Bruce Staley

As I sat at the breakfast table I was feeling sorry for myself – there I said it. My remarks conveyed at my friends 70th birthday party the previous day were inadequate. I had recently lost my next older brother to cancer caused by asbestos. He was the first to die of the six boys. More recently I had taken my aged mother-in-law to the dental clinic for the third time and the weather was cold, wet and miserable. I was tired. Then I read a few more pages of Nick Vujicic’s book, Life Without Limits . Then I knew – I was being selfish! When we honestly name our emotions we are faced with a choice, In the light of this emotion what is the responsible behaviour for me?  

As I sat at the breakfast table I was feeling sorry for myself – there I said it. My remarks conveyed at my friends 70th birthday party the previous day were inadequate. I had recently lost my next older brother to cancer caused by asbestos. He was the first to die of the six boys. More recently I had taken my aged mother-in-law to the dental clinic for the third time and the weather was cold, wet and miserable. I was tired. Then I read a few more pages of Nick Vujicic’s book, Life Without Limits . Then I knew – I was being selfish! When we honestly name our emotions we are faced with a choice, In the light of this emotion what is the responsible behaviour for me?  

Begin with the end in mind is the second of Stephen Covey’s seven habits of highly effective people. While the first habit, seek first to understand then to be understood, can be considered in the context of  James 1:19-20 what is the Christian context for the second habit? While I have found all the habits set out by Covey to be helpful is there more to the second habit? We picture the end product then proceed to take the steps to produce it e.g. a new home begins with ideas, then a plan and then construction. Does the same apply to a person’s life? Covey uses the illustration of attending one’s own funeral where there are four speakers, one from your family, another a friend, a third speaker is from your workplace or profession and the final speaker is from your church or community organisation. He then poses the question, What would you like each of them to say about you and your life? While there is merit in the exercise I find I am limited in my capacity, my knowledge, skills, an

Begin with the end in mind is the second of Stephen Covey’s seven habits of highly effective people. While the first habit, seek first to understand then to be understood, can be considered in the context of  James 1:19-20 what is the Christian context for the second habit? While I have found all the habits set out by Covey to be helpful is there more to the second habit? We picture the end product then proceed to take the steps to produce it e.g. a new home begins with ideas, then a plan and then construction. Does the same apply to a person’s life? Covey uses the illustration of attending one’s own funeral where there are four speakers, one from your family, another a friend, a third speaker is from your workplace or profession and the final speaker is from your church or community organisation. He then poses the question, What would you like each of them to say about you and your life? While there is merit in the exercise I find I am limited in my capacity, my knowledge, skill

Christians meeting together in worship is always purposeful. God never rests from achieving his purposes. If we have decided to become a follower of Jesus then the constant question on our lips needs to be, How then shall I live? When we respond to this question we are cooperating with God in the achievement of his purposes. James in his letter is clear that what we say and do, our words and our deeds, need to be consistent. They are like the wings of an aeroplane. Both wings are needed for the plane to stay in the air and fly. There are so many ways to communicate, to get our words out to the world, face-to-face, Facebook, Twitter, e-mail, phone, mobile and landline, and snail-mail. 1. JAMES 3:1-12 This is a hard-hitting letter from James’ pen. He doesn’t beat around the bush. Throughout his letter James gets right into the everyday stuff that we need to attend to. He is inclusive at the outset, making it quite clear that it’s not only FAITH and DEEDS it’s FAITH and WORDS as well. In

Christians meeting together in worship is always purposeful. God never rests from achieving his purposes. If we have decided to become a follower of Jesus then the constant question on our lips needs to be, How then shall I live? When we respond to this question we are cooperating with God in the achievement of his purposes. James in his letter is clear that what we say and do, our words and our deeds, need to be consistent. They are like the wings of an aeroplane. Both wings are needed for the plane to stay in the air and fly. There are so many ways to communicate, to get our words out to the world, face-to-face, Facebook, Twitter, e-mail, phone, mobile and landline, and snail-mail. 1. JAMES 3:1-12 This is a hard-hitting letter from James’ pen. He doesn’t beat around the bush. Throughout his letter James gets right into the everyday stuff that we need to attend to. He is inclusive at the outset, making it quite clear that it’s not only FAITH and DEEDS it’s FAITH and WORDS as well

Fred Hollows in his updated biography with Peter Corris in response to a question from Caroline Jones, an ABC radio presenter, recalled a moment in his life when he’d been brought up short, to take stock and consider his priorities. He was in Chihuahua, Mexico, suffering from a torn muscle in his leg. He didn’t know what it was – the slightly comic gait he had to adopt, the wholly exotic location with all the remains of Mayan civilisation decaying around him, or the occasional stabs of pain, but he had a sudden insight into the nature of things as far as Fred Hollows was concerned. The enlightenment was two-pronged. Firstly, he realised that it didn’t matter if he didn’t publish anymore scientific papers as he had already made a respectable contribution to ophthalmology and he didn’t need to feel threatened from that direction. Secondly, he perceived with great clarity that it was against his nature, and ultimately negative, for him to participate closely in academic and administrative

