On waiting: Reflections on a Cruise
Rosemary and I are currently on holiday in the US and Canada, presently on a cruise from Philadelphia to Quebec to be more precise. Our journey started with a few hiccups. A passenger on our flight out of Perth tried to lift his bag into the hold, discovered it was too heavy for him, and as I was seated below, let it drop on my head – I kid you not! Fortunately I’ve a pretty thick skull so there was no harm done that a panadol couldn’t rectify. Then Rosemary, not to be outdone but willing to wait her turn, had a spectacular fall during the cruise embarkation process when amidst the...
Read MoreRose, Bud, Thorns – Because Perspective Matters
Roses are beautiful, but the most spectacular ones have thorns. It makes sense. Something as exquisite as a rose needs some protecting, for though lovely, they are delicate and vulnerable, and need some safguarding from grasping hands which might clutch their blooms without thought or heed. I recently led a leadership strategic planning day and instead of the tried and trusted SWOT analysis (strengths/ weaknesses/ opportunities/ threats) was asked to run a similar but not identical Rose/ Buds/ Thorns exercise, where you explore what is deeply pleasing about what you are presently doing (the...
Read MoreOn the Death of a Sister: Remembering Sheila
Last week was almost a really good week. So many things had gone right. A work project finished; I’d preached well on Sunday (well that’s what I thought); a lovely lunch with the family; a celebration of a friends 70th birthday (his wife wrote such a funny, lovely poem about him); and lots to look forward to – Rosemary’s birthday this week, and a trip to the US for a holiday the week after. A really lovely week, and then on Sunday night we got the news – my sister Sheila had died. Sheila, my oldest sister, the one who picked me up from nursery school at the end...
Read MoreWhat Really Matters: A Micah 6:8 Summary…
I get to preach at my home church today, kicking off a series “Minor Prophets: Major Justice” which gives a 7 week sweep of Micah to Malachi. I’ve been reading and rereading Micah and have decided to approach the message through the lens of “What this book teaches us about God”. I’ve come up with the title: “What Makes God Mad, Sad and Glad” – and OK, sorry if you don’t like the slick rhyming, but it highlights three themes that stood out for me. For those of you who know something about Micah, there are no prizes for guessing where...
Read MoreA Proverb to Ponder: Listen to Your Body – It Whispers Before it Shouts…
With my last two posts having questioned some proverbs and contemporary mantras, a couple of you asked me what proverbs I think are valid. Here’s one I am thinking of using in my next book Thirty Proverbs to Live By. It’s Listen to your body: It whispers before it shouts. You might not believe this, but I’ve been the poster boy for my local gym! They used me in an advertising spurt, and I’m told 1 person even signed up. At 69, that’s a feat worth boasting about. True, it’s a gym that advertises itself as being for non gym people, and they assure you they have no mirrors,...
Read MoreWhen Wisdom isn’t Wise: Some Modern Assumptions to Query
Last week I looked at a few proverbs that are now beyond their use by date. In its own way each is rather oppressive. Are you one of my diligent readers who remembers the three I looked at? Curiosity killed the cat; Sticks and stones may break your bones but words will never harm you; and Cut your coat according to your cloth. When I mentioned these three to my older grandchildren they looked at me in blank incomprehension. None were part of their vocabulary, and I am glad about that. As I say, their use by date expired a fair while back. However there are many contemporary mantras that are...
Read MoreWhen Wisdom isn’t Wisdom: Proverbs and Sayings to Challenge
People often ask what my new writing project is and I tell them I’m working on 30 Proverbs to Live By. It still has a fair way to go, but I like the idea of a book that gives a key thought to ponder each day of the month (and a favourite one to come back to on those 31 day months). Having said that, I’ve been taken by some proverbs and common sayings that I think are simply misleading. It’s a sad state of affairs when what initially sounds sage like and profound turns out to be unhelpful, and sometimes even destructive. I will explore this over the next two weeks –...
Read MoreBecause God is with You…
A pastor whom I respect greatly emailed me and instead of finishing with a friendly “all the best” or a more formal “yours sincerely” said simply, “God is with you.” At the time I found it very encouraging and told him so the next time we met. He replied “I end all my emails that way. I figure that it is the most important thing I want people to know, because you see and experience everything differently when you know that God is with you.” I have thought about that simple conversation many times since, and the more I think about it, the more I...
Read MoreWhen the Mountain is You: Three Habits that Lead to Self-Sabotage
Most of us (and I include myself here) are instinctive blamers. When something goes wrong, it’s obvious whose fault it is. It’s theirs, and if it wasn’t for them, life would be so much better. The trouble is that every now and then we realise that that simply isn’t true. It is alleged that when asked the question “What’s wrong with the world?” the great G.K.Chesterton replied “I am”. You’ve completely missed the point if that makes you think we should blame Chesterton for everything! His counsel is wise. When looking for the cause...
Read MoreOn Turning 69…
My long term readers will know that as the 13th of July approaches I write a reflection on turning a year older. It’s part of my attempt to follow the instruction of Ps 90:12 “Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom”. And yes, a day after this post appears it is my birthday, a full 69 years since I gave my first wail on the 13 July 1957. Relax, no presents are required, but good wishes are always welcome! While getting older is sobering, it has many genuinely pleasing features. Increasingly people assume I am retired (I’m not – and work 4...
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