Last Day of 2006.

So today is the last Day of 2006 but what does that mean to you? Does it mean anything at all, or is it just another day in your life?

Is it the end of a year that you wish never to repeat?

Or even a year that you would like to stay in forever?

Is it a year that you can look back on with pride or one you don’t even want mentioned for shame?

Is it a year to forget completely or preferably, one to build on for the future?

Just remember, What ever it was to you, it is now finished, and you now have to move on, like it or not!

Often we have little choice on what happens to us, but we can choose how we respond to these attacks and challenges.

How have you responded to the challenges of 2006? And can you build on them for a better 2007?

2006 has been a challenging year for me. And one I would be in no hurry to see repeated; yet it has been one of great personal growth for me as I have faced up to its challenges; not by my strength but by the Grace of God.

How has it been for you? One of frustration, or one of growth?

Well that’s enough questions for today and for this year for that matter.

Just remember: Although we often have little choice on what happens to us, we can and do choose how we respond!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Walter

Are you a plant falling apart?

The other morning I again had a few minutes to spare and so I decided to refresh and rearrange the pot plants around at the front of the house. (An ongoing exercise!) Some I simply moved around and others I completely removed to around the back to regrow or re-flower etc, before possibly moving them back again when they are in their best condition.

Doing so I noticed one particular succulent pot plant stuck in a corner. At first glance it looked okay and I intended to leave it there, but in moving others around I eventually had to move it.

As I said at first glance it looked healthy and hardy enough to stay there but as soon as I picked up the pot, the plant literally fell apart in my hands.

On closer inspection, one part at the back was dead. Another part had become too top heavy and fell off when moved leaving just one thin new shoot still growing. The dead part I threw away, the broken off part I pruned and replanted in another pot and also pruning the living shoot I left the lot out the back to recover unhindered.

Later that same day I spoke to a person who used to go to our church but has since worshipped elsewhere, whilst retaining his membership with us. He seemed happy with the present situation but when we suggested moving his membership to there, it was like watching the earlier plant fall apart in my hand.

He looked happy with his new situation but when “touched” fell apart, showing that whilst there was seemingly plenty of growth (new Church), he still had a part of his roots at the old church, and when examined more closely, his “works” were dead, and fell away.

Enough of me and him! What about you? How are you traveling/growing? Are you really healthy and thriving and up to a move if God desires so?

Or are you really struggling and just “hanging on” despite an outward show of bravado and success?

Can I move you today to examine you?

If so, did you pass the test with flying colours, or do you need a rest to recuperate and re-grow again?

Remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 11: 28 to 30. “Come to me …”

Remember too, no Christian and no Church can help you. Only God through Jesus Christ can.

Walter is good. (Sometimes even very good! But not often enough!)

Yes Walter can be good. But Walter is not God! And neither are you.

So go to God and go now: Walter

Are you a plant growing where you are not wanted?

The other morning I had a few minutes to spare and so I decided to rearrange the pot plants around at the front of the house, by removing some to out the back to regrow or re-flower before moving them back again when they are in their best condition.

Doing so I noticed one particular pot plant still had its original planted plant in it. Plus another variety that had grown there by chance from a seed that had blown in there.

Right there and then I had a dilemma that I had to decide on. What was I going to do? Both plants could not stay there. One had to go. But which one and where?

In the end it wasn’t too difficult as I preferred the original plant and I already had enough of the blow in plant, so instead of removing one or both plants to separate pots, I simply pulled the intruder out and threw it away.

Although the decision was ultimately easy to make it still seemed a waste of a good plant to me and I wondered about the waste of an otherwise valuable plant.

This then led to me wondering about people in general and people within the Church in particular. And I started to wonder how many people there may be that are otherwise wasted because they are growing in the wrong place.

By the way, do you know what to call a plant growing in a place where it is not wanted? Although it may sound harsh and unkind, the Dictionary definition of, any plant growing in a place where it is not wanted, is, “a Weed”.

It doesn’t matter how good or valuable that plant may be in another place, if it is where it is not wanted, it is a weed.

So what about us? What about you and me? Are we weeds? Or are we growing in the right place?

I don’t have the answer to that for you, so will leave it with you to think on. Walter

Our three Bridges over Watson’s Creek.

The area where My Grandfather bought property in the early 1900’s was long surveyed into blocks and roadways were marked on Maps, even if not constructed. The unformed roadway that ran past our house was one of them.

