Managing Monday with Desmond Tutu
Desmond Tutu (1931-), Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town, anti-apartheid and human rights activist, winner of the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize, and chair of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, has consistently championed the cause of the vulnerable, being willing to speak truth to power in a wide range of circumstances. Here are a few of his many notable insights… Forgive others, not because they deserve forgiveness, but because you deserve peace. Desmond Tutu I am not interested in picking up crumbs of compassion thrown down from the table of someone who considers...
Read MoreManaging Monday with Alan Paton – Take 2
This is a second look at some of the thoughts of South African author, human rights advocate, Christian thinker, and educator, Alan Paton (1903-1988), who is best know for his book Cry, the Beloved Country. It’s a haunting book on the tragedy of race relations in South Africa, and one which shaped much of my thinking during my late teenage years. I still remember the opening two sentences of the book – perhaps because the countryside remains etched in my memory… There is a lovely road that runs from Ixopo into the hills. These hills are grass-covered and rolling, and they...
Read MoreAbout a Sabbatical and a Flight on a Dreamliner…
At present Rosemary and I are in London, where I am serving as a visiting international scholar at Spurgeon’s College. The picture is of their very impressive stained glass window in the main building of the College with their motto Et teneo, Et teneor (I hold and am held). I am owed more Sabbatical leave than I can take, and the good folk at Vose Seminary, where I serve as principal, said that it really was time that I started taking some of it, so I am here for 12 weeks. I have several goals for the time… Getting to know the theological and Bible College scene in the UK a...
Read MoreManaging Monday with Alan Paton
South African author, human rights advocate, Christian thinker, and educator, Alan Paton (1903-1988) is best know for his book Cry, the Beloved Country. It’s a haunting book on the tragedy of race relations in South Africa, and one which shaped much of my thinking during my late teenage years. I still remember the opening two sentences of the book – perhaps because the countryside remains etched in my memory… There is a lovely road that runs from Ixopo into the hills. These hills are grass-covered and rolling, and they are lovely beyond any singing of it. I hope you enjoy...
Read MoreManaging Monday – with quotes for Easter…
Rather than focus on a specific person and their insights, on this Easter Monday I thought it helpful to look at some general quotes for Easter from a range of thinkers… Easter was when Hope in person surprised the whole world by coming forward from the future into the present – N.T.Wright, Surprised by Hope Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song – Pope John Paul II Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone but in every leaf of springtime – Martin Luther Earth’s saddest day and...
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