Notes from the Great Southland
In September I spoke eight times in Australia and tw
ice in New Zealand, sharing a platform with the actors from the U.K. with whom we’ve toured previously. The only kangaroo we saw in Australia outside of a petting zoo was a dead one, a big red joey that had been hit by a car. We saw plenty of exotic birds, though, and had a thrilling boat ride in Sydney Harbor. On our last night I attended a piano concert by Evgeny Kissin in the Sydney Opera House, a splendid building which, I learned, pleases the eye far more than the ear.
Earlier this year a study included both Australia and New Zealand on a list of nine countries where, if current trends continue, religion will go extinct within thirty years. As in Europe, church attendance Down Under has declined precipitously in the past fifty years and society has grown increasingly more secular. The current Prime Minister of Australia, though raised Baptist, openly professes her atheism.
Our presentations followed a similar format to the May tour in Britain (see the blog posted on May 25 at http://oldsite.philipyancey.com/archives/2687). In the course of the evening we went through four Seasons of the Soul, beginning with the new life of spring and proceeding through the joy of summer, the doubts and struggles of autumn and finally the hard times of winter. As judged from comments afterward at the book signings, audiences responded most intensely to the “winter season” of faith. Western Australia is suffering from an extended drought while the eastern part of the country is still recovering from a devastating flood that covered an area larger than Europe. A century-and-a-half ago Matthew Arnold wrote of the ebbing of the Sea of Faith in modern times, a retreat that leaves the world with “neither joy, nor love, nor light, Nor certitude, nor peace, nor help for pain.” That last void, nor help for pain, may edge people back to faith, especially those who live in developed countries with so many allurements to pleasure and entertainment. Sexy advertisements and a shallow celebrity culture somehow lose their appeal when your three-year-old child lies dying in a hospital, or when you do. I heard story after heart-breaking story of cancer and flood victims and teenage suicides and drug overdoses and Alzheimer’s-afflicted parents. Where else do you turn but to God when all of life seems frozen in a perpetual winter?
One of the sketches performed by the actors comes from the play Shadowlands. “Pain is God’s megaphone to rouse a deaf world,” proclaims the confident professor C. S. Lewis from a lectern. Yet later in the sketch, as he comes to terms with Joy Davidman’s imminent death, and then tries to comfort her son Douglas, his confidence has melted into confusion and doubt. The book he wrote about Joy’s illness and death, A Grief Observed, has a very different tone than his earlier treatise The Problem of Pain.
Rather than megaphone, I prefer the image of pain as a hearing aid: while the Bible generally ignores the messy question of causation, it encourages us to “tune in” to the redemptive power of suffering. Some respond by switching off the hearing aid and turning away from God. Others follow the Apostle Paul’s example in allowing God to wrest goodness and growth from the bad things of this world. Even wintry times offer reasons for hope. We saw this most clearly at the site of our last event, held in New Zealand’s second largest city, Christchurch, site of a devastating earthquake last February.
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o the casual visitor New Zealanders seem shyer, more introverted than their Australian cousins, more British in personality than American. First impressions may deceive. An Australian described for me the difference between Aussies and “Kiwis,” as they call their neighbors. “We Australians like to present a macho image, but the Kiwis are the real tough ones. I think it’s because they don’t have many natural enemies: no snakes, few venomous spiders, no dangerous mammals, no droughts in the Outback or floods in the plains. So they invent their own physical challenges. The first man to climb Mt. Everest hailed from New Zealand. Outward Bound started there. You can bungee jump off bridges or even a TV tower in downtown Auckland. The more adventurous go for ‘black-water rafting’ in which you ride the rapids in total darkness inside a cave.”
On this trip we tried neither bungee jumping nor black-water rafting, though we did have an unscheduled adventure. As our plane descended through a storm toward Auckland, suddenly a ball of light smashed into the window with a loud bang that shook the entire aircraft. A moment later the Air New Zealand pilot reported dryly, “You may have noticed that our plane has been hit by lightning. No worries. These things happen, and all our instruments appear to be working correctly.” The few Americans on the plane were already jittery in view of the date: September 11.
After one night in Auckland we flew on to Christchurch in the South Island. The earthquake there made front-page news until it got dwarfed by the much more deadly earthquake and tsunami in Japan a month later. We toured the downtown area, much of it cordoned off, and saw heaps of rubble where skyscrapers had recently stood. The famed Anglican cathedral lost its spire and may have to be demolished, while only a buttress of steel containers keeps the main Catholic church from collapsing. More than a thousand buildings in Christchurch face demolition.