My grandfather first bought a house and land package of 20 acres; next he brought four acres or so across the Watson’s Creek, and over the years added to them.

Although these blocks all adjoined and thus became one holding, they were all on separate Title Deeds. To add to the confusion, these blocks were spread over two Shires at the time. In fact the house was in the then Eltham Shire and the access supposedly from an unmade Road allotment, which ran literally through the Healesville Shire property.

I say supposedly from this road because when the Road was properly surveyed in the 1990’s it was found that the access track and Bridge over the Watson’s Creek, was actually in Dad’s property and not along the road reserve proper. (A fact that Dad had often recalled, to any who was interested!) It seems that when the track was first put in, it followed the path of least resistance and not a map line.

Anyway, originally all this “Map marked road” was, was a horse and Buggy track to Grandfather’s house, with a bridge over the Watson’s Creek near the house. Whatever bridge was originally there, was destroyed by the 1927 Bushfires that also destroyed the original house. (This fire is not to be confused with the more infamous fire of the year before in the same area.)

Thus the replacement original bridge that I remember was put in and maintained originally by the Healesville Shire. Sometime in the 1960’s it was repaired and re-decked, again by the Healesville Shire; but later, in the 70’s when a big Gum tree branch fell on it and broke one of the bearers, the Healesville Shire were slow to come to the party and repair it again, claiming they had no records of the bridge and that in fact it was a private bridge and not Healesville Shire’s responsibility. Eventually they compromised and provided a new wooden bearer for the bridge but Dad had to fit it and repair the bridge.

Now this bridge was only ever constructed from Bush timber and so although big was not all that strong and had its liabilities, so Dad came up with a system that worked well for many years. Although he, himself would use it for his own light truck, he would never allow heavy trucks to use it, for fear of it collapsing under the extra weight.

As I said, originally the “Road” only went as far as the house, but during the years it has been privately extended in part. However, even though this Road, according to the map at least, ran from a major artery at one end to a minor access road at the other, it was never even a rough track for the majority of its length.

This changed greatly from the 80’s when the neighbour sold his property, also made up of many blocks, to Bob. Now Bob was into Earth Construction and also into subdivisions, so he put in a new heavy duty bridge just up from Dad’s, on the proper Road site and Bulldozed the road along much further but he only went as far as the end of his property and now 6 homes/families, apart from us, use this Road daily or more.

Bob deliberately stopped at his property’s end, as he did not wish to have this road become a through road with its resulting extra traffic using what is still largely a one lane road. Thus it remains a one entry access road.

Now when Bob wanted to subdivide, actually to re-subdivide as the original subdivisions and Title Deeds were already separate, the Shire told him if he put the bridge and road in, they would maintain both, which they have. So that is the basic history of "our" bridge, as I remember it.

Now, in early December I visited mum on the Thursday as is my wont, and noticed a big sign saying the Bridge would be closed on the 8^th for maintenance. It was a timber structure on metal girders, and even though it was in need of a little repair, the bridge was in fairly good condition. As such I thought it would only be for basic maintenance. So I was quite surprised the following week to find that the whole wooden structure had been removed and replaced with a concrete structure.

While pondering this, “my wife remarked that it was probably because of the current Bush fire danger and the concern of the 6 families being isolated and marooned if the bridge did burn down. Later my son remarked that it probably had more to do with the fact that there are now rich people living up there and that they didn’t want a tacky old wooden bridge for their main access.

Who is right? I don’t know but suspect that both may be partially right and that the excuse of fire danger has expedited the replacement of the bridge with a more durable type.

Looking back at these three bridges I came to the following observations:

1. Some things in life, Jobs, situations, etc are like the original bush bridge that I remember: structure only suited to a limited usage and with strict limitations, which if unobserved would cause irreparable damage, even destruction of the task, situation (bridge) at hand.

2.Other situations, like Bob’s bridge are adequate for the task at hand and most regular demands of its proposed usage, but again are limited in regard to irregular extremes.

3. Yet others, like the concrete bridge, not only adequately meet current and future needs but also unexpected yet possible dangers such as Bushfires.

What type of Bridge are you?

A temporary structure?

One limited in usage?

Or one that is versatile & permanent?

One last thought came to mind as I reread this. All these bridges, even the latest, will need some sort of upkeep and running repairs. What are you doing to maintain your existing structures?

