Miles Protter March 26th 2017 ~ What I love most about Australia

What I love most about AustraliaThere are so many aspects I love about my adopted country.  The weather is beautiful, exquisite beaches are on my doorstep, the ocean is a powerful mystery to be explored on surfboards and kites.  Then there’s the café lifestyle, social democratic values, the South-west, the beautiful food.  It’s a long list.But the best thing is the one I least expected: here I have friends - specifically, male friends (including many Christian male friends) - who live nearby and who I see on a regular basis.  We have fun together: run, bike, hike, camp, surf, kite, talk about important personal matters, share life, eat, drink and pray.  My life is immeasurably richer as a result.  My wife will tell you I am a better person and more fun to be around.Back in the UK, where I lived for 25 years, I had male friends, but by my late twenties I was in a long-term relationship and hardly saw them.  My life, and the lives of my friends, soon revolved around family, work and chores.  I felt guilty having a beer with a buddy.It was especially difficult in London where people live at opposite ends of a mega city. Our wives managed the social calendars so there were few occasions when I hung out with just my male friends.Research reveals that busy men short-change their friendships first.  We get lonely as a result.  It costs us dearly in health and well-being.  All that happened to me.The difference about Perth was being invited by my new friends to join in regular activities: a Monday exercise class, a weekly men’s group, a Thursday morning cycling group, learning to surf on Saturday mornings, etc.  My friendships have predictable patterns of doing stuff together.Now I have a few guys with whom I can unburden my fears, frustrations and the dumb things I’ve done, said or thought.  They don’t try to fix me up or tell me what to do, just listen with love and understanding.  That is worth more than all the good advice in the world.I want to encourage more male friendships at St Philips.  The men’s weekend April 28-30 is the perfect opportunity.  We’ll get to know each other, have fun, talk, laugh, sing and eat together.  For me that would be the Kingdom come.Sign up using the form at the back of the church or: http://stphilips.net.au/main/media/Mens-Weekend-Flyer.pdfBlessings,Miles