28
Jun
2018
Dear Inner Circle,
Through some mighty act of nature, perhaps a massive wave, millions of fish were left on a beach. Stranded fish make for a distressing sight. Movements natural in the context of water, look pointless, desperate and wasteful on dry land.
One lone fool jumped onto the beach and threw as many as he could back into the ocean. Those who could see the whole beach, criticised the lone fool. “What impact do you think you can have against the size of this problem?” they said. The fool replied, “I’m making a big impact on this one,” as he threw one more into the water and watched it come to life and swim off to its fishy destiny.
Many had only judgement for the stranded fish. It seemed clear that they must have been swimming too close to the edge where they made themselves vulnerable to the volatile moods of the ocean.
Keep reading here.
Through some mighty act of nature, perhaps a massive wave, millions of fish were left on a beach. Stranded fish make for a distressing sight. Movements natural in the context of water, look pointless, desperate and wasteful on dry land.
One lone fool jumped onto the beach and threw as many as he could back into the ocean. Those who could see the whole beach, criticised the lone fool. “What impact do you think you can have against the size of this problem?” they said. The fool replied, “I’m making a big impact on this one,” as he threw one more into the water and watched it come to life and swim off to its fishy destiny.
Many had only judgement for the stranded fish. It seemed clear that they must have been swimming too close to the edge where they made themselves vulnerable to the volatile moods of the ocean.
Keep reading here.
21
Jun
2018
Dear Inner Circle,
A woman born to older parents was formed in an atmosphere of quiet; an atmosphere where noise was offensive no matter whether it was generated by ten howling cats or a rock band. In such a home, loud speech or boisterous laughter was considered a form of assault at worst and on every occasion, unnecessary. These particular parents were “old school” even in the olden days. They were brought up in a world that has been long forgotten. They were raised by people whose hand-shake was as good as a contract. They were people whose word was more certain than gravity.
The parents lives had not been easy, but those tough times were a private matter. Their hearts were tender and easily hurt, although no-one would have ever guessed. Disappointments were endured with stoicism that would make the ancients proud. They had three daughters, seventeen years apart with many miscarriages and failed births, never marked by public statement but secured in a holy, intimate place. The father was an engineer who served in the Australian Army in New Guinea in the war. He was a man who could apply himself to any mechanical problem and make things work, in his own way. The mother was always on the job making life possible and comfortable in any circumstance. They were people of faith. They read the bible in the shower. They found community in their church. They encountered injustice believing in a higher judge. They were fair and honest in every matter, especially in small matters. They were people you could trust with your life or with one dollar.
Keep reading here.
A woman born to older parents was formed in an atmosphere of quiet; an atmosphere where noise was offensive no matter whether it was generated by ten howling cats or a rock band. In such a home, loud speech or boisterous laughter was considered a form of assault at worst and on every occasion, unnecessary. These particular parents were “old school” even in the olden days. They were brought up in a world that has been long forgotten. They were raised by people whose hand-shake was as good as a contract. They were people whose word was more certain than gravity.
The parents lives had not been easy, but those tough times were a private matter. Their hearts were tender and easily hurt, although no-one would have ever guessed. Disappointments were endured with stoicism that would make the ancients proud. They had three daughters, seventeen years apart with many miscarriages and failed births, never marked by public statement but secured in a holy, intimate place. The father was an engineer who served in the Australian Army in New Guinea in the war. He was a man who could apply himself to any mechanical problem and make things work, in his own way. The mother was always on the job making life possible and comfortable in any circumstance. They were people of faith. They read the bible in the shower. They found community in their church. They encountered injustice believing in a higher judge. They were fair and honest in every matter, especially in small matters. They were people you could trust with your life or with one dollar.
Keep reading here.
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