This is Grenfell, a small gold rush town out west 00:00:24.02\00:00:29.89 about 370 kilometers west of Sydney and once it really was 00:00:29.92\00:00:37.30 the Wild West. 00:00:37.33\00:00:38.67 Before the railway arrived, this region was a haven for 00:00:38.70\00:00:42.84 bush rangers or highwaymen. In fact, the town is actually 00:00:42.87\00:00:47.48 named after a man who was shot and killed by a bush 00:00:47.51\00:00:51.05 rangers on the road near here. Bush rangers were bandits 00:00:51.08\00:00:56.15 or outlaws of the Australian bush or outback. 00:00:56.18\00:00:59.19 Most of them were escaped convicts who used the bush 00:00:59.22\00:01:02.76 as a refuge to hide from the police. 00:01:02.79\00:01:04.96 They harassed the settlers and miners and aborigines 00:01:04.99\00:01:09.06 of the frontier in the 1800's. These highwaymen or outlaws 00:01:09.10\00:01:14.30 followed the usual pattern of robbery, pillage, and murder. 00:01:14.34\00:01:18.31 They specialized in robbing or bailing up stagecoaches, 00:01:18.34\00:01:23.08 banks, and small settlements. Bush ranging thrived here 00:01:23.11\00:01:28.28 during the gold rush years of the 1850's and 1860s. 00:01:28.32\00:01:32.05 The area was a refuge for bush rangers whose names 00:01:32.09\00:01:36.69 and exploits are a rich part of the town's history. 00:01:36.73\00:01:40.00 But that's not what Grenfell is best known for today. 00:01:40.03\00:01:44.53 Every year over the queen's birthday weekend in June 00:01:44.57\00:01:48.30 Grenfell comes alive in a celebration of art and artists. 00:01:48.34\00:01:53.24 The cause of this celebration is a festival actively named 00:01:53.27\00:01:57.55 the Henry Lawson Festival which commemorates the life of the 00:01:57.58\00:02:02.35 town's most famous son. It's been held annually 00:02:02.38\00:02:05.99 for over 60 years and gives an indication of the popularity 00:02:06.02\00:02:11.06 and esteem that Lawson has held in this town. 00:02:11.09\00:02:14.76 Henry Lawson, one of Australia's most celebrated poets and 00:02:14.80\00:02:19.37 short story writers was born in Grenfell and is honored 00:02:19.40\00:02:23.71 with a statue on the Ackley named Main Street. 00:02:23.74\00:02:26.91 He sits weary but relaxed poised with pen in hand 00:02:26.94\00:02:31.61 ready to write on his notepad. Further up Main Street 00:02:31.65\00:02:36.75 there is a bronze bust of Lawson with the reference to his 00:02:36.79\00:02:40.19 Grenfell birthplace from one of his celebrated poems said 00:02:40.22\00:02:44.86 Grenfell to my spirit. 00:02:44.89\00:02:57.07 Grenfell was founded by Cornelius O'Brien a shepherd 00:02:57.11\00:03:02.24 who had found gold in the area. Within weeks of his discovery 00:03:02.28\00:03:06.38 miners flocked to the site and began setting up their tents 00:03:06.41\00:03:10.55 and bark huts along the banks of Emu Creek. 00:03:10.59\00:03:13.36 Before long, businesses began to spring up among these scattering 00:03:13.39\00:03:18.33 of rough dwellings servicing the growing population of miners 00:03:18.36\00:03:22.16 that continued to grow into the newly founded Out Post 00:03:22.20\00:03:26.30 The town was first called Emu Creek but its name was later 00:03:26.33\00:03:31.97 changed to Grenfell in January of 1867. 00:03:32.01\00:03:35.88 The name change was in honor of the gold commissioner in the 00:03:35.91\00:03:40.72 area John Granville Grenfell. Commissioner Grenfell 00:03:40.75\00:03:45.12 was traveling in the area by stagecoach in December 1866 00:03:45.15\00:03:50.33 when his coach was ambushed by bushrangers. 00:03:50.36\00:03:54.20 The robbers called for the coach to halt, but the driver 00:03:54.23\00:03:58.77 refused to comply and the bushrangers opened fire on 00:03:58.80\00:04:02.74 the conveyance, Grenfell was shot twice and died 00:04:02.77\00:04:06.61 of his wounds about 24 hours later. 