A Deo et Rege

During my time in Australia, many things impressed me and I thought how we in the USA could make a few changes. I also thought how much I missed certain things while I was there. So, the Aussies could learn a few things from the Americans too. Here’s a somewhat tongue in cheek look at ways we can have a cultural exchange:

10 Things we could learn from the Aussies (in no particular order):

1. Tim Tams- a wonderful cookie

2. Public Transportation- at least in Melbourne, it’s on time, safe, clean, and cheap

3.Shortening of words- why say breakfast, afternoon, cup of tea/coffee, biscuit, chocolate, football and Good day, mate when you could say breckie, arvo, cuppa, bickie, chockie, footy, and G’day mate?

4.Pumpkin Soup- a dish that should be on every American menu in the winter

5.Non-Commercial Patriotism- you can love your country without having it on your person or your car

6.The British Commonwealth- it’s not necessarily a bad thing to be connected to something older and more universal than yourself

7.More Old things in Latin- In the USA we don’t have nearly enough signs, seals, etc. written in Latin. This is probably related to #6

8.Crumpets- I love these things, but have yet to find them in the USA

9.Judges in wigs- it’s cool in a weird sort of way

10.Cities can be livable- they can be clean and relatively crime free. Australia had 5 cities in the world’s top ten list of most livable cities list. The US didn’t even rate in the top ten.

10 Things the Aussies could learn from us (in no particular order)

1.Drink ‘real’ coffee with variety- in America we understand that real is better than instant and that variety is the spice of life. Don’t expect to find double chocolate cake flavored coffee in Oz

2.Gas station superstores- Why not be able to buy everything when you get gasoline?

3.Lemonade/iced tea- Good old fashioned lemonade (in Oz ‘sprite’ type drinks are called lemonade) and iced tea would be refreshing in the hot Australian summer

4.Half and half- Milk in your coffee doesn’t cut it. I want my coffee white, not brown, thanks!

5.Pumpkin pie- the Aussies have the soup part down: now try the pie.

6.Chili soup- Let’s have an exchange of recipes; we’ll get pumpkin soup and they’ll get chili.

7.Halloween/Thanksgiving- The Aussies could really use an excuse to dress up and a few weeks later pig out

8.Four Seasons- A person really misses out not having beautiful springs and colorful autumns

9.Cable TV- everyone should have hundreds of channels and only watch a handful

10.Interstates- A 4 lane (or more) highway that bypasses traffic lights is sorely needed in Australia. It would greatly speed up travel time

I’m getting ready to depart for Australia whence I’ll go to New Caledonia and Vanuatu and back to Australia. I’ll be in Sydney, Melbourne, and the more rural area of Mildura. My girlfriend is Australian and we do the long distance thing right now. So, this is a chance to see her! I’m very excited!

My trips to Australia in the past have been quite nerdy. But that’s the way I like it! We always visit places like museums, galleries, historical sites, and other unique attractions. Above all, we visit churches. I’ve always been fascinated by churches, especially the different architecture and interior designs, and the way they operate liturgically. Usually, we visit Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches because they’re often the most prominent (and unlike many others, they’re usually unlocked, at least in the cities during the day). We have seen some wonderful ones, like St. Paul’s (Anglican), St. Patrick’s (Catholic), and St. Peter’s (Anglican), all Melbourne and St. Mary’s (Catholic), St. James (Anglican), and Holy Trinity (aka the Garrison Church, Anglican), all Sydney.

Visiting these churches as I explore where God is calling me to serve him will no doubt give them even more meaning. I hate the term “church shopping” but I am looking for a church where I can best live the catholic faith I’ve held for over four years now. I’m completely sure it’s not in the Episcopal Church and I’m pretty sure it’s not in Anglicanism. I feel God still is calling me more and more to Roman Catholicism. I’m hoping and praying that on my trip God will give me even more clarity. Sometimes when we get outside our local worlds it’s easier to see things more clearly. I’ve been hoping for some clear cut indications where God wants me, but God doesn’t always work that way. Usually I find it’s more about tuning out our human distractions (and sinful behavior) than about needing God to speak louder. I’m hoping on this trip I can tune out some of those distractions.

This blog won’t be updated as much while I’m gone, but I do hope to update it occasionally. I want to leave you with a beautiful travel prayer from Durandus of Mende (13th century) taken from the New St. Joseph People’s Prayer Book (pg. 397):

O God,
You called Abraham Your servant our of Ur
and kept him safe and sound in all his wanderings.
If it is Your Will,
protect your servants.
Be for us a support when setting out,
friendship along the way,
a little shade from the sun,
a mantle against cold and rain,
a crutch on slippery paths,
and a haven in shipwreck.
Bear us up in fatigue,
and defend us under attack.
Under Your protection,
let us fulfill the purpose for our trip
and return safe and sound to our home. Amen