Day 6 (Sat, 30 September 2017)

Day 6 (Sat, 30 September 2017)

Today we were up about 7 a.m. we had some brekkie we're staying in this caravan park so we didn't have to pack up. Then Katrina drove us to Stoney Creek and walked with us up to Meeniyan, where we all had a coffee together in a coffee shop, and we left her to return to the car at her leisure. We walked on to Leongatha, & our Caravan Park (21km) most of it along the Great Southern Rail Trail (the old now-abandoned railway line to Port Welshpool, set up for walking, push-bike & horse riding).

(see pics of the trail going between cuttings, under main road, beside breathtaking farmland and crossing country lanes that criss-cross it. There was a heard of black cattle with name tags in their ears... Grego said something like "They're having trouble with their colours"... can you read the nametag?)

Greg and I walked on from there. We had our 1 hour of solitude and then we had a cuppa tea, looked at Mach 6 together - that was pretty big, there were 8 little story-let's to do the last 2 in chapter 5 and is 6 in chapter 6.

My shoes were breaking so we went and bought some synthetic (to my disgust, but the best fit and size) hiking boots from Target (who else would be open at 4:30 pm on a Saturday arvo), then some chicken for dinner. Yum... sate' chicken. Katrina cooked, so we do the washing up.

Greg: I spent an hour listening to Genesis and the first half of the talk by Zac Poonen, and spent the day freezing.

Katrina: I went to the lighthouse near Walkerville at Cape Liptrap. It was beautiful but so windy that I couldn't even hold my phone up to take a photo.

Tomorrow is a rest day... 8 am breaky.

A PILGRIM'S REFLECTIONS

Some of my reflections on yesterday's meditation on Jesus' disciples' (students/apprentices) panic & lack of a living faith in God,  during a  storm when their boat was  going down in lake Galilee - as they did a job for Jesus. Combined with reflecting a bit on Jesus' example in Mark 6 (feeding five thousand hungry families).

..........,,,,,,,,,,; ********** ;,,,,,,,,,,..........

I see within the mirror of that tale
of Jesus' apprentices on lake,
their dutifull use of their ship at sail,
& "generous" not waking him to take

a part in all the bailing of what "waved
in", making children scared (for they forgot
that they were loved and cared for, so behaved),
quite panic-ey; & blamed him for the lot!

When I've been under pressure doing work
(I thought was what was given for this while),
my faith has shrunk, & disappeared & shirked
and left a hole instead of a broad smile.

I see that I have been quite faithless, Lord.
I watch your students learn to trust in God
but as they "prove their worth" their faith is flawed -
that's even when they go where you have trod.

For when, like them, we do the things you ask,
it can be just a shell without the heart,
I want to learn from their, and my own, past
to grow a living faith - though  "knowing PART".

For "brother Wind" and "sister Wave" did come.

He speaks to them, & tells them of God's will,
and straight away do they obey - and some!
The heir of fam'ly life tells them "Be still!"...

and like a loyal hound, or old grey mare
they stop their jumping and their blustering,
(for though it may be just they're glad he's there,
the younger children are quite flustering).

So though I know I don't know very much,
the other kind of knowing knows the one
who knows all things,  so if I am in touch,
it can be like a father and his son.

My job (to help this kind of knowing grow)
is not to think I have to  "Tell you what!"...
or check you're doing right, from what I know;
but ask for help, be glad for "spanks" I've got!

In other words there's one who knows better,
and I can learn from you. I am lucky!
But knowing you is more of a treasure;
I've found the door, & now I've found the key!

And as the son said "My father is great-
er. He knows things I do not,  but will when
he tells me them. It's he who works till late-
-er,  looking back, we see what he's done then!

I want to learn to quickly share my needs,
& then look out to learn my lessons well,
look up and thank the one who quiets, and feeds,
& smile, because I know I'll live to tell.

I see oh Lord my treasure is often
the smaller things that are your gifts to me
like food and drink and warm clothes that soften
the many storms and harsh realities

But you are treasure greater than your gifts
the focus of my hopes and dreams will be
on you and seeing your goodness that lifts
or stills, as needs, for more reality.

PW