I have a voice that knows what truth is
I need to listen for the leading of that voice
learn a discipline of heeding that voice
let the still small Voice
that speaks for my spirit and my heart
not of what I ought and should
but be and could
I have a voice that knows what truth is
I have a voice.
Know what truth is.
Voice truth.
Talitha Fraser
Camping for Easter in the Brisbane Ranges and I have brought along Cheryl Lawrie’s beautiful Pocket Liturgies for reflection…
i.
We have decided not to die.
We have decided not to believe the voices of cynicism
the prophets of doom
the harbingers of despair
the proclaimers of fear
who speak loudly and only of death that’s inevitable.
we have decided not to die.
we have chosen to believe in life.
and now we must learn to live.
ii.
We have decided not to die.
and now we must learn to live.
to really live
to stretch and wonder and test and dare
to imagine the unthinkable
to defy the gravity of fear and despair
to find the faith that believes there is another story
of life, grace and redemption
and to live as though it is the only story.
we will listen for where God’s heartbeat is giving life to the world
and we will search,
wildly, unceasingly
until we find where our own heartbeat echoes in it.
and though it may mean letting go of all we know,
we will.
for we have decided not to die.
we have decided now to live.
[p.80, Hold This Space Pocket Liturgies by Cheryl Lawrie]
God, let me life a life called into living.
To see, to hear, to be awake
Let me believe in life and believe in You.
“to stretch and wonder and test and dare
to imagine the unthinkable
to defy the gravity of fear and despair
to find the faith that believes there is another story
of life, grace and redemption
and to live as though it is the only story.”
Show me how to live God
how to live the life You
call me into
live a life by another story
as though it is the only story
when I lean and learn
into the story and the story
is still unfolding
that story is Yours
I am Yours
let me live
4 FEB – BREAKING: The High Court has just ruled in favour of the Government over the legality of offshore detention centres.
Right now, Peter Dutton is planning to deport 267 people seeking asylum – including 38 babies born right here in Australia – to Nauru and Manus Island: sites of scores of assaults, sexual assaults, self-harm and suicide attempts, and constant despair.
Love Makes a Way and a bunch of other refugee advocacy groups are campaigning together in response to the recent High Court decision that says that it is not illegal to send people off shore, making it more likely that the 267 on the mainland at the moment will be sent to Nauru. LMAW are inviting people to run their own non-arrestable actions in whatever way they like, using the slogan #LetThemStay.
The following are some of the values which outline the purpose and core ideology of the community and are used to guide and inform our decision-making. It is always good to start off a new year checking in – are these still relevant? how are we doing? what might these look like in the year ahead?
Partnering with God
We value the opportunity of participating in the Missio Dei (mission of God). Through persistence in prayer, we seek to recognise where God is at work in Footscray, and become co-workers with Christ.
Biblical basis: Psalm 127:1, Luke 18:7, 1 Cor 3:9
In it for the long haul
We value being a constant in an inconsistent world, expecting and persevering through hard times. Our long-term commitment allows us to build trust and respect with those in our community, as we try to reflect God’s unconditional love and grace.
Biblical basis: Hebrews 10:36
Being amongst the people
We value sharing life with our neighbours, as a real expression of the kingdom amongst the marginalised. Our everyday involvement and identification means our mission is not so much what we do, but who we are.
Biblical basis: John 1:14, Philippians 2:1-11
Seeking justice for the poor
We value God’s priority for the poor and seek to prioritise the marginalised of Footscray. We do not want to just show mercy, but instead offer in our lives, in voice and activity, with those who we seek to serve.
Biblical basis: Jeremiah 22:16, James 2: 1-5
Becoming family
We value the intimacy of relationship we can have with Christ, and the belonging found in growing closer to God and therefore to each other. Our goal is to be family for those facing loneliness and social isolation.
Biblical basis: 1 John 3:16-18, John 13: 34-35
Being honest about who we are
We value the humility and forgiveness required to live transparent lives in community. We want to submit to each other in accountability and honesty, allowing Christ to use our weaknesses and failings.
Biblical basis: 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, 2 Corinthians 3:18
Doing the hard yards
We value servanthood in the big and the small – choosing to do the “crappy” stuff. We want to be people of personal and spiritual maturity (enduring personal cost) in order that the vision is accomplished.
Biblical basis: James 5:7-11
Travelling light
We value the difference that can be made when we sacrifice personal gain, pouring out our rich resources in an act of worship. Through simplicity, good stewardship and a common commitment to sharing our lives with others, we seek to lessen the power imbalance in Footscray.
