“In the Lakota/Sioux tradition, a person who is grieving is considered most awakened and most holy. There’s a sense that when someone is struck by the sudden lightning of loss, he or she stands on the threshold of the spirit world. The prayers of those who grieve are considered especially strong, and it is proper …
We Choose
For some time I had noticed a particular International student in our Oasis centre. He sat in the same spot most days focussed on the screen of his computer. He never seemed to engage with other students. I thought he might be suffering from Parent Syndrome – the weight of expectation to not just succeed, …
Leadership 101
Alex Conrad from Fox Sports January 17th, 2022 8:29 am As the Aussies began to celebrate retaining the Ashes after a 4-0 series demolition of England, Usman Khawaja was pictured scampering off the stage and away from his teammates. It’s not that he didn’t want to celebrate, quite the opposite. But Khawaja is a Muslim and his …
The moral obligation to change our views when we are wrong
Today, I have begun writing an occasional series of thought provokers on the Medium platform. The brief articles will be my commentary on quotes from books and articles I have read that have provoked me to think about life, the universe — everything and anything. I thought they may be of interest to our readers …
Read the full post →“The moral obligation to change our views when we are wrong”
Change Or Else
This morning on ABC radio, there was a very interesting program about a town in country Victoria – a town that has been dying. It’s a serious situation faced by many country towns. In the early seventies, I was teaching at Gladstone High School in country South Australia. One of the big concerns in that …
‘Wow’ Music
I’ve just discovered this band of six fabulously talented musicians. Check them out! Every song they cover is taken to a new level of creativity, enthusiasm and joy. They all have so much musical fun, they’re loving every moment. To me they are a picture of how a group can work together to create something …
Leadership From ‘Below’
Nabil Elbousaadi3 December 2020The moment … Photo of the day:“The lady you see in this photo is neither to help nor to pity. She doesn’t beg more than the openness of obtuse minds and the tenderness of hearts that she stirs. That lady is Tarja Halonen. Her name means nothing to you and yet she …
New Day’s Lyrics
I love this spoken poem for 2022 by Amanda Gorman.Remember her?She came to our attention at the inauguration of President Joe Biden.I love this idea that the old spirit can come together with new lyrics.
Radical Heroes
From Desmond Tutu to Bill Crews With the passing of Desmond Tutu on the 26th of December, many of us are feeling the loss of a moral giant. He was not only at the forefront of dismantling Apartheid in South Africa, but headed up the radical response that attempted to deal with the perpetrators of …
Christmas with Verena
I first met Verena Fink when she was visiting Australia from Germany a few years ago. She returned home to Munich just as Angela Merkel opened the borders to a wave of refugees. Verena was one of the many who went to the railway station to welcome them. She has been supporting asylum seekers ever …