Waiting

Hey kids! I am really bored. I am waiting outside the office of one of my tutes to present my ideas for the latest assignment and have them ripped into tiny pieces and possibley eaten before my eyes.

In other news, I skipped breakfast this morning in order to get here in time to sit on my bum for 45 minutes feeling hungry and not seeing my tute. Blah.

Crunchy nut cornflakes would be good right about now..

Anyway I don't really want to just winge. So here is a positive haiku:

as I sit and wait
I'll thank god for a moment
of peace and quiet

bye

Caroline Chisholm

I have been reading a lot about Caroline Chisholm lately. Why? Because I have been learning about the contributions of Christians to the formation and development of what we benefit from as citizens of Australia today. I've only just started reading about it but i'm already surprised by how much I didn't know, how much of a contribution Christianity has actually made to the formation of this country that I've taken for granted.

I'll be the first to say that Christians aren't perfect, and in regards to Australia – Yeah there were some pretty ugly stuff ups along the way. But I actually want to focus on the positive today (for a change!). There were numerous Christian Men and Women who worked very hard to see the Kingdom blossom in colonial Australia, and who had a real impact. Caroline Chisholm is one of these people.

But who is Caroline Chisholm? Here are some random facts:

• They call her 'the emigrants friend'.
• The Catholic Church wants to have her canonised.
• It's said that the character of Mrs Jellyby from Charles Dickens 'Bleak House'- a 'telescopic philanthropist' who fails to live up to her duties at home - was based in part on the woman Chisholm.

But who is she? Well, have a look at this:

If you were alive and observant before 1992, you may recognise this old Australian $5 note featuring Caroline Chisholm. She was the first women who wasn't a monarch to appear on Australian currency. She featured on the note for 20 years. She was immortalised in this fashion in honour of the huge amount of work she put in improving the lives of immigrants to Australia.

She was- by the sounds of it- a very practical woman. When she saw a need she was willing to get in there herself and do something about it. Her great great Grandson Don Chisholm said of her,

“... she was intensely practical so when she came to talk to a bureaucrat or Government official, they were always amazed first of all by how practical she was and secondly as to what she'd already done before she got in their door..”

Sounds like she made it easier to make things easier for people.

The quote I have most often found of hers during the period of my research is this,

“I promise to know neither country nor creed, but to serve all justly and impartially."

In an unsettled period of sectarianism and interdenominational angst, she had an ability to look past differences in belief to the reality of human need in colonial Australia, and that was what enabled her to make a real difference.

The Background stuff

Caroline was born in Wootton, England (yeah I had no idea where it was either) to a well-to-do pig farmer and land owner. She was one in a large family. As a kid she was pretty good at Math and French. It seems her family was quite hospitable (a streak that ran also through Caroline in adulthood as we will learn), they made a habit of opening their home to rich and poor.

When she was 22 she married Captain Archibald Chisholm. I did a google image search for “Archibald Chisholm” and came up with this:

But I suspect that isn't him. Actually I'm certain it's not. He was 13 years her senior, a Catholic and a Scot. She became a Catholic after him. Archibald was posted to India in 1832, and Caroline joined him a year later.

While in India...

Caroline felt concerned about the welfare of the wives and children of the soldiers in Madras. Many were poor and taken advantage of - driven to prostitution and other crimes. In an effort to improve their lives Caroline sought permission from the Governor to start a school which would give young women practical education. She succeeded and in 1834 started The Female School of Industry for the Daughters of European Soldiers.

On to Australi-land

Caroline arrived in Australia in 1838. Here is a small picture of what was happening in Australia at the time:

Seriously though things such as Sir George Gipps being the Governor of NSW were happening. There was controversy about education- should denominational schools continue receiving money from the government or should funding instead go entirely to national schools? There were issues with land boundaries and squatters and the treatment of Aborigines. More Immigrants arriving all the while.

When Caroline arrived it wasn't long before she became concerned by what she saw around her. She was disturbed by the number of immigrants – men and women – who were destitute, living on the streets and involved in crime. She was especially worried for the girls, who were particularly vulnerable to exploitation and abuse in that context.