Well that’s my musings for today. Walter

What’s holding you up?

When we moved into this place about 4 years back, there was a natural arbour from a vine climbing up a Prunus tree and over onto a Lilly Pilly tree. Under this I put a wrought Iron and wooden outdoor garden Bench to sit and read on, on warm summer’s days. (Which I confess I rarely did find time to do.)

In recent times I noticed that not only was the Prunus Tree largely dead, but that it had a terrible lean on it. At first it was the frame of the Bench that was holding it in a reasonably upright fashion, but just recently it moved past the bench frame and was leaning quite sharply and I realised that it was only the vines entangled in it’s dead branches and entwined between the Vines own roots and the branches of the Lilly Pilly that was holding the dead tree up. So I spent the new few minutes cutting the vines away and letting it fall harmlessly onto what used to pass as Lawn before the currant drought. Of course I then spent a couple of hours or more trying to clean up the mess, and still haven’t really finished.

This got me to pondering as to what was holding me up, and was this support Living or dead? I believe I am standing in my faith in Jesus and that I am rooted in God’s word, and although I love and appreciate my family, friends and Church, I don’t need their support to stand upright. That’s not to say I don’t appreciate them or use them in good times and in storms; simply that they are not my sole means of support.

What about you? Is God your strength? Are you well rooted in his Word and His ways?

Or is all your support simply from those around you, whether they are from the Church, Family or friends. Remove that support and you fall over and are no use to anyone, simply to be removed and burned?

Again I am not down playing the strength and support supplied by our connection to the Church. Support and strength we not only need but are enjoined by Scripture to seek out: “Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching,”(Hebrews 10:23 – 25 NRSV.)

All I am asking is, where are you getting your support from? From your own roots in God and his word, or has your own roots long died and you are only getting your support by osmosis from those around you and when they fail or fall away, so do you!

Over to you: Walter

Tracks, tracks & more tracks.

I was up at the old family home today and went for a walk with my oldest daughter and the dogs. We started off along the old vehicle track that goes up around the small dam and above the back of the house. Or rather we started along this track, before branching off onto a newer extension, just above the dam, that took us to the top of the hill. We then walked along and across the top of the hill before crossing a small gully and coming back along the private road.

As we crossed the gully and approached the road, there were the distinct, wide and shallow track, where the Kangaroos come down from the hill on one side and cross the road onto the opposite hill. A bit further on we even saw half a dozen hop away from us, even though it was in the middle of the day!

Further down, nearer to the house was another track, narrow but very deep, up the hill off the road, made about 10 years ago by young neighbours on trail bikes repetitiously using this track to ride on. This last track, was made years back and although not used for a long length of time even then, nor since but because of its depth, remains quite distinct and obvious; even dangerous. Unlike the kangaroo’s track, which although used constantly over the past decade and a half or so, is wide and shallow and would soon disappear from sight if the Kangaroos were to move to another spot to cross.

I don’t know for sure but suspect that the original track around the dam and house has probably been there for over a hundred years or so in some form, and originally used by horse and Dray. I do know that the Ness Brothers cut, or widened it; back in the 1950’s when dad had them bring in their small Bulldozer to deepen the original dam there. Since then because of minimal usage and slippage the banks have given way and encroached on the width of the track, making it unusable for vehicle usage, but still usable on foot. Because it no longer suits modern vehicle usage, one section used in later years by my brother to get Firewood out, has been widened a few times, and extended in another direction.

I don’t remember all the times it has been “worked” on but one time that I do remember, was back in the 90’s and by my father with pick and shovel, whilst recovering from a recent heart attack. The most recent time, just recently too, by my brother nearing 60, also with pick and shovel, and not that long after recovering from open heart surgery!

This convergence of tracks today got me to thinking of the tracks that each one of us leaves behind. Whether they be visible or invisible.

Will the track or trails we leave behind us be of the kind that although never used now, still leaves a deep, dangerous and ugly scar on the country side?

Or will our tracks be like the Kangaroos, distinct now, but easily erasable when we have moved on?

Or will they be like the original track, a permanent trail for others to follow, even if they have to adapt it for future usages not original envisaged by us.

What track are you using now?

One of your own or one used by those before you but perhaps in need of widening work by you? Or perhaps one that needs an extension built off it?

If so, don’t be afraid of the hard work that may be required. If my dad can use a pick and shove in his mid 70’s whilst recovering from a heart attack, just think what you can do in your own present condition. Think on that till next time: Walter

Are you an African violet?