00:04:06.64\00:04:09.71 As a mark of respect, the mining colony along the banks of 00:04:09.74\00:04:14.28 Emu Creek was re-named Grenfell and went on to become one of 00:04:14.32\00:04:19.59 the richest mining outposts in New South Wales in the late 00:04:19.62\00:04:24.13 1860's. In fact over 20 tons of gold came from this area 00:04:24.16\00:04:30.57 and it was around this time most likely in 1866 with the 00:04:30.60\00:04:35.90 first rush of miners who came into the area that Henry 00:04:35.94\00:04:40.74 Lawson's father settled in Grenfell. Join us this week 00:04:40.78\00:04:44.65 as we take a closer look at the life and times of Henry Lawson, 00:04:44.68\00:04:48.52 one of Australia's most celebrated writers and poets 00:04:48.55\00:04:52.45 and discover the importance of hope in facing life's 00:04:52.49\00:04:56.73 challenges. 00:04:56.76\00:05:12.44 Henry Archibald Hertzberg Lawson was born on the 17th of June 00:05:13.24\00:05:18.51 1867 in a tent on the gold- fields of Grenfell. 00:05:18.55\00:05:23.25 A white oblique marked the tent site near where his parents 00:05:23.28\00:05:27.72 mined and where their first child Henry was born. 00:05:27.76\00:05:32.23 Lawson's father, Niels Lawson was born in Norway 00:05:32.26\00:05:36.16 and went to sea at the age of 21. He arrived in Melbourne 00:05:36.20\00:05:40.00 as a porter master in 1855, but he jumped ship 00:05:40.04\00:05:44.47 to seek his fortune. 00:05:44.51\00:05:45.97 He teamed up with a shipmate, his friend John Slee 00:05:46.01\00:05:49.94 who had sailed to Melbourne from Germany. 00:05:49.98\00:05:52.15 Larson who anglicized his name and changed it to Peter Lawson 00:05:52.18\00:05:57.89 and Slee first went to the goldfields of Ballarat 00:05:57.92\00:06:01.16 where they began to pan for gold in earnest. 00:06:01.19\00:06:04.26 Over the next decade Slee and Lawson hopped from one goldfield 00:06:04.29\00:06:09.00 to the next with little success. 00:06:09.03\00:06:11.43 Eventually, they made their way to New South Whales 00:06:11.47\00:06:15.40 where they mined in the gold fields of Lambing Flat and 00:06:15.44\00:06:19.24 New Pipe Clay now known as Eurunderee. 00:06:19.27\00:06:21.98 While mining in this area in 1866 00:06:22.01\00:06:25.68 Lawson married Louisa Albury who was one of 12 children 00:06:25.71\00:06:30.65 born into an impoverished mining family. 00:06:30.69\00:06:33.69 Henry Lawson was the oldest of four children 00:06:33.72\00:06:37.83 and was named after his maternal grandfather Henry Albury. 00:06:37.86\00:06:42.36 Lawson's father was often away from home mining 00:06:42.40\00:06:46.13 and his mother was left to care for him and his siblings 00:06:46.17\00:06:49.90 on her own. Life was difficult and particularly after Lawson's 00:06:49.94\00:06:55.88 mother Louisa suffered the loss of a child. 00:06:55.91\00:06:59.21 Louisa struggled to overcome her grief for her baby 00:06:59.25\00:07:02.98 daughter Tegan who died at just eight months old. 00:07:03.02\00:07:06.55 So, Louisa left the rest of the children in Henry's care 00:07:06.59\00:07:10.93 Henry came to resent the responsibility and it soon 00:07:10.96\00:07:14.86 created friction between him and his mother. 00:07:14.90\00:07:19.13 Henry's parents' marriage was an unhappy one 00:07:19.17\00:07:22.10 and eventually the couple became estranged. 00:07:22.14\00:07:25.24 When Lawson was 10, he attended school in Eurunderee 00:07:25.27\00:07:29.54 then known as Pipe Clay. It was around this time that 00:07:29.58\00:07:33.21 he fell ill and suffered a serious ear infection. 