Down Under

Australia Earl Plato

It helps to have friends who appreciate sharing views of our created world of nature. Olive (Weaver) Rickersay retired teacher and missionary, from Ridgeway is one such friend. She has reported to me before about Australia. Did I say retired? Not so, Olive will never retire. She just came back from a mission effort at Sydney, Australia. She has sent me booklets and pamphlets about the nature settings in this interesting continent. This time she brought me an unusual card. It was one of those fold out cards, a view folder entitled Wild Australia - RAINFOREST.
Unusual in that instead of having six diiferent shots it opens up to one great profile of an Australian rainforest. Now I know something about Australia. Queensland and the southeast corner has been very dry, Wildfires had been a weekly occasion. Rainforest? You have to go to the north on the continent. Closer to the equator where the rain and humidity are the greatest.
The cover of the card shows a King parrot, bright red in colour. Open the folder and it opens to six sections all part of the panoramic view of a rainforest. Get the picture? Here is what was written at the top edge. Entitled, Rainforest.
“Benath
the canopy of living things
a world of magic
where hidden treasure
tests imagination
By
day silent Pademelon wallabies
muster courage for adventures outside
at night cacophonies of bright green frogs
let all be known of amorous intentions,
and there’s the rustle of the palms,
the sound of water falling,
the raucous calls of scarlet birds
all sounds that fill the senses.” by Steve Parrish
On the back of the panoramic shot are photos of the Green tree frog, Pademelon wallabies, Fan palm, a waterfall and an unsual marsupial, a Green ringtail possum. Shades of the OUTBACK! Yes, a Green ringtail possum (or Opossum)!
Thanks Olive for this ‘slice’ of nature. Anyone heading to Australia or New Zealand soon?
***
Had a good Easter service. How about you? I have been doing some deep thinking again. C’mon Plato. Lots of inspired truths in David and the other psalm writers’ words. Here’s my personal view after hearing Pastor Dan on Easter Sunday.
That Easter Sunday we were asked why we were there. Why? Why worship a dead God? Christians believe in a Living, Risen Lord. I have friends who say, “I believe in God but I can worship Him in nature - on a mountain top, on a seashore, or in a pristine forest. You know what? I agree. I consider my self a “freelance” writer.” I can write from my background and submit it to the paper. Maybe they will print it or maybe they won’t. I have no contract. I have some freedom.
Are there “freelance” Christians? I think so. They want to do their own things apart from other believers. Psalm 42 says that we can worship God on a mountain or near the sea. God is there.
However, if you stay too long on the mountain top you may begin to worship the mountain. The late Fort Erie naturalist, Bert Miller, loved the Garden of the gods at Point Abino. He revered that site that is now long since gone. But I knew Bert and he never forgot his committment to fellow believers. He worshipped at his church faithfully with others.
Let the wonders of creation bring you closer to the Creator. Put your trust and hope in Him and then join the rest of us - needy people who are sometimes struggling, sometimes doubtful, sometimes depressed - join the fellowship in singing praises to our God, who refreshes our soul both in nature and in our churches.
Yes, three of our daughters and grandchildren are heading out for a Monday walk - Friendship Trail. old Fort Erie and hopefully Marcy Wood.