Worship with the Wallaby’s.

On yesterdays morning run, I meandered along a packed trail lined with ancient eucalyptus trees. Cockatoos perched the power lines and gum tree limbs with their yellow crested heads. Under watchful eyes I ran while they squawked like cartoon characters. Zig-zagging up the hill I passed fluffy rabbits, cackling over sized ravens and camp robbers, and startled a group of seed eating, rainbow colored parakeets. I hoped to see a kangaroo. Instead I ran through hundreds of wallaby’s whose bald-faced stare and strange ambulation’s made me laugh.

I’m in Canberra, Australia, speaking at a National Leadership Conference with my Alma matter: Youth With a Mission and the guys at Australian Relief and Mercy Services. I love these people. I love to talk about the people of Burma and ignite passion to help them.

Running the same forest track this morning I ran towards a group of curious wallaby’s. A couple of them hopped effortlessly over a barbed wire farm fence. With a smooth motion they flew well over 7 feet into the air. They are only 3 or four feet tall to begin with. One of the grey creatures sat on the ground. He didn’t move when I drew close to him. Finally, awkwardly, he stood up on his one good leg and began limping away. “Sorry boy,” I said.

Running down the last hill towards the conference center I startled a group of bright multi-colored parrots, and while they flew away from me, a lone wallaby stared me down until I laughed at him and reminded them all that God is amazing. I shouted it to them all; to the stones and trees and grass and shrubs; to the Wallaby’s, lorikeets, and parrots I shouted, “God you are amazing!” If anyone were watching, they would have thought I flipped my lid.

My spontaneous worship was mixed with laughter. Alone in the woods, I stood in awe of simple beauty.