Tristan Rescues the Girl with Golden Hair

“Granddad,” said Tristan with a concerned look on his face. “I need to swim out to ‘Pirate Island!’”

 

“Why? What’s wrong?” asked the boy’s grandfather.

 

 

“The pirates have got Lanna!”

 

“Do you mean Lanna, the girl with golden hair?” asked the little boy’s grandfather, looking worried too.

 

“Yes, grandad. The pirates have her!” he said excitedly.

“Well, Tristan. If you are going to swim all the way over to ‘Pirate Island’ I had better keep an eye on you.” Granddad loved his little Tristan and did not want anything to harm him.

“Don’t worry, granddad. I’ll be careful. I’ll just scare any sharks and stinging jellyfish away! I got stung by a jellyfish before and I didn’t even cry!”

“You’re so brave, Tristan!” said his grandfather with an approving smile.

“And I’m not scared of those pesky pirates that have got Lanna either!” Tristan could be so bold at times!

So, off they swam to ‘Pirate Island’ to rescue the girl with golden hair. Tristan’s grandfather was keeping a close eye on his grandson. Tristan swam with all his might.

 

Tristan arrived at ‘Pirate Island’ first. His grandad offered to help Tristan climb up the rocks and onto the island but Tristan said, “It’s okay grandad. I can manage myself!” Tristan could be so independent at times.

 

Soon they were on the island. Tristan said to his grandfather, “Grandad, you stay here and I’ll go and rescue Lanna from those pesky pirates.”

 

Tristan walked up to the pirates and said, “Do you have any treasure?”

“No!” they replied.

“Then what are you trying to hide under your foot?” he asked bravely.

“There’s nothing but sand under my foot,” replied the pirate.

 Tristan had a plan. He pointed his finger and said, “What’s that over there?” The pesky pirates turned their heads to see what Tristan was pointing at. When they were looking the other way Tristan grabbed the girl with golden hair and ran away with her. When the pirates turned back to see what had happened it was too late. Tristan had rescued Lanna!

“Okay!” said one of the pesky pirates. (It was really Tristan’s grannie! and the other 'pirate' was his mum!) “It’s time for ice-cream. Tristan, I’ll swim back to shore with you.”

So off they went, Tristan swimming as fast as he could. Tristan loves ice-cream!

 

 

And they all lived happily ever after. THE END.

Australia Day

Many people become new Australians on Australia Day. Australia had been my home for some fifteen years before I became an Australian citizen (or should that be ‘subject’?) Yes, Australia’s system of democracy is a Constitutional Monarchy. At this time of the year it is common to hear that some wish Australia to become some sort of a republic. I suppose I wouldn’t mind so long as an Australian republic was the same as that which America’s founding fathers had in mind, i.e., a Christian republic, i.e., founded on the rule of law as per the Bible. However, I fear that some sort of anti-Christian republic model would be foisted on us, like, for example, the one envisioned by the revisionists in America. These either ignore or reinterpret their Constitution and all mention of God and Christ is blotted out from and forbidden in the public arena in their effort to separate God and State. So, best let sleeping dogs lie, I say, lest we end up a Secularist (read Atheist) Australia. Well, Secularists are trying to distance Australia from its Christian heritage, aren’t they? Some even want to change the Australian flag. ‘Why give Britain (read ‘England’) free advertising?’ So, they wish to remove the picture of the Union flag from the top left of our Australian flag. I reckon the Australian flag would look great with just the white stars on the blue background. I love that Southern Cross! However, some people want to change these colours and put weird-shaped kangaroos and all sorts of critters and things on the flag. So, best let sleeping dogs lie, I say, lest we remove the reminder of our Christian heritage from our flag. And those crosses in the Union flag, they are Christian symbols, aren’t they?

Before becoming an Australian citizen I began to contemplate what Australia is as a nation and who the Australian people are. What is the glue that holds Australians together? Down Under it is called ‘mateship’. What is mateship? It is doing unto others as you would have them do unto you. Mateship is to love your neighbour as yourself. If the Secularists have their way will mateship still be the rule of life in their Godless republic? So, best let sleeping dogs lie, I say, lest we end up following the ‘survival of the fittest’ philosophy or some other anti-Christian rule of life.

