Melancholy optimist

In early adulthood I was fascinated with the work of Victor Frankl, holocaust survivor and author of “Man’s Search for Meaning” and logotherapy. His psychiatric practice was based on observations of those with whom he was interned in the concentration camps. Given similar opportunities to survive, some succumbed to the horrendous conditions and died ofContinue reading “Melancholy optimist”

Clowning around

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”

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…”

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”