00:07:33.25\00:07:36.85 The infection was so severe that it left him partially deaf. 00:07:36.89\00:07:41.99 By the time he turned 14, he was completely deaf. 00:07:42.02\00:07:46.06 This proved to be an incredible challenge for young Lawson 00:07:46.09\00:07:49.90 and an impediment to completing his education. 00:07:49.93\00:07:53.74 Because of his hearing disability Lawson's education 00:07:53.77\00:07:58.61 was largely made up of reading, Lawson began to read Dickens 00:07:58.64\00:08:03.38 and a host of other authors. While studying at school 00:08:03.41\00:08:06.75 in Mudgee, Lawson's master taught him about poetry 00:08:06.78\00:08:11.35 which most likely provided the foundation for Lawson's 00:08:11.39\00:08:15.36 future literary career. 00:08:15.39\00:08:17.99 Lawson's father took up odd jobs and his mother moved to 00:08:18.03\00:08:23.10 Sydney where she began to operate and manage 00:08:23.13\00:08:25.70 boarding houses in an attempt to make a living. 00:08:25.73\00:08:28.90 At first, Lawson worked with his father on building jobs 00:08:28.94\00:08:32.81 in the Blue Mountains before later moving to Sydney 00:08:32.84\00:08:36.18 at his mother's request. 00:08:36.21\00:08:37.75 While living with his mother in Sydney in the early 1880's 00:08:37.78\00:08:42.48 Lawson worked during the day and studied at night. 00:08:42.52\00:08:46.15 hoping to pass his university entrance exams 00:08:46.19\00:08:49.49 so that he could pursue higher education. 00:08:49.52\00:08:51.96 Unfortunately, he failed these exams and couldn't gain 00:08:51.99\00:08:56.80 entrance into university. 00:08:56.83\00:08:58.83 Despite the setback Lawson took up writing, 00:08:58.87\00:09:02.77 his mother Louisa proved to have a significant influence 00:09:02.80\00:09:07.24 over his early literary career. 00:09:07.28\00:09:09.54 Louisa Lawson used the money she has saved while running 00:09:09.58\00:09:14.02 her boarding houses to buy shares in a pro-federation 00:09:14.05\00:09:18.32 newspaper called The Republican. During this time she enlisted 00:09:18.35\00:09:24.43 Henry's help to edit the newspaper which they printed 00:09:24.46\00:09:28.00 on an old press they set up in Louisa's cottage. 00:09:28.03\00:09:31.17 The paper called for an Australian Republic 00:09:31.20\00:09:35.30 a daring and radical idea at the time. Also around this time 00:09:35.34\00:09:40.34 Henry Lawson wrote his first poem, a song of the Republic 00:09:40.38\00:09:45.05 which was published in the bulletin in October 1887. 00:09:45.08\00:09:49.18 While writing poetry, Lawson was also helping his mother 00:09:49.22\00:09:53.49 publish the Republican. 00:09:53.52\00:09:55.49 Later on in 1888 Louisa Lawson launched her own periodical 00:09:55.52\00:10:01.63 which she edited and published. Her journal The Dawn was 00:10:01.66\00:10:06.57 the first Australian Journal produced solely by women 00:10:06.60\00:10:09.90 and was circulated in Australia and overseas. 00:10:09.94\00:10:13.81 Henry Lawson contributed poems and stories for the paper 00:10:13.84\00:10:17.88 as well. Then in 1894, The Dawn press printed Lawson's 00:10:17.91\00:10:23.59 first book, Short Stories and Pro's in verse. 00:10:23.62\00:10:27.32 In many ways in spite their tenuous relationship 00:10:27.36\00:10:31.99 with each other, Henry and Louisa Lawson partnered 00:10:32.03\00:10:35.70 with each other in their writing and publishing endeavors 00:10:35.73\00:10:39.07 and Louisa was thought to have greatly influenced her sons 00:10:39.10\00:10:43.04 early work. 00:10:43.07\00:10:44.41 Despite his obvious talents, Lawson struggled to find regular 00:10:44.44\00:10:50.11 work and was often penniless. He has a string of jobs 00:10:50.15\00:10:54.22 throughout the 1890's which paid very little 00:10:54.25\00:10:57.32 He tried working at several newspapers but that was 00:10:57.35\00:11:00.82 unsuccessful and so he went back to the country to find work. 00:11:00.86\00:11:05.49 At Toorale Station near Bourke, he worked as a rouseabout 00:11:05.53\00:11:09.70 doing odd jobs. During this time he experienced firsthand 00:11:09.73\00:11:15.27 the harsh and unforgiving conditions that many of the 00:11:15.30\00:11:19.27 squatters and drovers faced during the terrible drought 00:11:19.31\00:11:23.28 that was plaguing New South Wales. 