I am told that my stated childhood ambition was “to be a clown in a circus.” Upon my ordination, my mother said “I see you’ve achieved your ambition.” A devout salt-of-the-earth sort of Christian, she knew how to keep her boy from taking on airs and graces. Today is “Holy Humo[u]r Sunday”, Risus Paschalis, God’sContinue reading “Clowning around”
Category Archives: Personal
Wisdom from the North
“Freedom from fear” could be said to sum up the whole philosophy of human rights. Dag Hammarskjold Another Scandinavian whose aphorisms helped mold my aspirations. Such a simple statement which, if applied to today’s bogey-monsters – asylum seekers, burqua-wearers, anyone who’s different from us – might save us millions of dollars in so-called security measures and angst.Continue reading “Wisdom from the North”
A 5 year old philosopher…
Not long after I came on the scene, the comic strip Dennis the Menace was launched and the song with the same title hit the top 40, mortifying my mother, who then wished she’d named me something else. The TV series followed, along with some memorable aphorisms, such as the one climaxing this exchange between Dennis andContinue reading “A 5 year old philosopher…”
Experience vs wisdom
Mahatma Ghandi was one of the first great philosophers to influence me. I was all of eight years old at the time. Another that had my adolescent brain ticking over was Søren Kierkegaard. Today’s aphorism comes courtesy of him, and though I don’t recall hearing this way back then, it resonates with a long held comprehensionContinue reading “Experience vs wisdom”
An aphorism a day keeps postaday okay…
… at least while I’m setting up a bank of vacation posts. So let’s try… …to accomplish great things, you must not only act but also dream, not only dream but also believe. I can say okay to this one. It’s reverse is also true – from belief, one dreams and then acts to bringContinue reading “An aphorism a day keeps postaday okay…”
Acting your age
A magazine article catches my eye, “Amortality: why acting your age is a thing of the past”. Just click on the link and you can read the whole thing. Once upon a time, life had a fairly predetermined trajectory – you are born, you work until you grow too frail, then you die. For most ofContinue reading “Acting your age”
Maintaining “Postaday” while on leave
My minders may be fuming right now. “We told him he had to take his leave and he’s still writing on his blog!” Relax, minders! This was written yesterday, as were the rest of the posts that follow this week. I’m using that cool feature in WordPress that embargoes posts for release at the date and timeContinue reading “Maintaining “Postaday” while on leave”
Reflecting on Easter Sunday… a sermon
“But how did it happen? I don’t understand how when he was dead he was alive again. How did it happen?” The class had finished. The next class was waiting and I was halfway through the door. A nine year old, engrossed in the drama of the Easter story, required an answer to this questionContinue reading “Reflecting on Easter Sunday… a sermon”
Palm Sunday Reflections
I found that local primary school children were very quick to link the reign of the Palm Sunday “Prince of Peace” with the values of the Sermon on the Mount – the term’s lessons on generosity, forgiveness, trust and peacefulness. I recall my adolescent “aha!” experience when linking the Vietnam Conflict Peace Marches with theContinue reading “Palm Sunday Reflections”
Saturday Shenanigans
The garage sale went off like a shotgun. Hundreds of people moved through and we sold enough to go along way to meeting our mission commitments projections. It was a warm 34º C and the ambiance, free tea/coffee, and the mouth watering sausage sizzle meant that a lot stayed around to chat and pass the time ofContinue reading “Saturday Shenanigans”
