Letter from Australia 130 – Nothing Else Matters

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

It’s been a few months since I’ve written to you. https://theweeflea.com/2025/11/01/letter-from-australia-129-granny-chickens-and-the-rainbow/

It’s not that I haven’t been writing, it’s just I haven’t written in this format. But as I look back on my last letter from Australia, the death of my mother, so much has happened. But I just want to reflect on the past couple of weeks, on what really matters.

It’s been a busy couple of weeks. First of all, there was the general assembly of the New South Wales Presbyterian Church, which I’ve written about here.

Then I went to the Yackandandah Men’s Conference and paid tribute to a wonderful group of men in the latest “Beauty for Ashes.” https://theweeflea.com/2026/07/21/beauty-for-ashes-41-the-yackandandah-special/

Then coming home to a funeral, followed by teaching at two in-service days for teachers at Maitland Christian School. I also spoke at Hammond Care service, where I always enjoy sharing God’s word with the elderly. And then I did a radio show with Neil Johnson on Vision Radio. So much talking, so much pressure, so many things to think about. And yet I find myself in a different space.

All these things are not unimportant, especially the opportunity to share the gospel and to advocate for the truth of the Bible. However, there are some things in the midst of all that, that are relatively trivial in comparison with what else was going on, and three photos summarize this for me.

First of all, in the midst of all the hassle at the assembly, came the joyful news that our youngest daughter’s first baby was born. We welcomed Flora Rebecca Turner to this world. My daughter, EJ, has permitted me to share this photo with you, for which I’m immensely grateful because I consider it to be stunningly beautiful. I guess all grandparents say that about their grandchildren, but in this case, surely you have to agree with me! A baby that comes out with a full head of ginger hair. It’s wonderful to welcome another ginger to the world. Sometimes I fear they might be an endangered species. But the verse that struck in my mind was from the Psalms, “You shall your children’s children see, and peace on Israel.” (Psalm 128:6)

But then something else came up at the weekend, which reminded me of the fragility of life and of the pain in which we often live.

This young boy, two years old, Caleb MacLeod, is in hospital with stage four cancer in Edinburgh, and the Free Church moderator asked us to pray for him, which of course we are doing. We remember his parents, Andrew and Eilidh, and the church in Dunfermline of which he is pastor. We plead with the Lord to have mercy.

We know that we live in a world where everybody dies, and sadly, we live in a world where many children die. Despite the anger of Stephen Fry and others, this does not negate the truth of the gospel. Rather, it makes the gospel all the more essential, because we need the one who came to destroy death and to free us from our fear of death. (Hebrews 2:14-15). As I look upon a new grandchild, I cannot but help look upon this photo of poor Callum and plead with the Lord for him and his parents, but I know that our times are in His hands.

And then one final photograph for you. I recently opened up the St. Peter’s newsletter. It is always so encouraging to see one’s former church growing and developing. I loved this article and news about the 14 new members who were welcomed into the congregation. Most of all, because I baptized several of them, and it is wonderful to see many years later, them coming to a living and saving faith in Christ.

The photograph I share to you is what was given to me by the children when we left St. Peter’s. Each of them put their thumbprint and their name. Several of those names on that tree are now on the list of new members.

I cannot describe the feeling of joy and thankfulness to the Lord for his mercy to us. “Cast your bread on the waters, and after many years, it shall return to you.” Ecclesiastes 11:1)

. So, in the midst of all that is going on, I was also reminded of Metallica’s song, “Nothing Else Matters.”

 

Trust I seek and I find in you

Every day for us something new

Open mind for a different view

And nothing else matters

Never cared for what they say

Never cared for games they play

Never cared for what they do

Never cared for what they know

I know that Metallica did not write that as a Christian song – but I am a postmodern Presbyterian so I can interpret it how I want! The reality is that it has been going round in my head since Flora was born.

When I think of Flora, when I think of wee Caleb, when I think of the baptized children coming to faith, nothing else matters. Christ is glorified through the upbuilding of his people, through his bringing comfort in the midst of sorrow, and through the continuing blessings upon generations yet to come.

Nothing else matters.

Yours in Christ,

David.

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