Compassion ...

I have recently been thinking about what it means to have compassion. Defined as 'the humane quality of understanding the suffering of others and wanting to do something about it', true compassion sets a high benchmark for our actions towards others.

Did you know that this week in Australia has been 'Anti Poverty Week' but I'm not sure how many people living comfortable lives were aware ...

• of the housing crisis and the homelessness that plagues our cities
• of the 3rd world poverty that Indigenous Australians live in
• that many people are unable to access resources that are taken for granted such as banks
• that people living on the fringes are unable to access basic health care such as dental services

According to the ABS, particular groups of people in Australian society are at high risk of poverty are 58% of indigenous people, 28% of jobless people, 28% of people renting, 22% of single parents, 7% of older people.

Recent research about the poorest 20% of families in Australia indicates most of these families
are jobless. Findings of NATSEM research conducted in 2004 include:

• 4 out of 5 of families earning the lowest 20% of income had social security payments as
  their main source of income
• 72% of the 424,000 families in the bottom 20% are jobless, 48% are single parent
  families, and families with older children are also overrepresented (27% of bottom 20%)

When I think about compassion, and I wonder how I can act, what can I do to show compassion to those who I share this planet with .... any ideas?

On the road again ...

This week I've visited two very different parts of Australia. I spent 2 days in Horsham in country Victoria and over the next 4 days will be in Brisbane, Queensland.

Across Australia conversations continue to turn to the impact of the drought ... on the livelihood of farmers, the availability of certain foods, the impact on people's quality of life and the mental health of those who rely on the land.

I realise how fortunate I have been throughout my working life. I haven't been confronted with the prospect of redundancy nor have I been out of work for extended periods of time. For this I am incredibly grateful and I don't take the opportunities afforded to me for granted for one minute.

My work allows me the opportunity to meet so many people, whose experience of life is varied, and who daily face challenges that I will many never understand. I am learning so much from colleagues, friends and others who I share life's journey with. I am also acutely aware that I need to make a difference ... in every encounter and at every opportunity try to speak for those who aren't given the opportunity to represent themselves ...

Suitcases come in many colours, shapes and sizes. So to do people and the journey we each take is equally varied with twists and turns we often can't begin to imagine ...

How's your journey been lately?

Hairspray ...

I have a confession ... I love my hairspray ... always have, and I suspect, I always will!!!

Well, today I was forced to look at my hairspray in a very different light. I saw the movie 'HAIRSPRAY' ... and had a good belly laugh!!!!

What was interesting was that while it was a fun and silly movie with really good lines ... 'Link, your pork's ready' and 'navigate these pleats' ... it also had a really important message about acceptance, love and the equality of man ... no matter what shape, size or colour. I loved that reminder ... and the way that it was communicated was perfect!

Have you seen the movie? What did you think? Hope you have a fab week ...

International Peace Day - 21st September 2007

What does peace mean to you?

Does it mean silence and time by yourself? Does it mean an end to fighting in the home or around the globe? Does it mean an end to financial worries? Does it mean a mind free from worries and stress? What does peace mean to you?

It’s hard to separate peace from hope and justice. We hope for peace and this then will lead to justice ...

I believe that there is much to be hopeful for and that justice will only be achieved through ongoing advocacy and the role that we each have in working toward inclusion through challenging structures that diminish an individual’s human rights.

I guess it's a tall order ... but we don't really have a choice ...

Just a quick thought on life!

Missing in action!

Sorry for the delay .....

It's nice to know that this blog is being read! Someone told me I needed a new posting this week ... and that I was in her Favourites ... made my day!!!!!!!!!!

I've got a bit addicted to Myspace, sorry Blogger, my first love! But it's addictive!!! IM particularly is so convenient ... but it does have an interesting level of anonymity which I think can be a problem ...

I guess the MIA title today refers to a few things ... and I'm reminded how easy it is to get caught up 'doing' rather than 'being'. I have a pretty quiet weekend ahead of me .... I need to get disciplined at 'being'!

