Searching

Wanted - property in a desert or semi-arid zone, on a temporary basis, for experimental experiece of desert monastic retreat house, e.g., unused homestead, staff quarters, atco type buildings.
Contact: Michael Kelly OSB, St Benedict's Monastery, Arcadia 2159; (02)9653 1159; mkelly@benedictine.org.au.

Paul's Pics

Two of our group on the God Outback trip to The Nine Mile

were Paul and Diny ter Muelen

who live on the south coast of New South Wales.

Paul has just sent some photos and here they are:

Sturt's Desert Pea : striking after early spring rain

Ross Neville and Ian Robinson in Broken Hill

Ian, is that a yawn. All those nights sleeping in the Creek?

On our last night, a roast dinner in the camp oven at the Creek.

Paul did a wonderful Fruit Damper for dessert.

Sheep in the yards at The Nine Mile

Lizard : lounging? or scurrying away?

Too comfortable to go to The Nine Mile?

Diny spinning at home.

But she did bring her wheel and did her spinning at The Nine Mile

Rainbow's End?

Meditation 2 - Thoughts

Miss Eagle has been thinking for a week or so about this passage in the Book of Matthew 11:7-10:

Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to behold? A reed shaken in the wind? Why then did you go out? To see a man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, those who wear soft raiment are in kings' houses. Why then did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written,'Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee".

Why go to the wilderness? Why go to the desert?

Jesus asked the crowds about this two thousand years ago. These were the crowds who had gone out to see John the Baptiser. Why did you go there?, Jesus asked. To look at the environment. No. To see a rich celebrity. No - you will see them somewhere else. To see and hear someone who had a message? Yes, said Jesus. That's why you went.

Why then was the message that John had to deliver delivered in the desert? Why not in an urban setting? Somewhere where the crowds couldn't miss him, where they would hear him whether they liked it or not?

Two things that might be considered are:

1. The journey is as important as the destination.


2. What is heard in the desert is heard without distraction, without equivocation.

Miss Eagle continues to think about this..................

Meditation 2