00:11:23.31\00:11:25.01 All these experiences inspired Lawson to produce countless 00:11:25.05\00:11:30.09 poems and short stories detailing the reality 00:11:30.12\00:11:34.19 of what he had seen in the bush. 00:11:34.22\00:11:36.26 Unlike Banjo Paterson, Lawson's perspective of the Australian 00:11:36.29\00:11:41.13 bush was harsh and stark and unforgiving. 00:11:41.16\00:11:45.53 Australia's two favorite poets and writers, Henry Lawson 00:11:45.57\00:11:50.27 and Banjo Paterson. By coincidence lived parallel 00:11:50.31\00:11:54.38 lives, they were born two years apart and just over 100 km 00:11:54.41\00:11:59.05 apart. Both ended up working as writers for The Bulletin 00:11:59.08\00:12:03.79 in Sydney. But they provided contrasting opinions of life 00:12:03.82\00:12:07.82 in the Australian bush. 00:12:07.89\00:12:09.82 Banjo Paterson romanticized life in the bush and pictured 00:12:09.86\00:12:14.76 an idyllic and idealized view of life in the bush, 00:12:14.80\00:12:18.63 Lawson in contrast wrote about the cruel and unforgiving 00:12:18.67\00:12:23.37 nature of the Australian bush and the appalling conditions 00:12:23.41\00:12:27.31 that many inhabitants of the bush faced. 00:12:27.34\00:12:30.51 In 1896 Lawson published his most successful collection 00:12:31.51\00:12:36.32 of Pro's, While the Billy Boils. It was in many ways a direct 00:12:36.35\00:12:41.36 assault on writers like Banjo Paterson and others. 00:12:41.39\00:12:45.39 At once shattering their idyllic perspective of life in the 00:12:45.43\00:12:49.80 Australian bush and replacing it with a grim and stark reality. 00:12:49.83\00:12:55.57 Lawson's renowned short story that drove his wife 00:12:55.60\00:13:01.64 tells the story of a woman stuck in the middle of nowhere 00:13:01.68\00:13:04.91 with four small children while her husband was out droving 00:13:04.95\00:13:08.78 to make a living. Her closest neighbors were 19 km away 00:13:08.82\00:13:14.16 and lived in a small shack by the side of the road. 00:13:14.19\00:13:16.86 She herself lived in a small run-down shack 00:13:16.89\00:13:20.83 with nothing but a ferocious dog and a stout stick 00:13:20.86\00:13:24.27 to protect her from the dangers that lurked around her. 00:13:24.30\00:13:27.57 And interestingly despite the fact that she was in the middle 00:13:27.60\00:13:31.77 nowhere, the dangers around her abounded. 00:13:31.81\00:13:35.74 There was a threat of wandering drovers and bush men, snakes, 00:13:35.78\00:13:39.91 and the wild animals and the most menacing of all disease. 00:13:39.95\00:13:44.62 In each instance, she found herself alone having to face 00:13:44.65\00:13:49.62 down each threat with nothing more than her wits 00:13:49.66\00:13:53.06 and her angry dog. She had not seen her husband in over 00:13:53.09\00:13:57.13 six months and had no way of contacting him and she lost 00:13:57.17\00:14:01.14 one of her children while he was away. 00:14:01.17\00:14:03.51 It was a sad difficult story to read, and it leaves a reader 00:14:03.54\00:14:08.71 with a sense of bleakness and hopelessness 00:14:08.74\00:14:11.28 which is perhaps an echo of what Lawson himself felt 00:14:11.31\00:14:15.58 when he looked at life. 00:14:15.62\00:14:17.19 Though a fictitious rendering of life in the bush, 00:14:17.22\00:14:20.49 the drover's wife is remarkably similar to the true story of 00:14:20.52\00:14:26.46 Joseph and Julia Steed, the only significant difference between 00:14:26.49\00:14:30.57 the two stories is Joseph and Julia Steed's faith. 