I love LIVING life ... and keep thinking ... 'what next?'. For work, family, friends, holidays etc., what's next on the agenda ... what do I need to do ... what's the next activity ... but I really need to STOP, BE AND LIVE!!!

So ... if I'm MIA again, you'll know it's because I'm BEING!

How's life for you?

Laughter's good for the soul!

I had a good belly laugh last night. A friend of mine was being really silly, and they just kept on and it made me laugh, smile and in all likelihood I released some of that stress that we all carry as a result of the pressures of daily life.

I guess most of my entries are pretty serious, contemplative and in some cases quite heavy.

Today I want to say 'thanks' for laughter and remind myself that sometimes it's the simple things that make life precious and enjoyable. Hope you get to laugh sometime soon!

The power of rainbows

I got this picture from a friend via email recently and it reminded me how perfect this world really is.

It's easy to get caught up in all the pressures and stress of daily life. The demands that we place on ourselves and that others have of us can sometimes be overwhelming but then the simplicity of nature and the power of the Creator reminds us that it's all going to be OK.

I've been pretty busy lately. Travelling with work and also just keeping up with every day life. I have a feeling I've missed out on some precious moments with friends and family. This picture reminds me to STOP and not miss out on the simple things in life.

As a single person I have so many opportunities to invest in others ... young and old, and I'm going to set out once again, to make the most of that!

Can you relate?

myspace ...

OK, so I'm now at a crossroads. I've just created a myspace (http://www.myspace.com/chelleinoz) and I don't know how to link the two, but I should be able to do it, as I see other people's facebook pages on their Blogs?! Any ideas?

Anyway, it's been a fun way to keep up with technology and connect with my 2 nieces (10 and 15) as they both have their own pages. I feel a little more 'sick' (do you know what that means?)

Glad it's Saturday ... will write more soon!

Winter weary ...

It's really cold at the moment and I'm struggling to get out of bed in the morning. Life is good, and I don't have any reason not to face a new day with anticipation, but I'm just feeling weary ... maybe it's because it's winter, and cold outside?!


A friend of mine was snowed in today, and she only lives 20 mins up the hill from my place - picture attached. I really don't mind the winter, it's great to hear the welcomed rain falling outside, to curl up with the heating on and read a good book, to have a warm drink when your hands are really cold, to feel the crispness of the air on a cold winters morning ... I could go on, there are many blessings of this season.

There are also many people who don't have a home to go to, who can't afford heating and for whom the cold adds another layer of despair to their already difficult lives. I wish that wasn't so ... and I'm at a lost how to end this entry. I guess all I can think of is ... MAKE POVERTY HISTORY ... in both the developed world and developing countries!!

Mark Schultz - I Am

Love the power of the music and words of this song.

Precious friendships ...

I have had a fantastic weekend ... filled with precious 'girlfriend' time.

I'm going to squeeze Thursday night into the weekend classification, although I did have to go to work on Friday. I had a 'sleepover' at one of my girlfriends place ... we watched a DVD, talked and caught up on all the excitement that makes up our lives.

Friday night I had another girly night and went to a movie (Knocked Up, which I found completely hilarious ... not sure if I should have!!!) and then had dinner with 2 precious friends. Saturday night I had dinner with 2 other friends, and then today (Sunday) I caught up with a dear friend over one of my favourite things to do ... eat YUM CHA! We both share this joy of this asian delight and it was a great way to catch up and it flowed into the afternoon as over coffee, tears and laughs we just shared life.

As I write this I realise how I make everything sound perfect ... obviously it isn't. Everyone's life is full of ups and downs and for some of the friends I've mentioned, they've had more tough times than they should have. For one in particular, it's been an incredibly tough year with the loss of someone very dear.

What I did want to write was how important friendship is. I think that's one of the reasons we're on this earth, to be there for each other and to journey down life's path together.