Often after a natural disaster, communities look to churches for help. For example, six years after Hurricane Katrina, long after the federal government has moved on, churches in Houston and Dallas still send weekend teams to repair and rebuild houses in New Orleans. In New Zealand, denominations banded together, assigned response teams to the neediest areas, and organized a food bank and tool bank. More than 700 aftershocks have hit the area, creating an oppressive mood of fear and anxiety. In a city whose very name expresses their identity, the churches hope to convey “the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God” (2 Corinthians 1:3).
As I told the group gathered in Christchurch, on the surface winter looks like death. Trees once resplendent with leaves now appear as dead sticks. Yet botanists tell us that most plant growth occurs during winter, below the surface, as roots spread out and absorb the moisture and nutrients they will need for the vitality of spring and summer. May it be so, not just in Christchurch, New Zealand, but all across that nation and its larger cousin Australia, once known as “the great Southland of the Holy Spirit.”
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Web Administrator Update: Here is an interview Philip did for a New Zealand TV channel carrying Christian news and public affairs programs.
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15 responses to “Notes from the Great Southland”
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About Philip Yancey
For Yancey, reading offered a window to a different world. So, he devoured books that opened his mind, challenged his upbringing, and went against what he had been taught. A sense of betrayal engulfed him.
Hi Philip
Your books have kept me going in the ministry for 25 years. There seemed to be one for every season I entered! They contain the life blood of Jesus – His message of hope and resurrection and strength and love.
…. and now I need you to write one for this current stage… of deep weariness and ‘spent-ness’….. ! or perhaps I’ll revisit some of your earlier works….
Thank you for having the courage to write.
My favourite verse in the bible regarding suffering is in Romans Chapter 5 – suffering creates perserverance, perserverance, character, character hope. Paul obviusly went through a bit in his own life. From being stoned, insulted and ship wrecked, to imprisonment (for doing good) to rejection by his own people. I thus give him credit to be able to understand a little of the subject.
This verse I have seen heroin addicts (who have believed in Jesus) claim as their own. And requote it to others. When suffering has purpose its burden “lessons”. Often that burden can feel heavy however I think that as the cycle of the psalms show, after we come through it we have grown. Whether we grow in bitterness depends (in my own opinion) on wheter we have a relationship wiht a living God or not.
Jack – http://www.thechristiannetwork.com
Editor
Mr Yancey,
Thanks a lot for the reply. Will check for the answers.
With warm regards. God bless
Solomon
Hi Mr Yancey,
I am from India. Have been reading some of your books and have been really impacted by it. But I have a couple of questions.
You dont seem to have taken a stand for or against homosexuality?
Where do you really stand? Is it a sin or not? If it is a sin, how can a person be a homosexual and also a ‘committed christian’
What about church discipline? Shouldn’t a person who is living in sin be cast away from fellowship.
What are the sins for which a person can be excommunicated from the church?
What about grey areas where one is not sure whether a thing is a sin or not in God’s sight?
I know you do have a very busy schedule but if you can spare some time and answer these, even in brief, it would be nice. I need a bit of clarity on these issues.
with warm regards
Solomon Kumar
Hello, Philip.
Nowadays I read many of your books. And I feel that it really hepls me.
I wanna say thank you.
I always think about stuff related to Christianity.
As you know, it is not easy to keep mind.
I have some old question for you.
When I feel myself have almost full confidence about my faith,
I feel that everything Jesus did is very merciful.
But, sometimes(actually often) I feel myself have a little faith. So I cannot rejoice.
The point is this. From the bible, I know that the grace of God and God’s love are unconditional.
But sometimes honestly it looks like they need faith as a condition. I know that the faith is a gift of God, so that is also inside of grace. but, it cannot explain all.
Can you say about this? Please.
I want to contact you by e-mail. But I cannot find your e-mail address.
And I find this way is best.
Please let me know your opinions. Thanks.
I have found your books invaluable in my faith journey. I especially respect you for your honesty and your ability to clarify difficult issues. A young woman who was raised as an active Christian is questioning her faith on the basis of “if there is a god why does he allow the devil to exist?” I have been trying to find a satisfactory answer to give her but I admit the more I look the more I am confused on this issue myself.
I have not seen this addressed in your books but I am hoping you can help. Continue your writing– we all need to grow in our faith and your insight has been a blessing to many. Thank you and God Bless!