00:14:30.60\00:14:34.54 The Steeds decided to move their family from Adelaide 00:14:34.57\00:14:39.07 into the Australian bush. Joseph Steed decided to sell Christian 00:14:39.11\00:14:43.75 books and after purchasing a bicycle, he began cycling 00:14:43.78\00:14:48.42 from place to place peddling his wares. 00:14:48.45\00:14:51.32 At first, the Steed's lived in Broken Hill, New South Wales 00:14:51.35\00:14:55.99 for a period of two years. During this time, 00:14:56.02\00:14:59.93 much like the drover's wife Julia Steed was living alone 00:14:59.96\00:15:04.43 in a tent with three small children in the middle 00:15:04.47\00:15:07.27 of nowhere and with no neighbors for miles around 00:15:07.30\00:15:10.71 Julia even had a fourth child while she was living in the 00:15:10.74\00:15:15.74 tent. The environment they were living in was stark and bleak 00:15:15.78\00:15:19.95 but the Steed story was not tinged with hopelessness 00:15:19.98\00:15:24.32 even though their circumstances were difficult Joseph and Julia 00:15:24.35\00:15:29.86 Steed's story is filled with hope because their time 00:15:29.89\00:15:33.66 in the bush was spent bringing hope to others. 00:15:33.70\00:15:37.63 The Bible and the Good News of Jesus had changed their lives 00:15:37.67\00:15:41.94 and they in turn wanted to share that blessing. 00:15:41.97\00:15:45.67 It was her sense of mission and purpose that gave Julia Steed 00:15:45.71\00:15:51.21 the courage to endure her husbands long absence 00:15:51.25\00:15:54.72 and the harsh unforgiving environment of the Australian 00:15:54.75\00:15:58.32 bush. During their stay in Scott's Creek, the Steed's 00:15:58.35\00:16:03.12 made friends with another family who had not lived too far 00:16:03.16\00:16:06.46 from their tent. Julia Steed and Anne Scraig became friends 00:16:06.49\00:16:11.23 and often spent time together whenever they could 00:16:11.27\00:16:14.27 then one day tragedy struck Anne's Scrag's young son Walter 00:16:14.30\00:16:20.44 became very ill. There was no doctor or nurse nearby 00:16:20.48\00:16:24.31 and the nearest main road was five Kilometers away. 00:16:24.35\00:16:28.68 Julia Steed gathered young alter in her arms and 00:16:28.72\00:16:33.56 carried him the five kilometers to the main road, 00:16:33.59\00:16:36.19 she prayed all the way there because she knew that 00:16:36.22\00:16:40.83 getting to the main road was no guarantee that they would 00:16:40.86\00:16:43.97 get help. Once Julia reached the main road, 00:16:44.00\00:16:47.77 she cradled the sick young boy in her arms and sat by the 00:16:47.80\00:16:51.81 side of the road praying for God to provide help. 00:16:51.84\00:16:54.98 Before long, a man came past in a horse-drawn cart 00:16:55.01\00:16:59.68 and gave Julia and Walter a ride to the nearest train station. 00:16:59.71\00:17:04.02 Julia managed to catch the weekly train into Adelaide 00:17:04.05\00:17:08.46 where she was able to get Walter the medical attention 00:17:08.49\00:17:11.83 he needed and saved little Walter Scrag's life. 00:17:11.86\00:17:15.93 The similarities between Henry Lawson's perspective of 00:17:15.96\00:17:20.17 the Australian bush and Julia Steed's experience are striking. 00:17:20.20\00:17:24.61 Much like Lawson depicted, life in the bush was hard 00:17:24.64\00:17:29.31 it was filled with unforeseen dangers and loneliness. 