26 | back lane, camperdown | leehura gunditj country #Lent 2023

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of us speak truth to our neighbours: for we are members of one another. (Ephesians 4:25)

My siblings and I love playing with our neighbours, aged 7 and 11. Everyday after getting off the bus the seven year old begs to come over to our house. If we say no, she demands to know why and complains that it’s boring at her house. She is usually at our house after school, sometimes accompanied by her brother. They are both loud, playful and full of ideas and even though she can be a bit bossy, her brother can refuse to follow game rules, and they get on each others nerves, we couldn’t ask for better neighbours.

It was around 5pm and we were all jumping around on the trampoline playing Horsey ride, one of the many games that our neighbour had made up with three people as horses on their hand and knees, galloping and racing across the trampoline with a person on their back, which was perfect because there were six of us. She was upset because her brother kept bucking her off and I suggested we do something else. As we were sitting around pondering what to do she announced that she was hungry and asked if we could bring some food outside and at it as a picnic. Suddenly I had a wonderful idea. I told her that it was too late for that but that we should have a picnic the next day!

We got right on to planning it. We decided to have it in the middle of the laneway that connects our two houses. The brother was not very involved in the planning because as soon as I asked ‘What should we have for lunch?’ he yelled ‘Toasties!’ Then he told us he would make them and would answer every question with the word toasties. He didn’t pay attention unless it had to do with the toasties.

At 11am the next day we headed into the laneway with a picnic blanket, and a picnic basket with cordial, Cheezels and some home made choc-chip cookies (made by yours truly). A few minutes later our neighbours appeared with toasties and fruit.

We had an amazing time with the view of sheep, trees and the mountain. There is a little narrow stream that runs into the laneway and under a grassy bit where we were sitting. We finished eating and kicked around a soccer ball and played with some badminton racquets. We could have stayed there all day but we had just recently gotten our kitten Winter and they were ecstatic about meeting him so the picnic came to an end.

I’ll never forget that picnic and the way we lost track of time, laughed and played, enjoying each others company. The laneway is a special place to me because of how often we use it. Going to and from the bus stop and our neighbours house and playing in it as we please. Our neighbours are special people to me and I will never take them for granted.

That day we were carefree, imaginative and we enjoyed each other’s company. We were Children. Ω

What is this? Lent is the 40 days, excluding Sundays, before Easter. Traditionally it is a time of reflection and pilgrimage. To help you on this journey, Sanctuary has put together daily stories and images from people in the congregation which are focused on God in this place. Why this theme? Read this! #Lent2023. Our Spiritual Geography © Sanctuary, 2023. Sanctuary is based on Peek Whurrong country. Full acknowledgement of country here.