Where did Australian mateship come from? In other words, what philosophy has impacted Australian life so much so that the whole nation as a nation has adopted it? Well, I’ve already mentioned the Golden Rule. The Golden Rule of what? Islam? Buddhism? Secularism? Humanism? Socialism? Communism? Atheism? Jedi Knightism? Which of these has most influenced the Australian way of life? None of them! Where do we find the Golden Rule? It’s found in the Book our Constitutional Monarchy is based upon – the Holy Bible: ‘As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise’ Luke 6:31. This rule is not about sitting on your comfy couch and watching the news. It is about actually ‘doing’ something. It is about actively loving your neighbour as yourself (Matthew 19:19; 22:39; Mark 12:31). The Jesus who spoke those words is the same Jehovah who said (way back in Leviticus 19:18), ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.’ Thus Jehovah-Jesus.

It is great that Australia has adopted the teaching of Christianity, the belief system she inherited from Great Britain. Australian Law goes all the way back to the Bible from Sir William Blackstone (1723-80) through King Alfred the Great (871-99) who codified large portions of the Bible as Common Law. It is great those times when Australia puts the spirit of the law into practice! By way of example, during the Queensland floods of 2010 (in which at least 35 people lost their lives), Australians demonstrated true love for neighbour. Whole houses with people’s belongings were washed away. Cars were piled on top of each other by the power of rushing water. In Brisbane City whole suburbs were awash. I heard someone on the radio say that when the floods hit New Orleans all the city’s roads were blocked with people trying to leave the city. But when the floods hit Brisbane all the city’s roads were blocked, not with people trying to leave, but with people trying to get into the city to lend a hand! Television pictures of thousands of volunteers lining up to help brought tears to my eyes! I am proud to be called an Australian! What a people! What a nation! ‘Mateship’ in action!

The Queensland State Premier at the time, went from zero to hero(ine) and then back to zero in the space of a few days. Before the floods her ratings were the lowest of the low. During the floods she demonstrated great leadership – even asking for prayer for the flood victims! After the floods her ratings plummeted when she and her government wanted to ‘means-test’ flood refugees before they could receive our voluntarily donated monies! There was a great hue and cry. The people voiced their opinion that the government ought to ‘butt-out’ when it comes to our donations! Don’t governments just spoil things when they overstep their God-given mandate? (Romans 13:1-10)

I love Australia as it is – a nation greatly influenced by Christian teaching. Let us not change it except to influence it for good with more of the Bible, not less! So, lest we become a Secularist/Atheist Republic, best let sleeping dingoes lie…

Morning Coffee at Redcliffe

Had a couple of hours to kill at Redcliffe. I ordered a large coffee. “Would you like an extra shot with that?” I respond with a puzzled look. “It makes the coffee stronger.” I wonder about the logic of this but nod the go-ahead. I order a blueberry muffin as an afterthought. I sit outside with a view of Moreton Bay. The usual morning people are enjoying breakfast. A table of six women are giggling and laughing. I immediately glance to see if my fly is secure! A pigeon lands at my feet looking for crumbs. I devour the muffin before my coffee arrives in a cup that looks more like a soup bowl with a handle! I sip my coffee as I read some of “Leaving Alexandria” on my Kindle. I finish my coffee and feel the hair on my scalp rise as the pseudo-adrenalin caffeine-hit raises my alertness. I hear a guitar being gently strummed. There’s a man quietly serenading us breakfasters. I stroll out on the Redcliffe jetty. The air is warm and the tide is in. So peaceful. So relaxing. I look into the water. Portuguese man-o-war, “bluebottles,” gently flap their wings as they drag their chemical-tentacles through the clear liquid. A flock of seagulls stand together looking out into the bay. I hear crows calling to each other from the tall and proud Norfolk Island Pines. A fish leaps. The ripples fade. All becomes quiet. Still. The objective becomes subjective. I am left alone with my thoughts. I silently distil the chemicals produced by the synapse impulses in the refinery of my mind. Beautiful morning! I thank the Lord for life, for everlasting life.