Author Archives: wonderingpilgrim

Universal truth or ultimate self-indulgence? (Part 1)

This is the subtitle of the “Salvation Today” Lent series cooked up by my local Uniting Church colleagues and myself. I did promise some context for yesterday’s “Saving puppies from a runaway train” conundrum. In the wake of the visit of evolutionary theologian, Bruce Sanguin, we pondered the meaning of “salvation”, a word more oftenContinue reading “Universal truth or ultimate self-indulgence? (Part 1)”

Saving puppies – saving the world

A Peter Singer inspired question pops up in the WordPress postaday stimulus today: “An out of control train is about to run over a pile of happy puppies. You are standing at the control switch and can pull the lever to direct the train onto a different track, saving their lives. But that other trackContinue reading “Saving puppies – saving the world”

Raising Lazarus

Two weeks before Easter and it is not surprising that the story of the raising of Lazarus comes out for an airing (see John 11:1-45). Tales of “dead men walking” hold particularly morbid fascination for us. So compelling is the narrative, that a former Australian Prime Minister’s autobiography, which includes an episode of his fallContinue reading “Raising Lazarus”

Rebuilding trust with indigenous communities the first step

This morning’s article in The Age,  Rebuilding trust with indigenous communities the first step,  coincides with a conversation I was involved in earlier today. Recently, Reconciliation Australia’s barometer revealed that “trust” is the most significant current obstacle on the roadway to genuine reconciliation between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australia. It is so easy, in our respectiveContinue reading “Rebuilding trust with indigenous communities the first step”

Meditating with Rumi

It was an Iraqi man who introduced me to the beauty of Rumi. Today’s post from Spirituality and Practice also celebrates the spirit of this wise medieval poet and mystic” Search the Darkness Sit with your friends; don’t go back to sleep. Don’t sink like a fish to the bottom of the sea. Surge likeContinue reading “Meditating with Rumi”

Gerry Harvey shares the love online – Eureka Street

“If you can’t beat them join them!” it seems. One of Australia’s best known shopkeepers is well known for his ability to make a buck. His and similar companies recently beat a hasty retreat from public reaction to their lobbying for exemptions in order to compete with on-line shopping. Only one person can say whetherContinue reading “Gerry Harvey shares the love online – Eureka Street”

On discombobulating…

Towards the close of this morning’s harangue, I experienced a disconnect with what I was saying and ended up saying the opposite. My carefully listening audience rippled with assorted “eh?s” and “what?”s? I paused and said “Hang on – I’m all discombobulated. Let’s try that again…” Afterwards.. you guessed it… all anyone wanted to discussContinue reading “On discombobulating…”

Kids learning violence – Eureka Street

Here’s a movie on the must see list for all who agonise over the culture of bullying and the immediate question of intervention in Libya. This review of Hævnen (In a better world) (Danish – English subtitles) gives some background: Kids learning violence – Eureka Street. Recent viral video clips of schoolyard bullying remind me ofContinue reading “Kids learning violence – Eureka Street”