Fred Hollows in his updated biography with Peter Corris in response to a question from Caroline Jones, an ABC radio presenter, recalled a moment in his life when he’d been brought up short, to take stock and consider his priorities. He was in Chihuahua, Mexico, suffering from a torn muscle in his leg. He didn’t know what it was – the slightly comic gait he had to adopt, the wholly exotic location with all the remains of Mayan civilisation decaying around him, or the occasional stabs of pain, but he had a sudden insight into the nature of things as far as Fred Hollows was concerned. The enlightenment was two-pronged. Firstly, he realised that it didn’t matter if he didn’t publish anymore scientific papers as he had already made a respectable contribution to ophthalmology and he didn’t need to feel threatened from that direction. Secondly, he perceived with great clarity that it was against his nature, and ultimately negative, for him to participate closely in academic and admini

When respect for the dignity of human beings is omitted from medical assessment, medicine ceases to become a science and is in danger of becoming a set of formulas, as arid and unhelpful as spells, curses and other hocus-pocus. Fred Hollows, Updated Autobiography with Peter Corris This statement struck a cord with me and I recalled another statement by Hans Eisen and Bernard Mulraney in their survey, Impediments to the Adoption of Modern Quality Management Practices (in Australian Manufacturing Industry) Monash University, 1992, “…an attitudinal change is required for success. This should begin with a reappraisal of the intrinsic worth of the individual at all levels.” Fred’s work while identifying the urgent need for appropriate Vitamin A capsules to address deficiencies also calls for a better understanding of how people in the affected societies live. He recalls getting into an argument with a researcher who gained a considerable reputation by showing the dramatic improvement in

When respect for the dignity of human beings is omitted from medical assessment, medicine ceases to become a science and is in danger of becoming a set of formulas, as arid and unhelpful as spells, curses and other hocus-pocus. Fred Hollows, Updated Autobiography with Peter Corris This statement struck a cord with me and I recalled another statement by Hans Eisen and Bernard Mulraney in their survey, Impediments to the Adoption of Modern Quality Management Practices (in Australian Manufacturing Industry) Monash University, 1992, “…an attitudinal change is required for success. This should begin with a reappraisal of the intrinsic worth of the individual at all levels.” Fred’s work while identifying the urgent need for appropriate Vitamin A capsules to address deficiencies also calls for a better understanding of how people in the affected societies live. He recalls getting into an argument with a researcher who gained a considerable reputation by showing the dramatic improvement in

The Apollo 13 space flight is renown for the words, “Houston we have a problem.” transmitted from the spacecraft to mission control. The routine of the space flight less than a year after John Glenn had set foot on the moon was shattered by these words. The stranded flight crew, Jim Lovell, Fred Haise and Jack Swigert fight a desperate battle to survive while the ground crew at mission control race against the time and the odds to bring them home Another quote attributed to Lovell arises during the film when an earlier interview is replayed as part of the extensive media coverage of the stricken space flight. In the film the role of Commander Jim Lovell is played by Tom Hanks. The interviewer probes and invites Lovell to recall any incidents in his notable career where he was ever scared. Lovell recalls instances of flame-outs wondering whether the engine would fire up again concluding that generally things worked out. The interviewer probes a little further asking whether there

The Apollo 13 space flight is renown for the words, “Houston we have a problem.” transmitted from the spacecraft to mission control. The routine of the space flight less than a year after John Glenn had set foot on the moon was shattered by these words. The stranded flight crew, Jim Lovell, Fred Haise and Jack Swigert fight a desperate battle to survive while the ground crew at mission control race against the time and the odds to bring them home Another quote attributed to Lovell arises during the film when an earlier interview is replayed as part of the extensive media coverage of the stricken space flight. In the film the role of Commander Jim Lovell is played by Tom Hanks. The interviewer probes and invites Lovell to recall any incidents in his notable career where he was ever scared. Lovell recalls instances of flame-outs wondering whether the engine would fire up again concluding that generally things worked out. The interviewer probes a little further asking whether there

The Dish , starring Sam Neill, featured the radio telescope at Parkes, NSW. The telescope played a major role in the Apollo 11 mission to place a man on the moon. Cliff (Sam Neill) and Glenn (Tom Long) were out on the dish after locking on to the signal once again after loosing all the data following a power supply failure. Cliff: Imagine stuffing it up. Glenn: How come you’ve changed? Cliff: My wife told me, “Failure is not quite so frightening as regret.” Glenn: That’s good advice. I wish someone had told me that.