00:17:29.34\00:17:32.91 It was a harsh life but unlike the tragic sense of hopelessness 00:17:32.95\00:17:38.39 that permeates Lawson's work The True Story of Julia Steed 00:17:38.42\00:17:43.79 is filled with a sense of purpose and hope. 00:17:43.83\00:17:46.83 While the driver's wife spent countless mind-numbing hours 00:17:46.86\00:17:51.37 alone and adrift, women like Julia Steed who lived and 00:17:51.40\00:17:56.07 experienced the terrible realities of life in the 00:17:56.10\00:17:59.27 Australian bush were filled with a sense of courage and purpose. 00:17:59.31\00:18:02.98 The hope and purpose she found was a result of her relationship 00:18:03.01\00:18:08.18 with Jesus, it was her commitment to God that 00:18:08.22\00:18:11.85 led her to the bush in the first place and it was her 00:18:11.89\00:18:15.39 commitment to God that gave her courage and fortitude 00:18:15.42\00:18:18.76 to face its challenges. 00:18:18.79\00:18:21.13 While Lawson's depictions of the Australian bush 00:18:21.16\00:18:24.63 ring true they are missing a vital element. 00:18:24.67\00:18:28.44 Hope, and this element is something that knowing and 00:18:28.47\00:18:33.44 serving Jesus can provide. The Bible can give us hope 00:18:33.48\00:18:38.55 even in the bleakest situation. 00:18:38.58\00:18:41.02 The story of the drover's wife and Julia Steed bring to mind 00:18:41.05\00:18:46.05 a story found in the Bible it too is a story of a woman 00:18:46.09\00:18:50.49 in desperate circumstances nearly despairing of any hope 00:18:50.53\00:18:55.23 but it is also a story of how God is able to bring her 00:18:55.26\00:18:59.93 even in the most depressing circumstances. 00:18:59.97\00:19:03.34 The story is found in the book of I Kings chapter 17. 00:19:03.37\00:19:08.61 Israel and its immediate surroundings 00:19:08.64\00:19:11.98 have been ravaged by drought for a prolonged period of time 00:19:12.01\00:19:16.15 and in the little town of Zarephath a poor widow was 00:19:16.18\00:19:20.99 struggling to put food on the table, she had one son 00:19:21.02\00:19:25.33 and the two of them were preparing for their last meal 00:19:25.36\00:19:29.56 when Elijah, the prophet of God came to their home. 00:19:29.60\00:19:33.00 God Himself had sent Elijah to the widow and he arrived 00:19:33.03\00:19:37.44 at the widow's home just as she was gathering sticks for 00:19:37.47\00:19:41.08 a fire. Elijah asked her for some food and she told him 00:19:41.11\00:19:46.18 that she had nothing left but a little bit of flour and oil 00:19:46.21\00:19:49.68 that she was hoping to use to cook her son and herself 00:19:49.72\00:19:53.76 a final meal before they too gave way to the horrors of 00:19:53.79\00:19:57.83 the famine that was raging around them. 00:19:57.86\00:20:00.86 After hearing a sad story Elijah made a strange request of her. 00:20:00.90\00:20:07.14 He told her to go in and make a little loaf of bread for him 00:20:07.17\00:20:11.24 first and then he promised her God would make sure her flour 00:20:11.27\00:20:16.38 and oil would not run out for the duration of the famine. 00:20:16.41\00:20:20.08 Choosing to take a leap of faith the woman listened to Elijah 00:20:20.12\00:20:25.15 and made him a loaf of bread first and then she made one 00:20:25.19\00:20:28.86 for her son and for herself. 00:20:28.89\00:20:30.76 What followed was nothing short of a miracle. 00:20:30.79\00:20:35.16 Each morning the widow woke up to find just enough flour 00:20:35.20\00:20:39.83 and oil to make a loaf of bread for everyone in the house 00:20:39.87\00:20:43.71 until the famine ended. 00:20:43.74\00:20:45.51 The story of the widow is similar to the previous 00:20:45.54\00:20:49.81 two stories we've looked at a struggling woman facing 00:20:49.84\00:20:54.22 harsh realities of life with little hope for the future. 