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I arrived in Australia yesterday for a couple of weeks of seminars and retreats, a one day session, a four day gathering, and an eight day silent retreat.
Perhaps it was the early, very early, morning flight that made me extra sensitive to the Aussie accents and turns-of-phrase in the arrival area and I noticed one local waving out in thanks as he called back to his friend “nurries.”
I knew what he meant and enjoyed hearing the expression.
Then in the Uber on the way to the retreat I read today’s scriptures:
My problem is that I do have worries, not just on a difficult day every day there is always something to dilute my happiness.
I remember Bishop Len Boyle commenting that years ago at the funeral of his mother in Southland one of the local Christian ministers came up to him outside the church, took Len’s hand with both of his and with deep and sincere sympathy commented “If it’s not one thing it’s another.”
Len enjoyed that awkward moment for years.
That sincere minister in his awkward loss for words was expressing something which is our reality. If it’s not one thing to worry about there is another.
So what to do? How to thrive in the midst of the constant anxieties?
When I was a kid a lot of people especially older men whistled as they worked and walked and even when they just sat and wondered. They whistled, nothing planned and not following a score, usually with little skill, they whistled.
It’s hard not to smile and lighten up when hearing someone whistle. Yes the whistlers had worries and anxieties and yet they whistled.
Perhaps they were able to whistle because they trusted in God. They were grounded, planted with their roots thrust to the stream.
Today I’m going to do the same,
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Send your date and time to add to the list, and just turn up at at one of the advertised gatherings, just one hour, focussing on where we are encountering Christ.
TODAY WHANGANUI
Invitation from Kate
Thursday 7am St Mary’s church,
Whanganui (every Thursday)
AUCKLAND NORTH SHORE
Thursday 20 March 10.30am
Invitation from Catherine
Columbus Coffee
219 Don McKinnon Drive (outside Westfield overlooking the lake) Albany
CHRISTCHURCH
Monday 23 March 10.00am (& every Monday)
Moku cafe, Bush Inn Centre
Waimairi Road.
LOWER HUTT
Wed 26 March 10.30am
Invite from Catherine
Columbus Cafe in Mitre 10
25 Bouverie St, Petone.
Whistling was certainly common practice by the men when I was growing up and you are right it does make you feel happy. Yet they would have had plenty of worries too now that I think about it.
I had a father who whistled random tunes as he worked. Those who worked with him said it brightened their day as tunes reminded them of occasions. He must have had worries but also a great trust in God.
Both my parents were whistlers. This brought back so many fond memories. I love to hear a whistler can’t manage a great sound myself but it does make one feel happy! God Bless ! Sounds like a busy sojourn in Aus! Enjoy .
Your thought for today Fr John reminds me of the old musical film ‘ The King & I’ which starts off with Debora Kerr (playing the king’s school mistress) telling her son to whistle when he felt afraid and worried.
Good therapy!
Whatever happened to whistling? I can’t remember anyone whistling for more years than I care to remember, yet it was very common when I was young. Was it something that came from the soul? As Christianity has declined, so has whistling, as the burdens of life without God weigh people down.
Perhaps we should all take up whistling for Lent, maybe it would catch on again.