A word from Down Under

G'day! This is Maya writing from Canberra, Australia. Canberra has been spared the ravages of bush fires, which have claimed over 60 lives in other parts of Australia, and in equal drought. The rivers are still, bubbling in stagnating, shallow, muddy puddles; all fire alerts on extreme and water restrictions transforming gardens into deserts. Today, however, the weather has changed dramatically, dropping from 38 degrees centigrade to 28 degrees centigrade, grey skies and humidity. Hopefully, this will bring some relief to those in the harder hit parts of Australia. As always, when we read the news and look with despair at the tragedies that consume our neighbours in our area and around the world, we can become cynics and shake our heads disapprovingly at the injustices and disasters or we can participate in life, by appreciating all the graces we are given, and reach out to share our privileges, gifts and strengths with those who will, hopefully, also be in the position to one day do the same for someone else - perhaps even ourselves.

And on that note, I sign off on what was supposed to be a short greeting and update from Australia, but turned out to be a random note of appreciation.