00:20:54.25\00:20:57.89 But once again, the difference between the widow and 00:20:57.92\00:21:02.59 the drover's wife is that the widow found hope in God's word. 00:21:02.62\00:21:07.66 As a result of Elijah's message from God, the widow was given 00:21:07.70\00:21:12.93 the opportunity to provide for herself and her son 00:21:12.97\00:21:16.40 during her time of need. 00:21:16.44\00:21:18.64 This is often how God works, when we are facing dire 00:21:18.67\00:21:23.11 circumstances He provides us with hope through His word. 00:21:23.14\00:21:27.85 Now this hope may not always come in the form of material 00:21:27.88\00:21:32.72 comfort, but it always provides us with exactly what we need 00:21:32.75\00:21:37.86 when we need it so that we never need to feel closed in 00:21:37.89\00:21:42.26 by hopelessness and the challenges that surround us. 00:21:42.30\00:21:46.23 But another interesting point to take away from the story 00:21:46.27\00:21:50.81 of the widow of Zarephath is how the word of God 00:21:50.84\00:21:54.74 provided her with hope. 00:21:54.78\00:21:56.68 God challenged her to find hope by first extending hope 00:21:56.71\00:22:01.88 to others. Elijah was as destitute as the woman was 00:22:01.92\00:22:07.26 probably more so because while the woman had at least 00:22:07.29\00:22:12.29 a little flour and a little oil and a roof over her head 00:22:12.33\00:22:16.03 Elijah had nothing but the clothes on his back 00:22:16.06\00:22:19.83 But God challenged the woman to use the little that 00:22:19.87\00:22:23.77 she had to help someone who had even less than she did 00:22:23.81\00:22:28.38 and in serving someone else she herself found hope. 00:22:28.41\00:22:33.15 In the book Altruism and Health scientists from various 00:22:33.18\00:22:38.32 disciplines present a series of articles dealing with the 00:22:38.35\00:22:42.92 relationship between Altruistic or selfless behavior 00:22:42.96\00:22:47.46 and mental health. What much of this research shows 00:22:47.50\00:22:51.40 is that those who unselfishly invest in others 00:22:51.43\00:22:55.44 find that their lives are more meaningful and are usually 00:22:55.47\00:22:59.37 happier than their selfish counterparts. 00:22:59.41\00:23:02.14 Altruism or selflessness also produces a better state of 00:23:02.18\00:23:07.48 mental health as well. 00:23:07.52\00:23:09.28 The Bible focuses almost entirely on this concept. 00:23:09.32\00:23:13.79 Over and over again, the Bible contrasts selfishness and 00:23:13.82\00:23:19.29 unselfishness showing the effects of each mindset 00:23:19.33\00:23:23.03 has only individuals, communities and nations. 00:23:23.06\00:23:27.04 The mind and heart of Jesus were filled with the spirit of 00:23:27.07\00:23:31.27 selfless service in everything He did Jesus strove to serve 00:23:31.31\00:23:36.68 others. In Matthew in chapter 20 and verse 28, speaking of 00:23:36.71\00:23:41.18 Himself, Jesus says this: 00:23:41.22\00:23:50.83 Jesus' life was filled with little acts of selfless service 00:23:50.86\00:23:55.40 and in bringing hope to others. In Proverbs 11:25, the Bible 00:23:55.43\00:24:01.87 says The Bible also tells us that in order to find hope and 00:24:09.74\00:24:14.12 meaning in life, we must turn our focus outward to helping 00:24:14.15\00:24:18.72 others. We see this principle in the life of Joseph and Julia 00:24:18.75\00:24:22.99 Steed, they were willing to leave their comfortable home 00:24:23.02\00:24:26.96 and go into the Australian bush in order to help others find God 00:24:27.00\00:24:31.57 and the happiness and inner peace He brings. 