warning signs

Today I witnessed somebody talking about depression like they realy knew what they were on about, almost like they were diagnosing the person to not have it - like they were making it up.

This really made me angry. Depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues arent a joke. Just like typhoid fever, they are a sickness. Like when we get sick with anything, we need to take appropriate measures to get better. Sometimes these measures seem extreme, sometimes they don't. But nonetheless, if these things are left untreated, the symptoms can get worse, and can lead to some very unpleasant experiences.

I don't care if you suspect your friend is faking it, it's a real and an issue that needs to be dealt with. There is help from trained professionals. If you're not a doctor then don't diagnose! Rather than talk about them "faking it" behind their back, support them and do something about it!

I dont know about the greater Bendigo population, but here in Pinnaroo, I constantly hear this behind-the-back carry on of "such and such thinks they have depression but they're just faking it to get attention".

And to the "just pray about it" response: Prayer is a great thing, but faith without works is dead. God gave us a brain, we need to take action and do something! Even though medication often seems extreme, I've seen it save peoples lives. Like I said, these things (when are ongoing) are sicknesses, and they need to be dealt with. If you were diagnosed tomorrow with Leukemia, would you refuse the treatment?

Does anyone get what I'm on about? Does anyone see the cry of my heart that christians are fed this lie that if they are suffering an illness to the point of medication or consultation, that they lack faith, or become a second class christian? Anyone!?

Stop speaking lies over people and start declaring the truth!

the list

I found an interesting list when I was looking for a notebook this morning. It was written probably in 2001, when I would have been in year 9, when "career advice" is being fed down your throat.

"Careers"
Flight attendant
pilot
female priest
park ranger youth worker/councilor
photographer
website designer
worker for World Vision in East Timor
Carer
Air Force
Cartoonist/Animator
Horticulturalist
Assistant Nurse
Accountant
Own my own airline: "Sammy Airways"
Army
Chiropractor
Post Office worker
writer
a DJ
Tour Guide

Does anyone else find it interesting that with all this diversity of jobs, teacher was not on the list? One thing I guess is important to note was this list would have been made before I went to Indonesia.

Something else that struck me (I assume I did this in 2004 - year 12) is that I crossed out everything and wrote "whatever God wants me to do!"

Now this strikes me with a question: How much control do we really have over our career choice? I believe that while we are quite capable of making our choices (whether they be good or bad according to the driving motivation) God opens and closes doors of opportunities.

Thinking about my career so far, I watched God open doors I thought would be padlocked. He allowed me to move all the way to Bendigo, and get me into a course my enter simply didn't 'benchmark'. Then the opportunity to go to Indonesia came up. Wow. How did that happen?

When we commit our ways to God, He will "make the path straight". That is an actual surrendering of our lives and our ambitions. The thing with straight paths though, as simple as that sounds, once you get past the surrender, and have the straight path, there are still distractions, there can still be things in front of you that you need to face! But aha, never fear, God is here! (and so come forth the cheesiness)

The other day I went for a walk. It's like my house mate continuously tells me, "walking is good for the soul". I was in a bit of a dilemma. I had to make a choice about the Indonesia trip really fast. There were voices all around me, some concerned for me telling me to stay, some eagerly pulling me by my shirt pleading with me to come.

As I walked on that sunny day down Sommerville St, praying about this matter, I felt God placing on my heart something that happened when I went in 2002.

Last time I went, I didn't really want to go. But while I was over there, I was absolutely heartbroken with the poverty and crazy things I saw. I was hurting for a hurting nation.

While I was walking, I felt God kind of talking to me about the orphanage. (I was actually unsure at the time whether we were actually going to an orphanage or not. Later clarification with Steff assured me that, yes, we are going to an orphanage.) I felt like God was really just like, "I hate to break it to you, but this is gonna break your heart."

Often God can use heartbreak as a motivating force to change our world. This motivating heartbreak I felt back in 2002 will be renewed when I go Indonesia. Just seeing the way these people live, you think, "how am I so darn lucky?" It's a bit like this I suppose. It's exciting, but it's also very scary. (I want to be heartbroken and motivated over my homework hehe)

Indonesia isn't the only thing I have heartbreak for. I have a massive ache for the children in this country (well, ok, even the world) and the things they go through. The things I experience on pracs is often a driving force to do something big in my community!

Back on track (pardon the pun), straight may not always mean logical. Straight may cost you something. Straight often seems crooked (but just remember who has the Perception). Life isn't just a highway you can ride all night long, as Mr. Tom Petty says. Jesus said go through the Narrow gate.. Why would you go through a narrow gate when it seems logical to keep following through on the freeway?

Quite honestly, I think it's still early days in my 'career'.

Seek out God's Will, it's beyond your wildest dreams!

turn back time

After Sammy got lost in White Hills (honestly, how hard is it to just follow a darn tram line?) she finally wades her way through 3 suburbs to the Calder Highway, that leads her home.

Thanks to the nice lady at the Charlton roadhouse for shouting me a coffee, and some very uplifting music, Sammy perseveres a long 5 hours, makes it toward the finish line with a count down,

"10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1... WELCOME TO SOUTH AUSTRALIA!"

Pushing through the fruit fly inspection point, delighted by the sight of many Stobie Poles, she crosses into the town named after limestone, more commonly known as Pinnaroo.

She then enjoys a welcome home feast of fruchocs and fritz, with a nice serving of Farmers Union Iced Coffee.*

(* - Mum didnt have any fruchocs, nor did she have fritz, not even a Farmers Union. So we had kids4life fundraising chocolate and a sweet chilli stir fry, along with Angrusta Lemon Lime and Bitters)