Sometimes our friendships are short lived, others last a lifetime. Some are incredibly intimate, while there are friendship that consist of a kind word and a smile exchanged. Whatever the experience, I'm glad I've got friends, and I hope I can be just as true a friend as what I experience.

How about you? Have you been a friend today?

Rainbows ...

With the beautiful winter's days that we've been having recently, I've loved seeing Rainbows in the sky. Pictured here is a rainbow which I will never forget ... seen in January this year while travelling with a dear friend around Hawaii.

Rainbows for me signify a promise, and while I always try to be an optimist, to see the 'silver lining' in every situation, lately I've been hearing about such great need, that it's been a bit of a reality check for me! Sometimes situations do seem hopeless.

I'm so grateful for the opportunities that have been mine throughout my life, and as I see the winter rainbows, I say 'thank you' and am challenged again to bring hope and look for the rainbow in every circumstance or if I can, to help others to find a rainbow.

Have you seen a rainbow lately?

Soy Chai Latte ... with honey!

Thank God it's Friday!

I've had another busy week which has just flown by. I was in Sydney and Canberra ... boy it's good to be home! It's been great to see and learn more about my country though, and I've had some really interesting experiences! While I was in Western Australia in May I travelled to Margaret River with work colleagues. On the way home we stopped at a place called the 'Food Farmacy' in a cute town called Dunsborough. Have you been there? The whole restaurant is reflective of a pharmacy and there are lots of little touches to keep the theme going. The 3 teas above show this and not only was the food and drink yummy, the surrounds made it even more enjoyable.

I've been thinking about my little Chai Latte beaker and how complicated life has gotten with so many options. Given we are in the thick of winter, I've taken to ordering Soy Chai Lattes with Honey! I was out with friends the other day giggling at all the options that we now have to chose from - skinny, decaf etc ... decisions, decisions, decisions!!

This weekend has begun with the simplest of experiences - fish and chips with friends and a couple of movies on DVD. Life doesn't get much better than that! I am blessed ... and I know it!

There's a lot going on in this country at the moment, I guess an election year will do that. What I hope is that amidst all that's going on ... people still have choice! I worry that the views and experiences of one group are not seen as the best and only options and therefore imposed on people. Everyone has a right to choice, to make decisions for themselves as individuals and for the way their family and community lives. I have no argument that children deserve the best, I guess I just worry "whose best"?!

It's funny how experiences prompt thinking ... what's been on your mind?

Being passionate ...

Today I participated in Good Shepherd Day, a great way of building the social capital of an agency whose primary focus is advocacy and the alleviation of poverty. I learnt today that while most Orders have 3 vows, the Good Shepherd Sisters have a 4th - to labour with zeal for the salvation of souls. I can sign up to that!

I was reminded today of times when I've been passionate about one thing or another, and then that drive has waned for one reason or another. Right now I'm passionate about -

• my faith
• my family
• my friends
• fun!

My prayer throughout the day was 'Lord continue to make me passionate above all else to do Your will, and to be a witness to others'. I really feel that the work that I am doing now is part of His will .... and it's great to have 'zeal' for my work.


Yesterday at my church there were 8 young girls who committed their lives to being disciples of Jesus. They're young, and while life will be filled with twists and turns for each of them, they are in a place where they are loved, encouraged and supported. This is the same environment that I grew up in ... and I am so glad that I was given the opportunity to make a choice, to follow where Jesus leads me and to always try to live a life that is pleasing to HIM. There is no greater joy.


The picture on today's entry was taken last Thursday morning from a plane from Brisbane to Townsville (the northern part of Australia). What's most interesting about this picture is that below this glorious view there was a mighty storm, as we descended we made our way from beautiful, white, fluffy clouds to thick, grey, ominous clouds casting a shadow upon the earth.


