Author Archives: wonderingpilgrim

Jesus is baptised – why?

I remember visiting this site some years ago, but what I recall is the question that I am most often challenged to answer than the details of the geography or “sense of place.” The question arises again this Sunday as the season of Epiphany leads us to ponder the events surrounding Jesus’ baptism. Why didContinue reading “Jesus is baptised – why?”

Cultivating Mindfulness

Every so often a word grabs attention because it seems alien to everyday speech, yet begins to appear prolifically. It begs investigation. Yesterday “mindfulness” appeared frequently in a Virtues Project workshop hosted at our church. Later in the evening, I received an unrelated invitation to complete the final phase of a survey being conducted byContinue reading “Cultivating Mindfulness”

‘No grey areas’ in stance on whaling, says minister | The Australian

Politics is always going to see the tension between environmental striving and so-called economic necessity. This is a given. But why try and  hide it? When all comes to light, as it inevitably will, our lead negotiators are revealed as disingenuous, saying one thing (a lie) for public consumption while sealing compromise behind closed doors.Continue reading “‘No grey areas’ in stance on whaling, says minister | The Australian”

Craft for a Dry Lake by Kim Mahood

Part of my summer reading is an autobiography that weaves the theme of attachment to land by settler and Aborigine alike. The death of the author’s father prompts a personal pilgrimage to the remote station lands of her childhood. Her connection to the land is marked by ambiguity – it is a wrestling with identityContinue reading “Craft for a Dry Lake by Kim Mahood”

The SIEV-221 drama: lessons from a disaster

It’s only a few weeks since a maritime refugee disaster occurred off our coast. While the aftermath has largely slipped off the radar of mainstream awareness – the question of developing humane asylum seeker policy remains untouched. Jack Smit of SafeCom is one of the most relentless and compassionate commentator/lobbyists I have come across forContinue reading “The SIEV-221 drama: lessons from a disaster”

We Three Kings of Orient Are…

… but not the magi of Bethlehem in Matthew 2:1-20! We don’t know how many there were – tradition varies from the popular three to the less known twelve. The magi are not described as “kings” – there are two kings in Matthews’s account – Herod and Jesus – and the nature of their respectiveContinue reading “We Three Kings of Orient Are…”

A New Year’s Resolution awaiting fulfilment…

A bit of bush doggerel for a job I have to get done… I sit by the fountain on New Year’s Day; the bricks shimmer and shine in burning heat. Through the parched bowls the leaves swirl and sway; no streams of water – the pump is beat! Beneath the cover the water is brackish;Continue reading “A New Year’s Resolution awaiting fulfilment…”

Gulp!! – every day??!!?

You’ve got to be kidding. WordPress has just issued a challenge to it’s blogging community to post something every day. This is meant to inspire confidence and competence in “fit-start” bloggers like myself. Well, I’m up for it – even though I’m a sprinter rather than a marathon runner! The trick will be to keepContinue reading “Gulp!! – every day??!!?”