Hi Philip,
I met you for the first time personally in Auckland when you spoke at the Baptist church in Manukau a few weeks ago. Your presentation “Seasons of the Soul” and those of the UK drama group was great! I shook your hand afterwards and took a photo with you. You are my favourite author and I have been really blessed by your writings over the years. As I mentioned, I never even knew what Grace was until years ago I picked up “What’s so Amazing About Grace”. Jesus obviously rescued me, but your writings reflect to me the heart of God who we can’t help but fall in love with. When I stumbled from deep despair a few years ago “What’s so Amazing about Grace” was a lamp post early on in the long road back to The Father. Thank you for sharing God’s love and using the gift he has blessed you with. God bless you mate as you bless us – your readers.
Hi Sir Philip,
Thank you sir for your great and inspiring books like The JESUS I never Knew(my fave), What’s so Amazing about Grace, Reaching the Invisible GOD, Finding GOD in unexpected places, Soul Survivor, The BIBLE that JESUS read, and many more. You are like a mentor to me because there is so much to learn from your books, and i feel like i could relate to you more than other christian authors because i am also a Christian pilgrim like you searching for answers which some can be found in your books. I kept reading your books again and again because they are refreshing to read and they really encourage me to grow in knowledge and wisdom from the LORD. I hope to see you personally someday by having one of your books be authographed by you whether you will visit here in the Philippines again someday or be in other countries in the future. My dream is to be a missionary so hopefully when i would be assigned to other countries, i could see you there, or GOD-willing, i could visit you in America as well. May you continue to write more inspiring books for Christian pilgrims like me to read and may you inspire more to grow in love, in grace and in the fellowship of Our Lord and Savior JESUS CHRIST by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT. GODBLESS YOU MORE AND MORE!!!:):):)
…from your inspired fan here in the Philippines
Hi Philip, I’ve read just one of ur books:’ rumours of another world’. In a secular world where self, fame and money are the controlling forces, it’s refreshing to get a reminder that faith in Christ still counts, still makes a lot of sense. Thanks for the encouraging lines. Keep up the good work…
Dear Philip,
I have read many of your books as well as shared them with many people over the years. They have the ability to pull me out of deep sadness and doubt when my situation in life is difficult…I live in Africa, Kenya where sadness and poverty as well as optimism and faith abound. Have you thought of doing an Africa tour? You are wellcome to visit with us!
Hey Phillip, I was actually planning on seeing you in australia but just been having a hectic schedule. Just wanted to say your books are amazing, very easy to read and also really down to earth. I’ve read your book “Reaching for the invisible God” (which really helped me through a time of doubt and restlessness) and now am reading your other book “Finding God is unexpected places”. Just wanted to drop a comment on how much of a blessing your writings are, keep doing what your doing. P.s your afro owns
Hi Philip,
It was great to see you again in my home city of Adelaide, South Australia. Thanks for coming. I enjoyed your presentation.
In your blog (which I also enjoyed), you rightly note that Australia’s Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, has openly identified herself as an atheist. She did so without compunction and apparently without fear of reprisal in the ballot box. In contrast, it seems that any worthy President of America must be seen to be a Bible-believing Christian. On the surface, this would seem to be a good thing, but I do wonder how much of it is window dressing. I remember an episode of Oprah during a Presidential campaign in which two candidates were asked to name their favourite book. The first responded unflinchingly that his most cherished tome is the Bible – news that the audience greeted with applause and demonstrative nods of approval. His rival, not having seen the first interview, named a book from his childhood. As the sentimental “Ohhhs” from the audience melted into uncomfortable silence, he added with a smile, “… apart from the Bible, of course.”
Philip, from your perspective, how much of the claimed religiosity of American political leaders is real? Personally, Australia’s secularism notwithstanding, I think I prefer living in a country whose leader doesn’t feel the need to portray herself as a believer when she isn’t. What do you think?
My husband and I had the utmost privilege of serving in WA for 2 years. Sadly, what we experience was a spiritual desert. However, we are not giving up hope!!
We attended your conference in Perth on Prayer, we enjoyed it thoroughly. How come Singapore is not on your itinerary? We would love to have you here!
Hi Philip,
This is the first time I’ve visited your website but very pleased to have found it. Even more pleasing to read of your Australian and New Zealand visit. Although not able to attend any of your lectures while here, it’s been very interesting to read your thoughts of Australia and NZ.
I sincerely hope that the ‘winter’ period that we are in now will awaken and and turn into a “spring” that will bring God’s blessing on this land once more, as peoples hearts turn to Him. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us here.
I enjoy reading your blogs.