Peter picked a permanent positive pistuous posture

A variant on Peter picked a pepper? No – just some leftovers from this morning’s ruminations on the Gospel of Matthew’s account of Peter walking on the water and sinking. I would never dare use such a pretentious alliterative phrase anywhere else but here. I reiterate the view, however, that Peter was not being typicallyContinue reading “Peter picked a permanent positive pistuous posture”

Trying a Triantiwontigongolope

It was my usual charge in and grope my way in the dark. I needed some things from the office, so I felt for the right shaped key, found the lock – turned the knob and entered the dark cave I call my study. I reached out my hands and felt around the desk. BotherContinue reading “Trying a Triantiwontigongolope”

Paying the tax collector

Having just labored over and electronically lodged my tax return (how tremulously the finger hovers on the “send” button!), I now sit back and ponder. The question of taxes is not a light one. A conflicted standoff over how much and under what circumstances and “what for?” recently brought our inhabited cosmos to the brinkContinue reading “Paying the tax collector”

Demythologising the wedge

The wedge has been used to good effect in Australian public life over the last decade. Politically, the strategy has effectively divided the community on such issues as immigration, Aborigine & Torres Strait Islanders affairs, the environment, sexual equality and, yes, public funding of school chaplaincy. The strategy is effective. Divide and conquer keeps theContinue reading “Demythologising the wedge”

Clarifying the School Chaplaincy case before the High Court

The important debate re school chaplaincy (and Special Religious Education) in Australian schools is being waged on many fronts. Confusing the issues are political expediency and opportunism, unclear definitions, and a range of alleged apparent motivations across the religious sector. State specific situations, such as the “Ethics alternative” showdown in NSW and the administrative issuesContinue reading “Clarifying the School Chaplaincy case before the High Court”

When the USA sneezes…

  … the rest of the world catches a cold. This is probably why it’s difficult to find a dispassionate news report on the US debt crisis. The most objective one on my newsfeed is from the UK –  US debt crisis: markets rally as Barack Obama announces deal – Telegraph. I had a spiritedContinue reading “When the USA sneezes…”

What does it mean to cede control to the Divine Other?

This is the question I didn’t address in this morning’s harangue based partly on Jacob’s nocturnal struggle with a mysterious strong man. I would have said that Jacob didn’t cede control to the divine being with whom he wrestled all night. He managed to extort a deal – only then did he release the mysteriousContinue reading “What does it mean to cede control to the Divine Other?”

Distraction Free Writing | The Daily Post at WordPress.com

WordPress, the patron of those of us who consented to be locked into writing something on our blogs everyday for 2011, suggests a range of tools that help prevent being disturbed while writing: Distraction Free Writing | The Daily Post at WordPress.com. I confess my distractions are not of the nature described in the article –Continue reading “Distraction Free Writing | The Daily Post at WordPress.com”