MattGlover.com

Just got back from a few days in the Victorian country with my wife’s family. It was a good time celebrating the Father-in-law’s 60th birthday, but perhaps a little subdued in the beginning with the news of Peter Brock’s death. The Brocks are family friends of my wife, so there was just a touch of the surreal during the first day there.

Anyway, there are a few things about life in the country that always strike me. Firstly, the land itself is spectacular. The farm is in the North East of Vic and the King River runs right through it. The mountains are visible on the horizon and the only noise is that of the birds and animals. Whether you are an indigenous Australian or not, there’s something about the Australian land that draws you in. You can’t help but feel a part of it, connected in some way that is beyond words…it’s something I’m reading about at the moment, but it’s fodder for another post.

The second is the pace of life. Make no mistake, country people are busy. But life is aligned with the seasons rather than the clock, and that seems to bring with it a sense of calmness. The frantic pace and hectic schedule of city life is nowhere to be seen.

So each time I visit, I not only look forward to visiting the relatives (yes, I like them!) but also to a special type of country Sabbath. There’s a limit to how relaxing time away can be with two young children, but at the same time, the different environment is refreshing. Don’t tell anyone, but we decided to skip Church on Sunday morning and instead went to the local play ground. The sun was shining, the sky was blue and it was simply perfect to be outside. It one sense, it was just as much a worship experience than any service I could go to - it caused me to quietly thank God for my family, to wonder at creation and helped renew a sense of calling for what I do.

We’ve got a few more days off now before getting back into it on Sunday.

Then comes the run into December…