It was a busy couple of weekends for us. Sunday before yesterday, we had a family (the Steenhofs, sans John) over for lunch at our place, together with Steve and Barbara. It was an interesting lunch. I hadn’t had a bunch all with strong young earth creationists bend, in our home for a long time. In fact, that was probably the first time. The Steenhofs in particular were interesting because other than the matriarch, the rest were all very young but young earth creationist leanings aside, they were just generally very/super conservative. The kids insisted on addressing us as Mr and Mrs Teh and their impeccable manners saw them eating everything that was offered on the table, even the chickpeas avocado and feta salad which had a large dose of parsley layered through.
Then this past Saturday, we had the Au’s over, together with Wesley. Au CL is a high ranking diplomat in an embassy here, and Wes is on the pastoral team of SBC. Again, we had an interesting interaction but less confronting than the previous mob. I guess that was confronting for me only because we’d been at St Alfred’s in Blackburn for so long, that ideas and beliefs like young earth creationist belief sounded so foreign. I had also been listening to the “Language of God” podcasts, with eminent scientists like Francis Collins. Dipping my toes in listening to and reading folks like John Lennox too, rendered the YEC view very foreign. So, to hear that theory/belief so strongly advocated, was something very different. Like I said, even confronting.
I don’t know what to make of the conservative flavour of SBC. It’s like living in a red belt American styled evangelical conservative zone. One where the views of the likes of Albert Mohler and Tim Keller – nay, John MacArthur more likely – prevail over others like NT Wright. No women in leadership or preaching roles and young earth creationist are the two that I have had to deal with to date. Perhaps I can just quietly go in and out of SBC meetings and not be too animated on any front. You know, survive.
So, these last two weekends were busy. I felt them too. I was tired, juiced out, on both Sunday evenings as we sat in front of the TV, unwinding. Last night we did that watching the auction on the home renovation show. Two of the properties were passed in. Inwardly, I thought little wonder – Daylesford is hardly the sort of area overflowing with investors pouring in north of $3million for lifestyle homes. It was probably one of the more underwhelming seasons of that show, at least in terms of financial outcomes for the contestants.
Tired as we were, we revelled in and soaked up our time with the girls. Little Abby and Little Zoe continue to fill our lives with laughter, joy and loads of love. Often, I’d just retreat to a corner and take in the wonder of seeing them. I’d be so fulfilled to see Tress looking so happy to be with them all. Those little and not so little progress we see in those two little angels – physically, psychologically, emotionally, mentally and every-thing-else-cally. I’d find myself smiling as I immerse myself in the moment. For the umpteenth time, for all the issues confronting me at work, in SBC, and living in a bush capital generally, I found myself happy. And grateful.
Oh I should also mention it was a weekend where United won again. Goals galore too. 4-2 against Brighton, who have had our measure for so long. Have we turned the corner? Certainly, the tide and pendulum appear to have turned and swung, as Liverpool lost, again, and now sit below us on the table. Calls are now “Slot out” and no longer “Amorim out”. Yes, I’m happy for this reason too, but overwhelmingly, the girls have more to do with my happiness than even Manchester United winning.
Ante 