The Dish , starring Sam Neill, featured the radio telescope at Parkes, NSW. The telescope played a major role in the Apollo 11 mission to place a man on the moon. Cliff (Sam Neill) and Glenn (Tom Long) were out on the dish after locking on to the signal once again after loosing all the data following a power supply failure. Cliff: Imagine stuffing it up. Glenn: How come you’ve changed? Cliff: My wife told me, “Failure is not quite so frightening as regret.” Glenn: That’s good advice. I wish someone had told me that.

Jessica , an Australian TV mini-series, is based on the novel, with the same name, written by Bryce Courtney. Jessica Bergman, played by Leeanna Watsman, had been committed to a mental asylum by her mother. Wandering the grounds of the asylum with her barrister, Mr Runche, played by Sam Neill, who is down and out and often inebriated, Jessica explores the possibility of regaining custody of her young son. Coming to the realisation that it will be next to impossible given her circumstances she turns to Runche and looking at him she apologises, “I’ve wasted your time.” Runche replies, “You can’t waste my time. It belongs to me and if I choose to use it on your behalf I will do so.” Runche’s pithy reply expresses the essence of the effective use of time that is available to us. Time is a gift, assume responsibility for it and use it wisely.

Jessica , an Australian TV mini-series, is based on the novel, with the same name, written by Bryce Courtney. Jessica Bergman, played by Leeanna Watsman, had been committed to a mental asylum by her mother. Wandering the grounds of the asylum with her barrister, Mr Runche, played by Sam Neill, who is down and out and often inebriated, Jessica explores the possibility of regaining custody of her young son. Coming to the realisation that it will be next to impossible given her circumstances she turns to Runche and looking at him she apologises, “I’ve wasted your time.” Runche replies, “You can’t waste my time. It belongs to me and if I choose to use it on your behalf I will do so.” Runche’s pithy reply expresses the essence of the effective use of time that is available to us. Time is a gift, assume responsibility for it and use it wisely.

She had looked her duty courageously in the face and found it a friend - as duty ever is when we meet it frankly. L.M. Montgomery Anne of Green Gables After a successful year of study at Queens College and the future rosy with promise Anne had returned to Green Gables only to face in quick succession the death of Matthew and Marilla's failing eyesight and the consequent sale of Green Gables. Duty is, a moral or legal obligation, the binding force of what is right or what is required on one and is so often seen as an onerous responsibility. However, there is a delightful twist or insight in Montgomery's quote. Faced openly and courageously we can discover in duty a friend that leads us rather than onerously but delightfully toward maturity, living life freely and responsibly.

She had looked her duty courageously in the face and found it a friend - as duty ever is when we meet it frankly. L.M. Montgomery Anne of Green Gables After a successful year of study at Queens College and the future rosy with promise Anne had returned to Green Gables only to face in quick succession the death of Matthew and Marilla's failing eyesight and the consequent sale of Green Gables. Duty is, a moral or legal obligation, the binding force of what is right or what is required on one and is so often seen as an onerous responsibility. However, there is a delightful twist or insight in Montgomery's quote. Faced openly and courageously we can discover in duty a friend that leads us rather than onerously but delightfully toward maturity, living life freely and responsibly.

Professor Ryuta Kawashima M.D. in Train Your Brain: 60 Days to a Better Brain writes, At the onset of this training your brain function will improve somewhat steadily. However, you will probably hit a wall at a certain point. You may wonder why your results are not showing any improvement. But if you hang in there and continue your training a breakthrough will come and you will see your scores suddenly jump. If you are facing the doldrums, just remember that your brain is preparing for a leap. The dictionary provides several explanations of the doldrums, 1. low spirits; a feeling of boredom or depression 2. a period of inactivity or state of stagnation 3. an equatorial ocean region of calms, sudden storms, and light  unpredictable winds. The doldrums are often seen in a negative light, that something is wrong with us, and while the dictionary provides an explanation Kawashima’s note encourages us to see the doldrums in a different light, they are the forerunner of a breakthrough. Hang

Professor Ryuta Kawashima M.D. in Train Your Brain: 60 Days to a Better Brain writes, At the onset of this training your brain function will improve somewhat steadily. However, you will probably hit a wall at a certain point. You may wonder why your results are not showing any improvement. But if you hang in there and continue your training a breakthrough will come and you will see your scores suddenly jump. If you are facing the doldrums, just remember that your brain is preparing for a leap. The dictionary provides several explanations of the doldrums, 1. low spirits; a feeling of boredom or depression 2. a period of inactivity or state of stagnation 3. an equatorial ocean region of calms, sudden storms, and light  unpredictable winds. The doldrums are often seen in a negative light, that something is wrong with us, and while the dictionary provides an explanation Kawashima’s note encourages us to see the doldrums in a different light, they are the forerunner of a breakthrou