00:24:31.60\00:24:35.74 And even though this meant their lives were filled with 00:24:35.77\00:24:38.81 a host of challenges and difficulties, it was this spirit 00:24:38.84\00:24:43.04 of selfless service that gave them the meaning and purpose 00:24:43.08\00:24:47.12 that they needed to face their challenges and overcome them. 00:24:47.15\00:24:50.95 Henry Lawson's work deals with one of the most fundamental 00:24:50.99\00:24:55.99 human needs, HOPE, his de- pictions of the harsh realities 00:24:56.02\00:25:01.33 of bush life give us a sense of hopelessness and in so doing 00:25:01.36\00:25:06.60 help us to understand how much we need hope. 00:25:06.63\00:25:11.31 The lives of Joseph and Julia Steed show us how hope can come 00:25:11.34\00:25:17.28 from a sense of purpose and how purpose can come from 00:25:17.31\00:25:21.48 committing our lives to serving a cause that is bigger than 00:25:21.52\00:25:25.52 ourselves similarly the story of Elijah and the widow of 00:25:25.55\00:25:30.39 Zarephath gives us a glimpse into how we too can overcome 00:25:30.43\00:25:35.86 difficult circumstances and find hope by reaching out 00:25:35.90\00:25:40.30 to share what little we have with those who have even less. 00:25:40.34\00:25:44.97 Right now our world is reeling with wave after wave of disaster 00:25:45.01\00:25:51.58 and strife, millions have lost their livelihoods and families 00:25:51.61\00:25:56.58 are pressed down and struggling to survive. 00:25:56.62\00:25:59.25 If ever there was a time when we have to come face to face 00:25:59.29\00:26:03.49 with the stark realities of life, it is now. 00:26:03.53\00:26:06.90 But the challenges we find ourselves facing are an 00:26:06.93\00:26:10.70 opportunity to reach out and be a blessing to those around us 00:26:10.73\00:26:15.10 during a time of unprecedented loneliness and hopelessness 00:26:15.14\00:26:19.91 we have the opportunity to reach out and share what little we 00:26:19.94\00:26:25.65 have with those who have even less. 00:26:25.68\00:26:28.35 If you would like to reach out to God and find meaning and 00:26:28.38\00:26:33.12 hope to face whatever uncertainties lie ahead 00:26:33.15\00:26:36.22 then I'd like to recommend the free gift we have for all our 00:26:36.26\00:26:40.36 Incredible Journey viewers today, it's the booklet 00:26:40.40\00:26:44.17 The Superpower of Words, this booklet is our gift to you 00:26:44.20\00:26:49.20 and it's absolutely free. I guarantee there are no costs 00:26:49.24\00:26:53.48 or obligations whatsoever. 00:26:53.51\00:26:55.44 So make the most of this wonderful opportunity 00:26:55.48\00:26:59.08 to receive the gift we have for you today. 00:26:59.11\00:27:02.68 Phone or text 0436.333.555 in Australia of 020.422.2042 00:27:02.72\00:27:12.19 in New Zealand or visit our website TiJ.tv or 00:27:12.23\00:27:17.60 simply scan the QR Code on your screen and we'll send you 00:27:17.63\00:27:21.60 today's free offer, totally free of charge and with no 00:27:21.64\00:27:24.77 obligation. Write to us at GPO Box 274 Sydney NSW 2001 00:27:24.81\00:27:31.85 Australia or PO Box 76673 Manukau Auckland 2241 00:27:31.88\00:27:38.72 New Zealand. Don't delay Call or text us now. 00:27:38.75\00:27:42.36 Dear Heavenly Father, We thank you that we have a God 00:27:42.39\00:27:48.03 who loves us and who cares for us. 00:27:48.06\00:27:50.17 Lord, we all face significant challenges in our lives today 00:27:50.20\00:27:55.10 at times these challenges seem about to overwhelm us and it's 00:27:55.14\00:28:00.81 so easy and natural to get depressed and despondent. 00:28:00.84\00:28:04.31 But may we always remember that you are with us 00:28:04.35\00:28:08.58 and that you will never leave us or forsake us 00:28:08.62\00:28:11.62 please give us peace and hope In Jesus' name, we pray... 00:28:11.65\00:28:16.76 Amen! 00:28:16.79\00:28:18.49