The Joys of Work and Play

 Tony and I took a few days off this last week to “chill out” up in Far North Queensland. I use the term loosely, since the temperatures are nearly ten degrees warmer in Cairns than back home on the Gold Coast. We’re officially in Springtime here Down Under, and ten degrees can make a big difference in the swimming pool!  But our main reason for going north is the sad fact that, with all the CoVid restrictions, we’re pretty much limited to travel within the State. Now I won’t mention to “some” of you out there, but since Queensland is two and half times bigger than Texas, we do have lots of options. Oops, I mentioned it; sorry about that! 

 

It’s called the Tropical North up there for a reason … it’s HOT and WET, but also beautiful, with abundant flora and fauna everywhere you look. The night of our arrival in our Cairns hotel, I was graced by the presence of an Africa Sized Cockroach who, even with the room lights on, just wandered into our room to say boo.

 

Tony, ever the hero, played hide and seek with him for at least an hour, while I cowered under the sheet, wishing for my old trusty mosquito net from adventures long past.

 

The carnage the next morning was testimony to the night’s battle, when I picked up a three-inch leg, but we got no sympathy from the ‘natives’ when we complained. “I’ve seen bigger,” was one comment, accompanied with a photo to prove it. 

 

But, truth be known, our real reason for this time away was to take a breath and make plans for the rest of the year. For a couple of retired folks, we’ve been finding ourselves almost busier than we ever were when we were actually employed. Preaching, teaching and other ministry opportunities have been coming in from all sides, and while we welcome them, we’ve felt the need to ‘corral them in” a bit so we can give them our very best. 

 

As you’re reading this, we will have been back a day already and Tony will have preached twice, once in Japanese. But before we can start to feel overwhelmed, all we have to do is look around to see that we still have it pretty cushy. One of the really “greats” comes to mind, and I’d like to turn the light on him for a moment: Charles Spurgeon.

 

You may remember that he was born in the mid 1800’s, didn’t profess faith in Jesus till he was a late teen, and yet, soon became one of the greatest preachers of all time. More than 56 million copies of his books and sermons have been circulated in over 40 languages. Among that wealth of material comes a steady stream of quotable quotes. Vicar J. John (who is the grist behind this ‘Heroes of the Faith’ series) has pointed out two that I especially like: 

 

“A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.”

 

 “The greatest joy of a Christian is to give joy to Christ.”

In 1861, because of his relatable but truthful and non-compromised preaching, his followers had grown to the point they acquired the Metropolitan Tabernacle, (in London) which seated 5000.  To attend, you had to have (free) ticket, and it was always full.  One time he preached to 24,000……….and always with no amplification! 

 

Later along, he and his wife, who was a semi invalid, took to living in the south of France a good part of the winters to write and reflect.  However, he remained, as much as possible, at the tabernacle until he died 38 yrs later at the early age of 57.

I would like to compare my family to Spurgeon’s. However, unlike Charles Spurgeon, Tony does not usually work 18 hours days, preach without amplification or have 57 million copies of his writing in 40 languages (at least not yet, but one can hope!).  Neither am I, his wife, an invalid, but I have to say we certainly have enjoyed the few days away to sit and reflect for the next season.

 

Except for the cockroach, it was a lovely break.  I hope all of you, wherever you are today, are filled with lots of fulfilling work, along with the chance, once in awhile, to get away from it.

Marsha