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It was 15 June 2015. I awoke at 4:50 a.m. after dreaming that I was leading the Australian National Anthem at the close of an official ceremony of some kind. The embarrassing point of the dream is that I forgot the words of the song. I fumbled my way through it, listening to other people sing in the hope that I would be prompted to remember, but nothing worked. The words of condemnation that came from the people in the crowd were enough to wake me up.

I lay awake in the darkness, trying to remember the words, but they eluded me. So I took hold of my iPad and Googled them. I saw the whole song in a brand-new light. It occurred to me that a nation needs to know its purpose, and this very song outlines our purpose very clearly — To Advance Australia Fair. 

Divine Providence

The second stanza gives us our How To factor.

“Beneath the radiant Southern Cross” — We will advance our beloved nation with the knowledge of our strategic position in the family of nations and with a clear identity.

We have a specific place on this planet — beneath the Southern Cross. This placement is key to God’s strategy for us as a people. Think about it this way: The Southern Cross is seen best at night, in the darkness. While the world may be stumbling in darkness, we live in the light of the cross that God has located above our land. This symbolism helps us know that this is a Heavenly vision.

As a people with a purpose, to advance this great nation in which we live, we will do it with a clear understanding of our identity. We are defined by the cross under which we live. We are also defined by the light which shines from the cross under which we live. The cross is the symbol of hope to all nations. The light is the element that reveals the way forward. Therefore, we who live under the Southern Cross are defined by the hope of the cross and the Light of the World.

“We’ll toil with heart and hand” — We will advance our beloved nation with a passion for excellence and the necessary skills to fulfil this purpose.

A right attitude is a prerequisite to the right outcome; therefore, we will work with a heart for work. With this excellent attitude toward our work, we will embrace the privilege of being able to work. We will work with the heart of service, not demanding entitlements, but working to serve. This starts with management working to serve employees, and employees working to serve the business.

Having the right skills to complete our tasks is also a prerequisite to fulfilling our purpose. This means that we will be diligent to study for personal improvement. We cannot expect a person who is not skilled in the task of brain surgery to remove a brain tumour. At the same time, we cannot expect a person who is not skilled in the task of garbage removal to drive the garbage truck.

“To make this Commonwealth of ours renowned through all the lands” — We will advance our beloved nation with honour, great dignity and humility, “relying on the blessings of Almighty God”.

A strong belief in who we are as a people is a prerequisite to fulfilling our purpose. This belief means that we are a people with a strong and positive contribution to make, for the common good of all people. The stronger our belief in who we are as a people, the more we will honour and dignify our reputation across the planet.

We will remember that we are ambassadors of our country, regardless of our rank or position, and we will act only in ways that reflect the higher qualities of our nation. We will also foster our strong belief in God and give Him thanks for all His good gifts. As the scripture says in Psalms 33:12, “Blessed is the Nation whose God is the Lord.”

“For those who’ve come across the seas, We’ve boundless plains to share” — We will advance our beloved nation with benevolence and generosity.

Benevolence and generosity are two very similar qualities and are prerequisites to friendship. It is much more cost-effective for a nation to make friends than to reconcile with an enemy. When reconciliation fails, the expense of defending ourselves becomes very excessive. We have amazing resources which, by sharing, we will contribute to the prosperity of all people. The spirit of benevolence and generosity must combine within us to become the motivation that compels us to live for others, rather than fall into the pit of self-focus.

“With courage let us all combine to advance Australia fair” — We will advance our beloved nation with inner strength and unity.

Inner strength and unity are prerequisites to the fulfilment of our national purpose. Passion for our purpose to advance our nation gives us strength and inspires unity. It also consolidates unity. We have a cause worth our full investment — Australia.  Are we convinced that this nation is worthy of our commitment?

There are other people groups who do not value us or our land. They have no thought for our wellbeing or prosperity. We, the citizens of this great land, have been placed here for its advancement. Without the courage that comes with deep conviction, and without unity, we lack the drive to achieve our purpose.

“In joyful strains, then let us sing, Advance Australia fair!” — we will advance our beloved nation with great joy.

Delight in the cause is a prerequisite to fulfilling our purpose. A grumbling attitude will deplete our national energy, whereas a delightful attitude renews energy. We are a nation with much to be joyful about. This is more than just “The Lucky Country”. This is our nation, our home. Our love for our home drives us to make it even better.

It is interesting to note that the original composer of “Advance Australia Fair” in 1878, Peter Dodds McCormick (Amicus), was a devout Christian who wrote hymns. Here is an early version from 1927.

Everyone has something to offer to the advancement of this great land. It is my privilege to have been born here. I have friends who came from all the other continents, because they want to call this place home as well. Together, we will Advance Australia Fair.

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Image courtesy of Adobe.