Australian Thoughts at the Weekend. 5th & 6th December 2009.

Australian Thoughts at the Weekend. 5th & 6th December 2009.

Bring a Plate

Every Australian knows what is meant by the phrase “Bring a plate”. I had for many years heard stories of people who had done just that when there was to be food and drink after the evening meeting, a Saturday night social gathering or some such event.

The stories of people who brought a plate without food on it were common. In fact, the stories would almost seem to be what we call today an “urban myth”. However, I assure you it is not so. The stories are true. I have heard the confessions of a number of English immigrants or “Ten Quid Ozzies” that when invited to “bring a plate” they did just that. They arrived with empty plates. They admitted later they thought it was a bit strange but that is what the announcement said. Maybe like I do, they remember the days before disposable cups when we all took a cup (empty of course) to Sunday School picnics. Usually this was carried swinging on a string or ribbon home-made lanyard around our necks. (A Ten Quid Ozzie is an immigrant from the UK who paid 10 English Pounds for a passage to Australia by ship in the 1950s and I think 1960s).

You can imagine their embarrassment when they arrived at the hall with an empty plate and noticed others bearing plates of all types of tasty things. I guess this placed them in a bit of a dilemma. Would they remain for the supper and eat that which they had not contributed to? I am sure every Ozzie I know would want them to stay. It is much better to have a good laugh with the “victim” there than absent.

Some of these suppers are the most amazing events in the variety of food. I have shared in “bring a plate” events in three States and have found a most amazing assortment of food. People will bring many amazing foods. Sometimes hot, sometimes cold and some times frozen and that’s only the food that really ought to be hot. A frozen meat or fruit pie or sausage roll seems to be somewhat short of ideal.

I am not sure whether times have changed but I am noticing a lot more shop bought items appearing at suppers. I have noticed at a few suppers at our Corps that biscuits appear in their packets, cakes appear in their packaging straight from the supermarket shelves and sausage rolls or party pies come in their cardboard boxes. One thing I do like to see from the shops is the coffee flavored cheesecake from Sara Lea or similar manufactures. Yum!

When I worked for another organization, my wife and I were sitting in a food shop in a town a morning’s drive west from home having lunch before going to an early afternoon Annual General Meeting where I was the guest speaker. A very well dressed lady came into the shop, and handing the lady behind the counter a plate asked her to fill it with some cake squares. We then heard her say, can you put a plastic cling wrap cover over it to make it look like it is homemade. As the plastic was placed over the plate, she then confessed to the shop assistant she had to take the plate to the meeting where I was the guess speaker. I wonder when I stood to talk whether she recognized us as being in the shop where she “made” her cakes.

It was when I worked for this organization, I traveled the State and spoke to many meetings. Often during my talks I would be almost distracted by the lovely smells that came from the kitchen. This was made worse when I had driven a long way to be on time and had not had a chance to eat. Hunger and lovely smells from the kitchen are not a good combination when you are trying to give a suitable informative yet entertaining talk.

One further problem was that after the meeting when the food was served often someone would have an important question to ask me and would keep me from the food. Sometimes, I was kept prisoner so long that all the food had gone before I was released from my captivity. It was always good when my wife was with me as she could bring food to the prisoner.

Mentioning my wife, made me think of another occasion, when a group of us husbands were standing in the semi dark waiting for our wives to finish their “Ladies Evening Fellowship” meeting. One of the ladies appeared and asked us if we would like to try her ‘eggs’. A number of the guys said they did not want to try them. I accepted and on the first bite was sorry I did. They were pickled eggs. I am sure something went wrong with the process. They were off and I am lucky I did not get salmonella or something worse. Well, maybe that’s how they were supposed to taste but it was not pleasant. The other husbands got a good laugh though. Some confessed they had tried them previously. I am glad it was dark and the lady did not see the horror on my face as I tasted her delicacy.

That is a hazard of “bring a plate” occasions. It is either feast or famine. It is famine if you get trapped talking and the food is all gone as I said earlier. It becomes a feast when various ladies confront me with a plate of delicious looking food and say you must try this. They go on to explain it is a special recipe and that they always make it because everyone just loves it. So of course, I must try it. No one ever said a moment on your lips and a lifetime on your hips, did they? Charming ladies’ special recipes never count in that.

On a personal note, I want to place on public record that I am going to try to lose about 10 kilograms (22 pounds) which I have been carrying around for some time. However, the season of Advent is a dangerous season as all the Christmas goodies make their appearance at various functions and gatherings. The Ten Quid Ozzies’ version of “Bring a plate” may be appropriate in the next few weeks.

I remember well the chorus we sang in Primary Sunday school “my cup is full and running over”. I remember as a young child visions of a mess! It was the sort of thing mum encouraged me not to do. “Don’t fill it too much! Oh! Look what you’ve done! Now get a cloth and clean up that mess!” I don’t know when I came to understand the chorus.

I however can identify with a Police Officer and Salvationist who led a training day for Salvation Army Emergency Service people. He indicates his more than adequate size and says “Some people claim to be a ‘Trophy of God’s Grace’. I am a ‘Trophy of God’s Provision’ ”

Country people in Australia are known for their generosity in their catering. Here is not only the quality of the country food but they seem to supply it in huge quantities. I think I first encountered this after an Anzac Day (Oz National War Remembrance Day) March our Band did every year. It was just into the country and the ladies piled the food on a long table down the center of the room. The young band boys started at one end of the table and the Scouts who carried the banners and flags started the other end and moved towards the center of the table like a swarm of locusts across a wheat field. It wasn’t my cup that ran over on those days.

Another song which I claim as a favorite is “When the trumpet of the lord shall sound”. I like particularly the chorus which says “When the rolls ARE SERVED up yonder, I’ll be there!” I also maintain that we must stick to copyright and sing the correct words when singing grace. It may be a lovely thought to “live and serve Thee faithfully” but I enjoy singing expectantly “grant that we may feast in Paradise with Thee.”

All jokes aside, we have a wonderful God who gives us our daily bread and so much more. He truly supplies our needs and we must raise our thanks to Him. Many are expressing the thought that it is sad that in the Salvation Army in Australia our Harvest Festival Thanksgiving has disappeared from our Corps calendars. We can thank God at all times but it does good to focus on his provision of our daily needs. Maybe on that weekend, we can look beyond our Corps financial needs, and give a special offering for the daily needs of others in lands where things are so tough. It could be the basis of a child sponsorship or a small project in a land of famine.

It can be a time also when we thank God for the rain and sunshine which make life possible on this planet. In Australia, in this time of drought, we are continually reminded of his provision for us.
Thank you for the world so sweet;
Thank you for the food we eat;
Thank you for the birds that sing;
Thank you, God for ev'rything.
Amen.
Thank You for the World so Sweet
(Tune: Michael Row your Boat ashore)

Thank you for the world so sweet. Alleluia
Thank you for the food we eat. Alleluia
Thank your for the birds that sing. Alleluia
Thank you God for everything. Alleluia

Psalm 23 (New international Version)

A psalm of David.

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, [1]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

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