It reminded me that life has many levels, and as we journey through life together some of us are flying amidst a glorious sunset while others are facing a looming storm. Whatever the journey, we've got a pilot, and while it may sound corny, He guides our way. So, what's your flight path like today?

Suitcases ...

For some reason I lost the plot with this Blog, yet I have still been visiting a number of my friends Blogs to catch up on their news/thoughts ... go figure!

I have been pretty busy, so that's my excuse! Over the past few months I have seen quite a bit of my homeland, more than I had seen in quite some time! The FFs are on the steady increase and while I really enjoy travelling, I'm really tired.

My new job includes a partnership with the National Australia Bank who have committed $10M to the capitalization of the No Interest Loans Scheme (NILS). This is a great program that Good Shepherd developed 26 years ago which they now help some 260 agencies across Australia deliver to those most in need of a safe loan option (no interest, up to $1000 for household goods primarily). It's a great initiative and I am really proud to be heading it up. I've met some fantastic people, working in pretty difficult situations, who have one goal ... to MAKE POVERTY HISTORY.

Already close to $6M has been committed to agencies across Australia - Tasmania, Perth, Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns, Rockhampton, Townsville. This week I'm in Canberra and Sydney again!!! The case has been sitting on the spare bed and a faithful servant over the past 2 or so months!!!

As a person who has travelled overseas, and who loves learning, this has been a great way of mixing a personal passion with my profession.

The challenge for me is ensuring that I maintain a balance ... my friends are really important to me. I love sitting, chatting and hanging out with the people I care about and just generally 'doing life'! I've missed that ... so that's my challenge for the next few weeks ... BALANCE!!!

Feel free to keep me faithful!

Building Communities - where do you start?

I visited Queensland this week and was in Goodna, a Brisbane suburb yesterday.

This is an area which is facing many challenges including the lack of affordable housing, increasing debt (particularly owed to pay day lenders who charge outrageous interest rates), increasing demand on emergency relief to help with basic necessities like a roof over a families/individual head, and many other factors impacting on the quality of life of its residents.

Sitting around the table were people from various agencies across the state, many church based, others community driven, who are dedicated to making a difference - chipping away at the inequality that exists in our world - including in a developed, prosperous country like Australia. The experience of many Goodna residents stretches across the state, and this country.

If we listened to the media we would believe that all Australians are benefiting from a period of positive growth - the most recent national unemployment rate announced this week is 4.5%, our dollar is strong against the 'greenback' and many industries are experiencing a 'boom'.

In such a period of prosperity, why do the people of Goodna, and many within our communities struggle to keep 'their heads above water'?

As we face an election year, much is spoken about the responsibilities of the socially excluded ... participation, mutual obligation, taking responsibility etc are raised as if they are the solution. Perhaps we need to look at what responsibility which lies at the feet of the socially included - you and me.

What do you think?

The Great Ocean Road

Today marks my first Blog entry - ever!

I have resisted leaving messages on friends Blogs - both near and far. I regularly read their entries with interest, and find that it is my post modernal way of keeping in touch - albeit one way! It's a strange feeling to be able to 'journal' life's happenings.

I have just spent 4 days journeying along The Great Ocean Road, and saw the 12 (now 8) Apostles, one of God's marvelous creations. Have you ever travelled along this road? What road are you travelling today?

Given it was also the Easter long weekend, I have also been reflecting on Christ's sacrifice and the ultimate price of a Father's love. The Via Delarosa was the road that this beautiful, humble Man travelled along under the weight of a cross, a punishment that was not due to Him, but which He bore, for me ... and for you. It is thought that this road was chosen because it was an open route which was perfect, allowing people to mock Him as travelled along the road.

This time 12 months ago I was travelling another road. I visited the USA, Germany, Paris, Scotland and London and saw some amazing sights ... and was again reminded how wonderful this world truly is.

I guess travelling on a road is a the perfect place for me to start with my blog ... thanks for joining me and sharing in the journey!