The African violet is a plant from East, (surprise, surprise,) Africa. It is a small plant with heart-shaped velvety leaves, with different shades of Blue, purple or pink flowers. It is an ideal pot plant for small containers and small places.

As it is from a tropical climate, it has special requirements, such as a humid environment and is best watered by having the pots situated on stones and watered once a week, from the bottom up, with only tepid or luke-warm water. The stones allow ample drainage, because while they require lots of moisture they don’t like being saturated with it, all week.

With such conditions required, it has found a niche for itself in warm steamy conditions such as often found in Bathrooms and such. However, take them away form their ideal conditions and not only do they struggle but often give up the ghost very quickly and shrivel up and die. Thus the African violet, although well praised for its beauty, has a temperamental tag to it and is best left to the experts.

Sadly there are many Christians like that; they like to be watered once a week with tepid, non challenging sermons. Then they have a week’s gap for it to drain away before the next watering. They desire and need lots of care but treat them other than how they want to be treated and like the African violent they will curl up and drop away.

In a previous article I mentioned the Agapanthus plant, which is also a native of Africa, one that not only survives in hard conditions but becomes rampant and dominant if it finds itself in friendlier conditions.

Neither trend is ideal. We need to be versatile and hardy, able to make the most of whatever conditions God places us in. We should supplement and set off the best qualities in each other, rather than competing with and crowding out all others in our own little piece of God’s garden.

Only A Little Wrong? Is that a Problem?

A little while back I received an e-mail requesting a fellow friend’s e-mail address, as the one just used bounced. As soon as I looked at the address, I knew what the problem was, as I had made the same mistake myself the first time I tried to e-mail these same people. You see we all tried to put an "e" in the middle of the name, when there was no "e" in the name. So knowing the problem, I promptly replied to my friend with the correction. The following is their reply.

“Aha! Isn't it funny when something is that close to being right that you don't even notice it's wrong. Thanks so much for pointing that out (and good to know I'm not the only one who has done the extra 'e'.”

As I reflected on the sentence, “Isn't it funny when something is that close to being right that you don't even notice it's wrong,” I wondered how many times I may have been wrong but not known it. Or worse, how many times I may have misled someone by being “that close to being right that you don't even notice it's wrong”.

In writing this I was reminded of a notice in the Metal Workshop at Watsonia Tech School when I was there. It said, “Near enough is not good enough, and good enough is not near enough. “ The sign was there as a reminder to take strict care in all that you do. Sloppy care to detail results in sloppy workmanship. Workmanship that often outlasts our personal presence.

The Book of James in the Bible makes a similar point in Chapter three. Verse one and two say, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For all of us make many mistakes.” (NRSV)

All of the above simply highlights that we do need to be careful in all that we say and do for as verse two says, “For all of us make many mistakes”. Note it doesn’t say we make the odd mistake or two, but that we all make many mistakes.

Even though we know that we will make many mistakes, this does not justify them or release us from the responsibility of taking care that all that we say and do, is as correct as we can be expected to make it.

There are some things in life, like an incorrect e-mail address that will be picked up automatically and not go out, but most of our mistakes will go out into the world, and will be repeated by others and maybe even lead others into otherwise avoidable trouble.

So in all that we do, make sure that it is not just “close to being right” but that it is 100% right. I say that as much to myself as to you. Walter

The Common red Geranium at church.

9/4/2006

At our church is a common garden variety type, red Geranium, standing against one of the verandah posts, sending out a bright red display of blooms, in an otherwise dull and monotonous sea of green grass.

Late last year it looked in bad shape and I wanted to prune it back hard and let it regrow; but was reluctant to do so as it was still producing a vast display of, both existing, flowers and potential flowers, some still just buds.

So resisting the desire to heavily prune it back and let it grow again, I simply removed all the dead flowers and dead or spotty leaves which made a remarkable difference to its look. It is still flowering magnificently and with the damper weather of late is looking a lot better. It still needs a shape prune a little later on, but for now it is displaying its talents beautifully.

The geranium is another of the old time original garden favourites that has fallen out of favour among many today, especially the young, because of its commonality and scraggly growth habits. However in some quarters it is having a comeback due to selective breeding of new and smaller varieties over an amazing range of colours and shapes.

