider community to come and join us. A few people did, but largely our Church grew with people who moved from other churches. I knew from mixing with other Ministers that this was a common story. From my perspective, something different needed to happen. I knew there was a good and loving God, who could change peoples’ lives beneficially, but they weren’t hearing this message from us. The underlying frustration was challenging me…

For some years, I had been a leader of our mission partnership in Thailand, entailing annual visits with team members from our congregation. My husband and I wondered whether we may eventually be called to serve overseas longer term in some capacity, especially given my ‘call’ as a 15-year-old. Hence, I decided to give the yearlong ‘Period of Discernment’ a go, to confront this ‘call’ to overseas ministry finally. This PoD is the Uniting Church’s process of serious vocational discernment and a pre-requisite to ordained ministry, amongst other outcomes. After the first 6 months, I had discerned that long-term overseas mission was not my call. I was going to end my PoD, when a little voice inside reminded me that I had signed up for a full year. I asked my supervisor what else there may be to discern?