January each year, M V Tronson says, is the month we tackle a new year afresh. The holiday summer period is in high order, the schools are a month away from returning, the routine of another year is yet to get under way.
It is this annual January situation and the photograph of the straight railway line that set Footplate Padre M V Tronson's mind racing.
"I reflected on the photograph I took in November between Rutherglen and Lilliput, near Springhurst in Victoria, of that 'straight track ahead' and how impinges on our philosophy of life and world views," M V Tronson explained.
Three months ago I was a guest of Dave Moyle in Wahgunyah in rural Victoria, the editor of On Track, the E-railway magazine of the Stringybark Express Museum and Heritage Park.
This community association has two projects, the first is the Wahgunyah Beach Railway, a plan to run a two foot gauge (sugar cane train) tourist train where the former VR lines ran along the bank of the Murray River.
The second project is a shuttle and tourist light rail train between Springhurst and Rutherglen on the old broad gauge. One of the responsibilities of the association is to keep that section of track maintained.
"Dave Moyle took me, as the Footplate Padre, for an inspection run on that track on the road-rail truck where the rail wheels get lowered, which I enjoyed immensely," M V Tronson said.
The straight track (see photograph) doesn't show any houses or building or industrial complexes, it's just the Australian bush and a straight railway line.
"As January gets under way, to me the imagery produced in this photograph has great poignancy," M V Tronson noted.
The Christian has many distractions, Footplate Padre Mark Tronson said, and the Bible speaks of a determination to neither look to the left or the right in following the Lord Jesus.
As this new year begins, he said, he was drawn to this imagery which is reflected by this straight railway track.
"My focus as a Christian man is on Jesus, and His Salvation; finding means of integrity to share that good-news," M V Tronson explained.
He hopes that during this year ahead, he might meet his readers and rejoice in this good news.