After a considerable effort of her part Caroline secured permission from Govener Gipps to turn an Immigration Barracks building into a home for those girls who had none. It was called the Female Immigrants Home and it served as a safe place and a new beginning for lots of people. Caroline looked for long term living situations and work for many of these girls. The home was up and running - in the first two years she found jobs and homes for at least a thousand people - within three years of her arrival in Australia. It was able to close in 1842 due to its enormous success. Even after the close of the home Caroline kept helping men, women and even entire families settle in Australia. Between 1841 and 1844 she assisted some 14,000 people.

Read this:

"I would like a building to house these girls. I'm willing to work hard, assist in any way, give my time freely, provided such a home for young girls becomes a reality."

Caroline had a certain way of operating. She always seemed to be very personally involved (to the extent of personally escorting young ladies to their new jobs in the country) in her projects, giving a lot of time and energy in seeing them through.

Caroline of Many Hats..

Here are some other things Caroline was a part of:

One Hat - After the close of the Women's home Caroline and Archibald continued to help settle people. During this time the pair (then retired) gathered statements from settlers about what life in Australia was like. These testimonies were used to encourage and give information to those back home considering immigration to Australia. Caroline went back to England in 1846 as an advocate and 'publicist' for Australia. She helped establish a society that worked to send groups of families to Australia – dispatching some 3000 in 5 years. Through lobbying, she also gained free passage for immigrants wives and children.

Two Hat- While in England she chartered and personally supervised (to the extent of choosing a doctor to be in charge of the rations) the embarkment of a ship – 'Slains Castle' – which left for Australia in 1850.

Three Hat- Back in Australia the Gold Rush hit. Concerned for the hordes of people flocking to Victoria in search of Gold, Caroline lobbied the government to set up shelters alongside the roads to the gold fields.

Four- Caroline's lobbying efforts also turned to the unlocking of the lands (significant amounts being wrapped up by squatters) She believed that if many farmers could be settled on their own small farms the overall wealth and well being of society would improve.

Being the young woman I am, it can be all too easy for me to forget the difference one person, one woman, can make in the big scheme of things. Caroline Chisholm is to me a very encouraging example of what God can accomplished through willing people. It is after all less about what I can do, but what God can do through me if I submit myself to being used for his purposes. Caroline submitted her skills, time and health to the service of God and achieved good things for this country. I am very grateful.

I'd like to finish this blog off with a short story about Caroline that I read recently. She has been running the Female Emigrants home for a few months, it's believed this story takes place in 1942. A 15 year old girl, fresh off a ship has been swept away by a young man.. Caroline - concerned for her safety - goes in search of her...I am of course, rewriting and simplifying the story so bear with me.

The ship arrived and Caroline heard there had been some flirtation on board. A group of girls had been sent to her at the home, but one was missing. It turned out that a man had picked her up in a boat shortly after she left the ship. Caroline knew where the two had gone, so heading toward the jetty she hired a boat and began a search. At their destination Caroline disembarked with a little difficulty, and began looking for the girl on foot. Upon discovering the pair, Carolina urged the girl to return with her. The girl laughed and told Caroline that she hadn't come this far (to Australia) to be treated like a child. Her 'partner' arrogantly suggested Caroline leave. Caroline's response was to say that if he gave the girl up now he wouldn't have to reap the consequences of the alternative. He asked what consequences. She replied 'First, when I leave here, I shall report at Capt. Browns Office that a girl from ship ___, (who is underage) is here. I shall then call at the 'Herald' Office, and the “Gazette” Office, and state all I know. I shall then report the circumstances to Mr. Mereweather, the immigration agent, when nothing more will be necessary for me to do: what steps he may feel justified in taking, I know not, but I can assure you the Press of Sydney wont spare you.”

The young man, scared out of his wits let the girl go with Caroline. Before the two left he stopped Caroline to tell her the girl was an innocent one, and assisted her into the boat.

Must.. Not.. Say.. Girl Power!