Geraniums are related to the Pelargonium Species and are in fact a sub species of the Genus Pelargonium. An interesting fact for you: All Geraniums are Pelargoniums; but only a few Pelargoniums are in fact Geraniums.

Geraniums have a variety of coloured flowers and shapes. There are single blooms, like the red one at church: then there are semi double and double flower heads. Then there are rosebud types with one even being called Apple-blossom Rose Bud – a name that describes both the colour and the shape of the bloom.

As well as different colours and shapes of the flowers, you can get different coloured Leaf varieties, scented leaf varieties and even Ivy shaped leaf varieties. But when most people mention Geraniums, they mean the common Zonal Type, like the common red geranium at Church.

Geraniums (and pelargonium too, to a lesser extent,) will grow under most conditions but if grown in too much shade will not flower very well. They are also good for hot dry places too, once they are established.

Both reproduce relatively easy from seed; and very easily by cuttings. In fact geraniums would be among the easiest of plants to reproduce by cuttings. Often you will see geraniums growing in vacant blocks or on the side of roads or any other place that lazy people have dumped their garden clippings. With the right moisture conditions they really are that easy to grow from cuttings or slips, as cuttings are sometimes called.

They are easy to grow with very little care or attention needed. Occasionally they do need a little fertilizer or other nutrients. However, too much fertilizer makes the plant soft and all the nutrients goes into producing growth of stems and leaves but not flowers. Not enough fertilizer stunts and delays growth, yet they will struggle on; like the common red geranium at Church.

Despite all its good qualities a lot of people dislike them because:

1. The older varieties in particular tend to be rather scraggily in growth if not regularly checked.
2. Although the flowers themselves have no aroma the plants themselves have a particularly strong aroma. One I don’t mind but one that some find offensive and overpowering.
3. Another reason they are dislike is because they are so common.

Well that’s enough about Geraniums, what about you?

Are you freely reproducing yourself with new Christians being added to the Kingdom of God – are previously lost souls being saved through your lifestyle witness of word and deed?

Are you giving off an aroma that is attractive to those looking for salvation?

Is your Christian aroma offensive to those who openly hate the Lord and His?

Are you in need of a good hard pruning?

Or have you fed on the word too long without giving any out and a re now soft and weak?

Are you basically in good shape? Yet still in need of a little pruning and shaping to be at your best?

Or do you simply need a little cleaning up and TLC?

Are you proud to be called common or ordinary?

Are you satisfied at being a common red geranium or do you secretly desire to be something more exotic, even if that is not what God has called you to be?

So what do you do now? And where do you Go?

Go to God in Parayer and go now: Walter

The many types of Agapanthus

I don’t know what it is like where you are, but driving around the outer Melbourne suburbs in the Summer time, one can’t avoid seeing lots and lots of Agapanthus plants in Flower and making quite a show of it too. This got me to ruminating about the many varieties of the Agapanthus plant and to its out -standing qualities that make it what it is today.

I believe that there is around 31 different types and colours of Agapanthus and I knew a (supposedly) retired Nurseryman who grew and marketed around 8 types, just to keep his hand in!

You can get various shades of blue white and red. You can get dwarf Types and even variegated types.

The main characteristic of the Agapanthus is its hardiness and versatility. You can grow them under almost all conditions from moist to extremely dry areas. They will grow in full sun or heavy shade. They are tolerant of salt and sea spray making them ideal for Beach homes etc. They can grow in all types of soil from sand to heavy clay. In fact if you dig up a reasonably large clump of them with roots attached you can even leave that clump on concrete and with just a minimum of moisture they will not only survive but thrive.

It is its hardiness and durability that leads to its popularity in many of the varieties. However there is one variety that, although once very popular and still very common, is no longer desired and has been put on the List of invasive plants and thus it is now technically illegal to sell or plant new plantings of this variety.

The banned variety is the common, original Blue flowering plant that you see in most places still today. The problem with this particular variety is that it is a vigorous grower and spreads from both multiplication of bulbs and also from seeds, and it is a ferocious seeder! Thus it tends to not only dominate an area but also to choke out other plants giving them no room or nutrients to survive let alone grow and prosper.

In its original setting it was a valuable member of the garden, often flourishing in conditions and settings where other plants had failed to survive let alone brighten up the surrounds like the Agapanthus’ dominating flower head does. However it’s aggressive spreading nature results in it spreading to areas occupied by other plants and choking out their growth and dominating the Garden with this single variety, if left unchecked.

