Of dreams and visions

Change of venue

2010-04-18T19:29:00.001+01:00

I'm now blogging on Wordpress - at least for a while. For a few weeks I've been running both, but that's not a sensible or viable long-term approach. So from now on, you can find my ramblings at:

http://endlesslyrestless.wordpress.com/

I hope this doesn't cause inconvenience for those who pass this way from time to time.

Inspired

2010-04-12T21:10:00.000+01:00

Two visits to Perth Concert Hall over the past few days have really inspired me. During the first visit, I had a quick look at some of the images on display as part of the Perthshire Photographic Society exhibition. (Note to self - go back for a longer look.)

I was entranced by Jean Burhouse’s montage of Perth buildings - and I spent a chunk of this morning snapping away - I might post some of my efforts later.

The second visit was last night to see the magnificent Perth Youth Orchestra annual concert. I was blown away by some of the performances, but what made my night was the huge smile from daughter-child as the orchestra stood in response to the rapturous applause at the end. A moment of magic!

Fun in the sun

2010-04-10T14:39:00.001+01:00

Ross County 2 - Celtic 0

The wee team triumph! Fantastic.

Not only did they win the game, they were the better team. The first division minnows outplayed the Premier giants.

And... this wasn’t a midweek replay on a sodden pitch at a tiny football ground - it was a showpiece semi-final at the national stadium, in bright sunshine. Big stage, big occasion, huge performance by County.

I should note that I’m not a Ross County fan, but I do like to see the underdog come out on top - and this was an epic tale of the underdog. A cup shock that will become a legend.

So what was the difference between the two teams? For me, the key to County’s success was having fun. They seemed to enjoy the occasion, and played with a freedom that created confidence. By contrast, Celtic seemed to be playing with the fear of failure.

I also see this scenario being played out at work. Those who are afraid to make a mistake, whose goal is compliance with the rules and minimum expectations rarely (actually, never) flourish. Those who take a few risks, follow their instincts and enjoy what they’re doing seem to generate much more productivity. Aye, it also applies to me - I get much more achieved, and much more satisfaction when I have fun, use my creativity and flair, and challenge a few norms along the way; than when I fall into the despair of box ticking and paper pushing. So next time that I’m in that pit, I’ll remind myself of Ross County, and (hopefully) put a smile on my face and some freedom into my work.

(By the way, I’m looking forward to an all first division final. So tomorrow I’ll be cheering for Raith Rovers - and I don’t support them either!)

Easter images: Revealing

2010-04-04T18:00:00.001+01:00

The Supper at Emmaus

Caravaggio

Easter images: Rising

2010-04-04T05:00:00.001+01:00

The Crucified and Risen Christ

Lyn Constable Maxwell

Easter images: Puzzling

2010-04-03T08:00:00.000+01:00

St Martin-in-the-fields

Trafalgar Square, London

Easter images: Suffering

2010-04-02T12:00:00.004+01:00

Wine Crucifix

Arnulf Rainer

Easter images: Breaking bread

2010-04-01T19:06:00.000+01:00

Communion sculpture by Stephen Cox

Newcastle Cathedral

Easter images: Casting shadows

2010-03-31T20:14:00.001+01:00

Thirty pieces of silver

Cornelia Parker

Living intentionally: ... edging closer?

2010-03-31T07:00:00.000+01:00

... or adding more stuff to sift later?

It’s not worth getting out of bed unless you are determined to alter some small corner of the world.

Tom Peters

Thoughts like this do help me get up in the morning - even when we’re in the middle of a blizzard at the end of March!!

Living Intentionally: towards a definition?

2010-03-30T07:00:00.001+01:00

I came across this quotation yesterday:

Your capacity to change yourself, change others, and even change the world, may boil down to how well you know your brain, and your capacity to consciously intervene in otherwise automatic processes.

Dr David Rock

Your Brain at Work

The last section about ‘consciously intervening in otherwise automatic processes’ seems to go a long way to defining what I mean by living intentionally. To live intentionally is to be aware of what you’re doing; how you’re using your time and other resources; not drifting un-thinkingly into auto-pilot. It doesn’t necessarily mean that processes can’t be automated, but we need to be clear about our purpose, productivity and effectiveness in what we do and how we do it.

