Quinkenguard

Peace.

Everyone in this world aspires to have peace. Peace in themselves. Peace around them. Peace for a better future.

Over the last few years the notion for many people has been shaken in many ways. Uncertainty with health, uncertainty with unrest, uncertainty in where they see their country going economically or socially.

You see slogans like "Be the change you want to be." or "Peaceful Hearts, Peaceful World". But some of them have become so shallow that the relevance is lost to us.

The principle of Easter is the beginning of new life. The beginning of spring and when the world comes to life again after winter. Food is planted and the songs of birds can be heard in the trees.

(As a person who lives in the tropics, I see it as a time to come up for air after the monsoon season is over.)

Whether the holiday was a pagan festival for the coming of spring repurposed by the early church to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ is up to debate, and we will always have sticklers about the origins of it. Nevertheless it is a time of new beginnings.

The people Jesus taught had a strong concept of freedom. Judea had been a strong and free country country after a successful rebellion against the Greeks. They believed that freedom would require political and military rule in order to ensure that freedom within themselves. Nevertheless, the kings began using positions of the priesthood for political gain. The King of Judea was Herod, but he was a king as behest of the Romans that put him in power.

The people were allowed to live with their customs, but spiritually they were empty.

Jesus Christ said that if we have peace in our hearts and minds nothing can stand against us. Whatever turbulent times and what happens around us, if our feet remain planted on a firm foundation, nothing can stand against us. While freedom from persecution and tyranny is certainly ideal, if a peace in our hearts is reached, no tyrant, or rebel or enemy can remove that.

That then flows over to the people around us and that is when you, be the change. The spirit in your heart is unbendable and inspires others.

This Easter give thanks for new beginnings and may new spirit of peace rest on your souls.

Well, I am another year older and hopefully wiser. Good times are good for the soul. Bad times are valuable teachers as well.

It is certainly nice to get through them though.

This time last year, I was full of optimism and hope. I thought I had found my dream job in a small country and was moving to forge a new name for myself.

As time went on there, however, I failed to make a good impression of myself, no matter how bad I tried.

I worked with a mentor, I tried supplementing new course, but the reports on my performance did not improve. The circle of workers was very closed as well, and I felt increasingly isolated.

I had a couple of dates over zoom. They seem to start out well, but fizzed out after a few months.

So here I am back in my home town. I've got my old work back that I'm familiar with. Still single with no prospects right now in that regard.

I guess it meant that I started to seek connections with old friends through online chats and zoom calls.

I would not say it was all bad. I made a few connections with some very creative and talented people on this site.

Even better, people with similar backgrounds and faith which is a blessing.

I guess I wasn't suited for rural work, but I did gain knowledge of my work and politics within the workplace, and I am more appreciative of what I have here.

I don't really know what direction I will be taking next, but I am content with what I have right now.

It may not be what I have hoped, but it's enough to get me going.

"...my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus."

Australia has some charming homegrown carols sung this time of year.

One of my childhood favorite is Aussie Jingle Bells:

Carol of the Birds is another favorite classic of mine. It was written in 1948 WG James and John Wheeler and the lyrics describes the tranquility of the bush. FYI "Orana" means welcome it's an aboriginal greeting from northern New South Wales.

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Finally, there is the Indigenous Central Australian Choir. After German missionaries arrived in the 19th century many German hymns had carols have been passed down for generations. In fact several years back they did a tour of Germany.

Emotion, yet peace.

Ignorance, yet knowledge.

Passion, yet serenity.

Chaos, yet harmony.

Death, yet the Force.

In a post- apocalyptic world of 2020, A teenager messes with a holodeck in his ice age underground vault and transports himself in time to the future. Factions compete in a Mad Max fashion for the titular resource brought by a comet strike.

I mean the special effects are a bit dated, but pretty good for 1999.