Hannah

Bibliography

http://gutenberg.net.au/dictbiog/0-dict-biogCa-Ch.html#chisholm1
http://www.mrschisholm.com/history.htm
http://museumvictoria.com.au/treasures/record.aspx?PID=2&Path=1&img=2
http://www.australiantales.com/caroline-chisholm/
http://www.carolinechisholm.org.au/about/Pages/default.aspx
http://www.womenaustralia.info/biogs/AWE1145b.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caroline_Chisholm
http://www.whitehat.com.au/australia/People/Chisholm.asp
http://adbonline.anu.edu.au/biogs/A010208b.htm

Breward. L, A History of the Australian Churches, Allen and Unwin 1993
Piggin. S, Evangelical Christianity in Australia: Spirit, Word and World, Oxford University Press 1996

an ethical reflection

I used to work for a Café chain called Michelle's Patisserie. We, like every other coffee shop, have the customer loyalty cards that give you a free 6th or 8th coffee or whatever if you collect enough stamps. A woman came in one day to claim her free coffee.. Handing me the card. I put it straight into my pocket thinking quickly that I could use it later to claim a free coffee at another Michelle's. I thought for a second that it might not be honest.. But then decided Michelle's we're rich enough to deal with it. It wasn't hurting anybody. I ignored the niggling in the back of my brain for a while and kept busy with work.. But it kept on not sitting right. Why did I feel guilty? Somehow, regardless of whether or not it was going to hurt someone, I knew it was wrong to do it.


It remind me now of that thing (Law of Nature?) C.S Lewis talks about at the start of Mere Christianity. Is that conscience? Or something deeper and outside of it.. Because if it's true that a conscience can be educated I don't think that's what it is. I can only say it was something to do with God. That ultimate right and good that we stepped out of sync with in the fall. It's like when you can hear an instrument playing out of time with the drummer.. I think sometimes we can feel when we're out of time with God somehow.


In that situation as far as decision making goes I think for starters the (surface) results let me to decide to take the card. But then something (maybe conscience, maybe not) spoke louder than results and changed my mind. What's interesting is in doing this assignment I'm can also see that results at a deeper level also spoke against taking the card. The long term results of little acts of dishonesty are pretty serious. They affect my relationship with God, they affect the sort of person I become and where I end up when I die! They're all pretty huge things. So! The outcome of using results to make a decision can vary depending on how deep you go! And really, it is quite impossible to know all the results of one decision. I would try not to rely on it alone.


In fact I'd try not to rely on any one method alone. They all have their limitations. If consciences can be educated you can't just say 'Everyone.. No matter what just do what your conscience says.' I mean.. That sounds good.. But if you've got a Man who has no problem stepping over a beggar on the street because he was always told these people brought it on themselves. Or a Muslim who doesn't struggle with the thought of a Homosexual being killed for who they are. They could be poor examples but they're things I disagree with... Which shows that consciences are going to conflict!


So- we can't avoid consciences being educated. As a Christian I think the best way to educate a conscience is through living in Co-operation with the Holy Spirit and studying the scriptures – trying to take what they teach a reality in your life. Easier said than done.


Some things in the bible confuse me and I'm really not sure how comfortable I would be trying to follow some of it. Maybe that's a place where the Spirit steps in to help give clarity and understanding of where it is or isn't that appropriate to me. I should try to be praying to be open to the Spirit's leading and working hard to be listening to it. And in all of this seeking first the kingdom. Making love the centre of everything I do..


Privatisation/Individualism – Faith as a private matter, each individual defines their set of values, beliefs, morality etc...

I think I sometimes tend to have the attitude (with some things) that people are O.K to think what they want. Who am I to tell them what to do or think? But maybe not to the degree that most people do – because I really believe in the bigger truth greater than anything. That truth that we're out of step with and need to get back in step with!


So naturally the two rub up against each other when I think about Mission. I start telling myself not to be a boof head, leave people alone, their beliefs are none of my business. But Jesus tells me it IS my business. He's the one who's giving me the mission. If I really loved these people the way he wants me to then I can't be laissez-faire.


There's something so isolating about Individualism too.. A bunch of people living near each other, working with each other etc. but still soo.. separate. Maybe I'm wrong, I dunno. And also if it's just you and your beliefs with your own authority.. where are your boundaries? There are none really.. And a world full of boundary-less people is scary to me. And we cant rely on universal 'tolerance' either. Anti-tolerance can be a good thing – There are things that shouldn't be tolerated!


