Australia

New Land

New land of timeless promises,
New hope from Ancient wrongs,
Of open sky and wilderness,
Escape from smoke and throngs:
A place for contemplation
Far from the city's roar,
A forum for perspectives
Not recognised before.
Whatever first intentions
To witness the Good News
The upshot was oppression,
Injustice and abuse:
God's creatures were downtrodden,
For cruelty and land,
Enslaved, diseased and humbled,
Rejected out of hand.
New emphasis on justice
Has sponsored fairer laws
And millions of outcasts
Have sought these generous shores:
Though there is fault and failure,
Self criticism speaks,
The truth of generations
Is plain for those who seek.
Lord of the open spaces
And of the cities, too,
Look down with Grace and favour
On those who look to You:
And make us more than worthy
Of Your gift of this land,
And deepen our commitment
To seek and understand.