Biblical basis: Luke 9:23-24
Let me set out to please You.
Whatever that might look like.
Let me set out.
It is not straight.
It is not clear.
I cannot see
very far ahead.
Let me set out.
Let me look, let me love,
let me live.
Let my life speak to something
I cannot see and
is not clear.
Let my life speak to something.
Let me look,
let me love,
let me live.
Talitha Fraser
My alarm went off at 7.30am. “Wha-?” Snooze.
Why did I set it early again? Not work… Oh. I remember I need to walk to Maidstone via an ATM to collect a network repeater I bought off the local Buy/Swap/Sell Facebook group.
The alarm sounds again. Snooze.
This is not how I thought my weekend was going to go… I had Friday/Saturday clear – maybe to write and have some sacred space. One housemate is away at a wedding and school holidays have started, things will be quiet around the house. Yet somehow a conversation has started up about supporting a family of refugees who are staying in two rooms at The Palms. They’re approved for housing but the waiting list could mean anywhere between days and months or, let’s face it, months and years before a 5 bedroom place with disability access comes up. At the motel they will run through their income for a fortnight purely on accommodation leaving nothing for transport and food. It seems on Monday they will move in with us.
I wonder whether anyone might imagine that this is some extraordinary thing?
The room swap for my shift-working housemates’ peace may now be a bit redundant. We have four bathrooms between three units which felt very luxurious not to have to negotiate, though to cycle through 6 new others might take some negotiation, similarly with the use of the kitchen when dinner is in progress. My head keeps going through the details – need: beds, bedding, another fridge…
The alarm sounds again. Snooze.
…and more internet, which means a wireless signal repeater, which means you have to get up now and go and collect it.
The signal repeater is in place. The signal is extending further than it did before but it’s not any stronger.
These are the the basic tenets of our faith: I was homeless and you gave me shelter, hungry and you gave me something to eat, disconnected and you gave me connection.
This is what we are called to.
Is how it will inconvenience us the place to start our discernment about it?
I believe in Your ability to provide not only the practical and material things but also for the mental, emotional and spiritual needs of our community.
I do not need to be able to see the way forward as long as I can see You in what we are setting out to do – trusting that You know all that has been, is, and will be.
This is it. Are you ready?
I confess I cried a little today, re-packing and putting away boxes I had unpacked with such gratitude only days before, to make space for the others coming. I go and walk it off: “Who is this space home for? It’s called a’share house’, what were you expecting? I want to build a foundation that is strong. Rooted. I have lived here two weeks. Who am I to extend safety and stability to anyone else?”
I turn up a side street to get home only to realise it is a dead end. I double-back on myself and notice a cane basket of clothes out as hard waste on the verge. I pick it up and carry it with me… a physical manifestation of providence… feel the weight of this, touch it, look at it, take it with you. Providence. And, somehow, I feel better.
Reassured of my physical capacity for carrying things.
We try and create a sense of welcome.
We know there’s limited language between us so we create a bi-lingual, pictorial noticeboard that will have all our names, where we are, what we’re doing. We clear out, clean and label the cupboards our new roommates can use in the kitchen and decorate with a Somali proverb we think speaks to the the sense of home we want to create.
And yeah.
They are not literate in Somali or English.
So, just in case anyone is ever wondering whether it is an extraordinary thing to live with a family of refugees, this is how it comes about: a series of small and ugly thoughts, some big, bright, beautiful thoughts, and some well-meaning but misguided good intentions.
Sometimes you say the wrong thing, sometimes you do the wrong thing.
Sometimes you say the right thing, sometimes you do the right thing.
You can do that in any family.
I am blessed in the trying.
My life is more noisy, more colourful, more crazy and I am the happier for it.
It starts when you stop pressing “Snooze”.
that is where I am right now
in a cloud of unknowing
I cannot see the way forward
I cannot tell if I am falling, floating
or still
I say “Here I am, send me”
trusting You to lead me through
my fears
and I will not go back
Talitha Fraser
My blog posts almost feel like signposts, pointing out the way to You that I have followed but it would look like this… The thing with You being everywhere, the centre and the edges, maker of all things… Your fingerprints are all over everything and everyone who has ever been. It really isn’t all that hard to find You if people are truly willing to “look”. I don’t want people to focus on reading the signposts. I want them to commit to “looking.”
begin
begin
begin anywhere
set out
step out
that is where to start
one day you do it
different than yesterday
ever so slightly
and it changes the world
Talitha Fraser
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