December 1998 Volume 79 Number 12 "serving the protectors"
Gutters
By David Marr

You don't realise how important some things are until you lose them. Take health for instance. Even a solid bout of the flu can make you feel lousy. Knowing the whereabouts of the car keys is vital for the smooth running of the household. It isn't difficult to spend hours per week looking for stuff we have put in a "safe place". We often take many things for granted, even at home. Jesus gave a number of illustrations about the wisdom of being suitably prepared.

There have been occasions during heavy downpours at night when I have wished I had taken his advice. The sound of water pouring over the top of the gutters gets to me when warmly tucked up in bed. I keep thinking of what damage might occur if water runs out over the ceiling, or washes through the brick paving below.

On a number of occasions I have had to climb onto the roof, raincoat over pyjamas and struggle to clear blockages from the downpipes to set the water running clear again. My wife says I am mad. She's probably right. It happened again a few weeks ago. Very heavy rain washed leaves and rubbish into the downpipe resulting in water cascading over the gutters near the front door. I took a good dousing while clearing the obstruction at about 2:00 am.

My plumber mate, Gus, was having a good laugh at my expense the next morning. He went on about it for a week. You'd have thought he hadn't anything else to entertain him. He told me gutters were meant to clear away water, not store it. And, if I had kept it clear from leaves and rubbish, I would be able to lie warmly in bed an enjoy hearing the rain on the roof like him. He suggested that if I had enough faith I could have "stilled the storm", or at least walked on the water, seeing I had most of it at my place.

Apart from the laughter he was right, of course. We'd be better served if we kept our gutters and channels open and allowed them to function effectively.

Be it body, mind, or attitude, we need to keep our channels open and unencumbered if we are to get the most out of life and our experiences. Some of the blockages that clutter peoples lives are pretty sad and can make you really ill. You can find people whose lives are choked with fear, resentment, guilt, anger, as well as other hurts or agendas. Sometimes it takes a lot of commitment and energy to maintain our closed mind or blocked gutters. The flood comes at last too, often with dire consequences to ourselves, our family or others.

The gutters of communication, love and affection, sensitivity, healthy behaviours and practices are designed to be free-flowing, well maintained and used regularly.

Last Monday I returned home to find Gus digging up his sewer pipe. "A bad blockage," he muttered. "Darn tree roots again, I suppose. Before you start laughing or making wisecracks, we're using your toilet and shower until this lot is fixed."

Hope your gutters are clear.

SA Police Chaplains

Welfare Section 58	David Marr
	Senior Police Chaplain.
	Tel: 8364 3567
Academy 8	Mark Thomas. Tel: 8296 9616
Adelaide: Angas Street 158	Bruce Grindlay. Tel: 8295 2220
Adelaide: Hindley Street 62	Bruce Grindlay. Tel: 8295 2220
Adelaide Hills Division 54	Adrian Stephens.
	Tel: 8398 2510 Office: 8398 2517
Berri 212	Vacant
Ceduna 214	Bob Borgas. Tel: 086 253 503
Christies Beach 20	Vacant
Clare 202	Michael Dutschke. Tel: 088 423 681
Communications 172	Vacant
Elizabeth 52	Stephen Brooks. Tel: 041 884 0739
Far North 210	Tony Redden. Tel: 08 8672 5011
Focus 21	Richard Lawton. Tel: 08 8363 2536
Gawler 52	Brian Tscharke. Tel: 085 222 288
Glenelg 22	Malcolm Thomas. Tel: 8377 0772
Henley Beach 18	Brenton Daulby. Tel: 8443 8286
Holden Hill 44	Tony Swansson. Tel: 8258 8951
	Rod Dyson. Tel: 8365 1170
Kadina 71	Mark Dickens. Tel: 8823 2513
Kingston 208	Richard Dutton. Tel: 08 8767 2590
Mount Gambier 208	Brian Ashworth.
	Tel: 087 231 353 (W)
	Tel: 087 252 537 (H)
Murray Bridge 200	Malcolm Bottrill. Tel: 085 325 536
Naracoorte 208	Keith Brice. Tel: 087 622 303
Norwood 60	Bob George. Tel: 8362 2227
Nuriootpa 204	Andy Kowald. Tel: 085 621 011
Para Hills 46	Stephanie Swansson. Tel: 8258 8951
Plympton 14	Ian Dempsey. Tel: 8210 8108
Port Adelaide 6	Jeff Oake. Tel: 8341 5930
Port Pirie 206	Vacant
Prosecution Services 176	Vacant
Port Augusta PS 210	Shirley James. Tel: 0886 410 146
Salisbury 53	Stephanie Swansson. Tel: 8258 8951
Sturt 12	Brenton Williamson. Tel: 8270 4316
Tea Tree Gully 48	Paul Hammat. Tel: 8396 4141
Thebarton Barracks 32	Joe Grealy. Tel: 8338 3225
Transit Division	Wayne Shepherd. Tel: 8443 4895
Unley 28	Max Bowers. Tel: 8272 8324
Whyalla 218	Vacant