Marrickville to Surry Hills

Photo: Sam dispassionately watches me eat a croissant

Today Sam and I traveled 45 minutes to Surry Hills. Mosi had just left our AirBNB in Marrickville when I remembered. It was Thursday! Women’s Bible Study. YES. Scriptures + Prayer + Social time for a grown-up-deprived WOMAN = necessary 45-minute trek across the city. I’m actually really impressed with myself for (a) making it on time, (b) only walking in the wrong direction for five minutes, (c) not crying while getting on OR off public buses, and (d) finding two different "parent’s rooms" in which to feed Sam. Oh, and I bought some very affordable unisex Adidas shoes. Big wins.

Photo: Exploring the city: what do you think "Factory Outlet Lasagna" is? I bet it's at Aldi.

Nothing all that remarkable happened once I got to the church, but sitting in a quiet, light filled room with eight other women was, in fact, remarkable. That, and Sam was so easy. (If you’re interested in what we read, I included it at the end).

Photo: Tummy Time on my legs means less meltdowns (from both of us)

After, we stopped at an out-of-the-way bakery in Marrickville called Bourke Street Bakery, where Samuel enjoyed watching me eat a croissant, then had a lie-down on the counter. I’ll miss the days when Sam can do this and it’s considered cute rather than offensive. Overall, a good day of exploring Surry Hills, part of Ultimo, the edge of Camperdown, and Marrickville.

Photo: Bourke Street bakery in Marrickville

WHAT WE READ

We read through Acts 12, which is a well-known passage containing a few key moments: Peter, Jesus’ BFF and fisherman bodyguard, gets thrown into prison to be executed; an angel helps Peter sneak past four guards and accomplish a stealthy prison break; Herod the emperor is killed by God and eaten by worms.

I love this passage. It’s a testament to the power of expectant prayer, as Peter’s church has been praying for his release. It’s also a call for us to be watchful and obedient to the presence and direction of God. In this case, the angel was a pretty clear sign to Peter that God was doing something, and he followed the angel out of prison to freedom. Do I see God working that clearly? Not usually. I see him in more subtle ways, but I do think I can practice praying with the expectation that God will do something undeniable. BIG PRAYER. I often lack the patience and perseverance to continuously pray for things that are out of my hands – in Peter’s case, it’s being on death row. So am I expecting God to act big?

If I am to expect God to act big, I also have to be prepared to act myself, in the ways I am able, and without my own will and wants getting in the way of living out the gospel: i.e. being the hands and feet of Christ to whomever is in front of me.

For Peter, once he escaped he did not simply relish his freedom and go get a snack. He had work to do, continuing to spread the word of God and testify what had happened during Jesus’ ministry and since his death and resurrection – especially about what he and the other disciples had witnessed and gone through themselves.

I am often fearful and self-conscious about talking about my faith, especially because I often live in the deep trenches of faith: unsure if God is with me or I’ll ever see the light again. But it is good and right to seek other people’s good and act to make that happen. Easier said than done, but worth the effort.