So on the one hand, while we admire the plant for its versatility, strength and determination to continue on under hard conditions, we find ourselves on the other hand decrying its over-whelming domination and destruction of the rest of the garden plants. As admirable as it is, we find that instead of helping and highlighting the rest of the garden plants with its strengths, the Agapanthus is guilty of over-crowding and choking out the other varieties of plants and resulting in a sameness in the whole area. Instead of a complementary assortment of colour, size, shades and shape in the garden, we have a dominance of a single characteristic.

But enough about the plant and on to you. If you were an Agapanthus, what type of Agapanthus would the others in your organization, group or church, classify you as?

And what about you? How do you see yourself? Some people see themselves as a dwarf variety and feel that they are often dwarfed by the others around them. They often forget that the dwarf varieties have their own worth as they are able to fill the gaps that the other varieties can’t?

When you consider what type of Agapanthus you might be, ask yourself the following questions. Does my size and/colour dominate the group, or do I highlight and accentuate the others? Does my size/colour attract others to those around me or just to me?

So often, whether in our garden’s or in our groups, we are attracted to the wrong variety and ignore the better ones. Sometimes we let that one variety dictate our thoughts to the whole group, often negatively, rather than judge that one plant on its own. Again, what type of Agapanthus are you in your group?

Over to you.

Blue Tounges & Snappy Dogs

One recent Thursday, after doing my usual morning shift at work, I went up to Mum’s, as is my wont on Thursdays.

As it is very dry and very hot at the moment I almost immediately started watering. (Using Dam water for those frustrated by water restrictions.)

It was not long before I was distracted by yapping dogs, and our own dogs at that. Although our two dogs are not that big and our yard not that small, George and Charlie appreciate the extra freedom of the still nearly 40 acres at my Mums, so whenever I/we go there, we try and take them with us, as we did today. Normally they run around the house quietly but not today. It was hot so they were poking around the yard under the trees, when they came upon something that they didn’t know or appreciate. So stopping what I was doing I went to investigate their yapping, suspecting that I knew what it was but also thinking it might be a snake.

No, I was right. It was only a blue tongue Lizard. So chasing the dogs away I went back to watering. A little later they were back there yapping again. This time I could see them from where I was and called them away briefly again, glancing at something nearby that had caught my attention. While I had been looking up at the dogs and the first Lizard, I had not noticed that I was standing less than a metre from another one, and may have even shortly stood on it if I was not careful.

Lizards at Mum’s are not unusual. In fact Mum encourages the Lizards to stay around as she believes that as long as there are Lizards around, there will be no snakes there. So far it has proven thus for many, many years now.

Yet a little later I heard the dogs yapping again, this time in the front yard, so again stopping what I was doing, I again went and investigated, again expecting the worse but hoping for the best. Again I was delighted to find it was only another Blue Tongue. This time one of the dogs (Charlie) actually made an attack on it before I could intervene. Fortunately no harm was done to either party and I again chased the dogs away, and left the Lizard alone.

Much later again, this time after I had just finished hosing the car down (again with Dam water) when the yapping started again. Yet again I investigated and yet again it was another Lizard. (Or one of the earlier ones, who knows?)

So what are the implications of the above? Well some times it seems that we spend a lot of our time yapping at things that are strange to us, even when they are not harmful to us, simply because we don’t know what they are. Rather than find out if they are good or bad we simply whine and yap, causing distractions to both ourselves and to others.

At other times instead of waiting and finding out if they are harmful or friendly we immediately go on the attack (Like Charlie) and try and harm those who are in fact friendly towards us, even if that help is often unknown, unseen , unrecognized and even un-appreciated.

At other times, a lot of our precious time is wasted checking out the noisy yapping of others about harmless situations, knowing that we can’t afford not to err on the side of caution in case there really is a deadly snake in the grass invading.

At times too, we can become so distracted by the yappings of others that we don’t realize what is happening literally at our own feet, as with me coming close to standing on another Lizard this morning.

Finally, how many Lizards did I actually see? I don’t know. Probably at least 3, maybe even 4. The thing is, it was enough for me to recognize that they were of no danger to me without any real need to actually identify each one. Again, we sometimes allow the interesting but unimportant things, to distract us from concentrating on our original task at hand.

Instead we should simply leave them alone to do their thing while we do our own. Which is what I am going to do now by signing off.

Walter