As a leader, I have before me each day two competing pathways - the street of self-advancement and the road of relinquishment. The first pathway beckons me to personal ascension, accomplishment, acknowledgement and acquisition. These things all attractively play to my innate self-interest. And yet all of these things are at odds with the way … Continue reading Competing paths
Faith
The in-between days
Saturday The in-between day They were shattered, broken They were uncertain, fearful They were cynical, questioning They were grieving, numb They were longing, yearning They didn’t know what was next It was the in-between day! And here I am, So far removed from that Saturday And yet with so many in-between days in my … Continue reading The in-between days
God save us!
Palm Sunday, palm leaves. The chorus of “Hosanna” and the prayer "God save us”. God save us from the barbaric evil we see in Ukraine. And from the hatred we can foster and hide in our own hearts. Save us from seeing skin colour, rather than a person’s dignity. And from judging ethnicity through the … Continue reading God save us!
Exiles Welcome!
For many years now, Megan, our kids and I have had the privilege of sharing our house and dining table with many people who are not like us. And these beautiful people, all with different stories, have taught me, stretched me, grown me and blessed me in so many ways. They have deposited far more … Continue reading Exiles Welcome!
I miss you Mum!
It’s hard to fathom that it has been 12 months since my Mum passed away. I miss her dearly. I miss many things, most of all, the simple things we can so easily take for granted. Yet these become such rich things as we cherish memories of those we love deeply. I miss calling Mum … Continue reading I miss you Mum!
Learning to listen!
As I have been learning to navigate a new, physical pain journey this year, my good team of health professionals have been singing from the same song sheet. "Listen to your body" has been their consistent chorus. Now to be honest, that's something I have never been very good at. I have usually pushed on when I … Continue reading Learning to listen!
Sludge seasons
Stuckness. That feeling I’m sure we’ve all experienced in the stretching COVID season. In a meeting on Thursday, a Sydney colleague commented: “Just when I thought we were getting beyond this, it’s back”. The Melburnians on screen didn’t need to say a word. We know too well what a ticket on the emotional rollercoaster called lockdown … Continue reading Sludge seasons
When pain shouts!
I let the technologist choose the backing music for a series of scans I had this week. Train’s “Drops of Jupiter” and Snow Patrol’s “Chasing Cars” competed with the loud banging and clanging of the MRI machine. Then came “When I’m Gone” by 3 Doors Down. Maybe not the best song for an MRI playlist meant to distract … Continue reading When pain shouts!
A song we can all sing!
We may prefer to skip the following list on our national day. It’s hard to read. It would be a lot easier to slap on a temporary Australian flag tattoo, throw a snag on the BBQ and shuffle the Best of Oz playlist. Personally, for a middle-aged white Australian, I find the following list sobering and … Continue reading A song we can all sing!
Rest Mum, Rest!
As a child I often woke in the middle of the night. It might have been fear of the dark, a bad dream, a strange noise or a loud storm. For a short season, when I was 12, it was an irrational fear of death. Whenever I woke, I would run, crying, to my parent’s … Continue reading Rest Mum, Rest!
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