Coco Calling No.278 - A Guest Blog by Tracey Barton

This week, I’m putting up my scaly feet and enjoying a ‘Guest Blog’ that’s been written by Tracey Barton, one of my avid weekly readers. Tracey’s recently returned from Tasmania, so here’s what she’s got to say……

Having just had a solo trip to Australia, (forty years later than my initial plans), I feel a wonderful deep-seated sense of calm. Unfortunately, I don’t have feathers and wings like Coco does, so I had to go in a ‘metal bird’, well three actually, to get me half way around the world.

The reunions with old friends were wonderful, with lots of chatter, laughter and love; the time just melted away, and the memories and stories that we shared were the most precious of moments.

However, it was the wildlife and nature that made the greatest impression on me. I was able to watch Plovers protecting their babies, and watch my favourite birds, -Galahs – the pink cockatoos. I paddled in the sea with a pair of Oystercatchers. Amongst other things, I saw the tiny Blue Fairy Wrens with the brightest blue plumage, “Turbo Chooks” that cannot fly but run very fast, (hence their nickname), plus black swans with their cygnets, and I was able to enjoy the singing of a Grey Shrike Thrush every morning.

Down in Tasmania, the Osteospermums grow like dandelions in the lawns while Mesembryanthemums grow on the sandy beaches and hold the dunes in place; these little flowers close up at night and open again in the morning as the warm sun appears. I went up mountains to enjoy the views and was almost been blown off my feet as, Mother Nature, in the space of ten minutes, delivered hail, rain, wind as well as glorious sunshine. The rainbows were wonderful!

All these simple, natural pleasures made me sit and watch – quietly taking in the offer of another perspective of my time here on earth. I feel very blessed to have been able to experience it all.

As humans, we often take so much of life for granted, especially when we are working and dashing about. We simply don’t take enough time to simply ‘be!’  Having this chance to experience nature in another country made me feel not only grateful, but also small, in a nice way. Taking time to just observe and listen is very humbling; it can remind us of what is important in life. It brings us down to the level of humility that Jesus demonstrated during his lifetime, when he came and lived among us to experience human hardships and became a servant to us all. He encouraged all around him to care and serve their fellow man.  He listened, observed and cared; he performed his miracles with quiet humility. Wouldn’t the world be a better place if we all acted the same way?

“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.” 

(C.S. Lewis: [1898-1963]: Northern Irish Anglican lay preacher, writer and academic scholar)  

             

“Humility is the mother of all virtues, ……If you are humble, nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are.” 

(Mother Teresa: [1910-1997]: Catholic nun of Albanian origin who dedicated her life to serving the poor in Calcutta, India as well as elsewhere)

“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in humility that comes from wisdom”

(James 3: 13)

 

Thank you very much for sharing your experiences with us Tracey. Reading your blog made me feel as though I’d been to Tasmania with you, (maybe sneakily in your luggage!) If anybody else ever feels like giving me a week off to relax on my perch, then please do send in a blog to me. All offerings are very welcome. Have a great week everybody! Coco.