There is much to celebrate as Australians. I’m so thankful for this amazing, ancient, diverse country I get to call home. And yet rightly we can be thankful and lament at the same time today.

I’d prefer that we celebrate our shared national story on a day that many First Nations people could choose to fully participate in. But whatever your stance on a national day date, may we not turn away from the closing the gap challenge that remains before our nation. All sides of politics, and all of us, have a place to play in closing this injustice gap. Yes there are complexities, but we could make much more progress if all that is good about our country was thrown at this stain on our national soul with a bipartisan approach.

We can choose today to redouble our efforts in sharing in the ancient prophet’s vision of letting “justice roll on like a river” – we can choose shalom in a country and world that is hurting and divided and where still too many are pushed to the edges.