Sick, and you visited me

My wife and I have been visiting some people in hospital and have been impressed by the faith and courage with which they face suffering and even death. I hope we were an inspiration to those we visited. Certainly, they were an inspirtation to us.

Communication

The marvels of modern communication would have seemed like science fiction a few years ago.
It is wonderful that we can get messages to family and friends in split seconds. My wife and I
have a webcam and enjoy seeing and hearing our daughter and family in the UK. A great neice of mine has just gone as an exchange teacher to the USA and I have just spoken to her on the phone. But of course, communication must involve more than technology. There must be mutuality. Technology alone cannot overcome loneliness. That takes the old-fashioned thing called love. And that is what the world needs more than anything else.

The end of an era?

On Sunday I was privileged to speak at a final meeting at the Bethany Aged Care Complex in Camberwell. I noted that the site was first purchased by the Army in 1917 for the first eventide home for women run by the Army in Australasia. The Army's tenure continued until the divestment a couple of years ago. New facilities for seniors will rise like a phoenix on the site and being situated next door to the Camberwell SA Citadel (church) should provide opportunities for outreach. Always, the vineyard is as big as out vision!

A kick in the interim

I heard of a minister who was surprised when he heard that the young people in his church were organising a party for him and for his wife. He asked them why and they replied, 'When you first came you were given a good kick off and when you farewell no doubt there will be something similar but we felt that perhaps you might need 'a kick in the interim'.' Perhaps we all need one of those occasionally! A little encouragement can help us to go a long way.

The scourge of alcohol

Recent reports have pointed to the harmful effects of alcohol in Australia. We have learnt of abuse in the Northern Territory, binge drinking by young people, road trauma, reports of research indicating brain damage etc.,etc. Fear of being dubbed a wowser would prevent some from condemning the demon drink but evidence mounts nonetheless. No-one sets out to become an addict but too many do. I have never met anyone who seriously regretted not being a drinker but many with cause to regret the day they first imbibed, often because of peer pressure. I, like many others, am a pledged total abstainer as a matter of example, apart from anything else. I do not criticise friends who take a different view but I would not want to know that someone who followed my example of moderate imbibing then went on to become an addict. So am I my brother's keeper? Yes, to some extent I think I am. Aren't we all?