Thinking particularly of the compartmentalisation that results from Secularisation, I can definitely see where that's been part of my life. Before I really became a Christian I learned how to compartmentalise my life. And it's a bloody hard habit to get out of. This is Hannah at Church. This is Hannah out on a Friday night.. And it worked! Church Hannah and Friday night Hannah believed different things, had different morals so either could do what they liked. These two didn't like each other.. They weren't on speaking terms. It was easier.. But being a living contradiction is not healthy way to live!


It reminds me of a part in Harry Potter (heh) where the Voldermort has found a way to split his soul into pieces.. and each time he does it the more distorted as a man he gets.. Further and further from human. It feels like the same thing.. Something in me being split.. Each time I become a little less real and a little more blurred.


It makes me sad to see the isolation that individualism has created in our society. People seem lonely.


- Hannah

This is the Machine.

"Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah" - Jono

I'm glad these stirring words are here in my premier Blog. Who has heard of the word Contextualisation? Post Modernism? How about 'the looove revolution'? These are some things we're discussing in the lecture I am typing this in today.

I'll set the scene...
The air conditioner and fans are both running. Joseph gets up to turn off the air conditioner and 10 minutes later Moris gets up to turn it back on. People pick at the crud under their fingernails with their pen lids while others doodle on the bottom of their pages.. A guy in the corner of the room wears a mysterious black eye. I catch a few snippets from lecture..

Jon - the lecturer - 'Hey you can tell me what happens chemically in my body when I'm in love... But I'm the one experiencing it.' Post modernism... Authority lies in experience.
____________________

'So according to Post-modernists..Ultimate Authority.. who can have ultimate authority over everything I do?'
'You'
'Yeah! Me.. Because no one else has had the same experience as me.. We end up saying 'Whats true for you is true for you, whats true for me is true for me.. You can't tell me how to live because you haven't had my experience. That's essentially society's attitude. We've rejected institution.. If every ones experience is different you possibly use the insitutional-conveyor-belt method to teach everyone. Instead of institutions.. Post-moderns crave relationships and community. Unity in diversity.'
_______________
And earlier....
'Its all these people on the news... about the Kyoto protocol... It's just the same as the Nazi's.. Except environmental..' (This is actually something my desk mate said to me not the lecturer) ..He then said homeopaths get their degree's off the Internet.
________________

Jon again.. 'When post-moderns look at the traditional church what do they see?'
'Community?'
'A building?'
'An institution?'
'They look at the traditional church and go 'It's an institution.. What other institution does it most feel like?'
'School' (I say, typing this as I speak)
'Yeah! You sit in the pews and have your sermon Sandwich... Sing a couple of songs.. The climax of the church service is in the sermon.. Which is what? It's feeding your head some knowledge. Who's it presented by? The minister with the qualifications.. He's got the Authority.. Theres no interaction - in fact you've actually got to stay silent. If you can do that you've got it. How do post-moderns react to that? They just leave.'

'I think I'm being a bit cynical.'

Ben's phone rings and he leaves the room to answer it.
_______________
'There's a reaction of 'wait a sec, How do I know this person out the front is trustworthy? Hey how about we have a break at 4:30?'

There's a consensus of agreement.
_______________

Please note these are detached excerpts from the lecture I'm sitting in.
_______________
'I just thought of a.. this is a bit of a side track.. but it fits in as a perfect example of the modernist church.... It's my Dad's home church St Gallen in Switzerland... It's one of those huge Cathedrals and it has 7 little alcoves.. sort of alters.. They did their masses in Latin when Dad was a kid so you didn't understand anything anyway.. But it's a fantastic consumer church.. Every 15 minutes a separate service would start at each alter.. At alter one was the 9:00 service.. 15 minutes later another would start at alter two. So you're either 7 minutes early or late for any service.. No coffee and a chat afterwards -- Just in and out.. You were a consumer.. Just part of the machine..'
__________________

'Reality t.v.. You're joining in on the experience.'
__________________

'In mission what are the implication what are the implications of experience being the really important?'

'You can show them where God was in their experiences.. You can also share your own experiences. You can combine God's story, their story and your story.. and find where those three stories connect.'
_________________

It's 4:30. Time for a cup of tea.

-Hannah