Intriguingly, Rock’s research indicates that ‘improving cognitive control’ happens when we slow down and allow the brain to idle. This seems counter-intuitive within the context of intentionality, but maybe it’s exactly what we/I need to develop to allow the thought processes to develop more naturally.

Now I need to slow down and let this permeate my rock-like brain (pun intended!).

Challenging assumptions...

2010-03-29T19:44:00.000+01:00

... or seeing what’s there.

Last week we did a wee session with Bible Class on ‘How to study the Bible’. One of the main points that I tried to convey was about seeing what’s there - looking carefully at the text and engaging with it in a fresh, imaginative way. I wish I’d said something about challenging assumptions and the danger of familiarity - maybe next time?

Anyway, my thoughts turned to this again in church yesterday. The minister was talking about ‘Palm Sunday’ and drew a comparison with the biblical nativity narratives. I started thinking along these lines (not in the way that he intended!). My thought process was about how overly-familiar we are with these passages, to the point that we fail to see clearly what’s there.

For example, palms are only mentioned in John’s gospel. I wonder ‘why?’. What point was John trying to make that didn’t merit the inclusion of horticultural detail from any of the synoptic authors?

But the biggest issue for me is the emphasis that the churches I’ve attended have tended to put on the Triumphal Entry as the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy. In over 40 years of attending churches, I’ve heard this theme on a recurring basis. I don’t recall (although I’m open to correction on this) hearing the emphasis being placed on Jesus’ declaration in this episode. We can argue the toss around why some OT prophecies about the Messiah are apparently fulfilled in the record of the life of Jesus, but it seems to me to be beyond dispute that Jesus would have been acutely aware of the significance of his mode of transport and the shock waves that would be sent forth as a result. This was a radical, challenging, decision-forcing declaration - and I think that we too easily miss the power and energy of it.

I’d love to hear your views (probably!).

Living Intentionally: Eat a live frog every morning!

2010-03-23T19:58:00.000Z

... or the value of daily planning.

One of the ways that drift happens to me is my failure to plan - in advance - what I’m going to do. If I start the day without a plan, the drift is inevitable. In fact, if the plan is not written down and prioritised, then things are likely to be pear-shaped.

I know that this isn’t rocket-science, nor is it in the realms of original thought. But these things don’t make it any less real for me. I find that this happens at home as well as at work.

I was reassured to find that this was one of Michael Hyatt’s “10 Reasons you aren’t done yet”. The idea can also be found in Gina Trapani’s Work Smart article (or you can watch the video below). I was amused by the Mark Twain quotation that she mentions:

Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.

— Mark Twain

The opposite of intentionality

2010-03-22T20:30:00.001Z

Drift – it’s a word that sums up a whole family of unpleasant human experiences. Going gently, slowly where we don’t particularly want to go. Suddenly realising that we’re way off course and the place that we’re heading for is rapidly becoming unobtainable.

Paul Mitchell

Radio Scotland: Thought for the Day

02 December 2009

Drift - what happens to my blogging all too frequently.

Drift - where I’ve been recently.

Drift - where I don’t want to be anymore.

Living Intentionally

2010-03-17T21:29:00.000Z

I’ve just finished reading Donald Miller’s “A Million Miles in a Thousand Years”. It was a wee bit of a ‘slow burner’ - that is, I nearly gave up on it. But I’m glad that I didn’t for three reasons.

Firstly, I enjoyed the book - it really picked up after the first third (or thereabouts).

Secondly, Miller promotes an approach to life which he describes as:

a life designed and lived with intention.

In my mind, I’ve translated that to ‘living intentionally’. The recent entries in my journal are littered with this phrase, as I realise that I’ve lost my focus on priorities (see yesterday’s entry). I’m sure that it’s a phrase I’ll use liberally in the next few days/ weeks as I seek to rebalance my life.

Thirdly, he describes very poignantly the death of a friend's wife, which he labels as ‘The Beauty of a Tragedy’. This part of the story was written beautifully and with great sensitivity... but more than that, it seemed to echo what my boss (and friend) was going through as his wife succumbed to cancer. Her funeral was today, and there was beauty in their tragedy - the obvious love shared within the family; the support of many friends; the strength of my boss and the girls. Their pain was self-evident today, but it was outshone by their love and their strength.

My thoughts and prayers and admiration are with my friend and his family tonight - may they continue to care for each other, as their pain slowly heals.

Stop! In the name of love

2010-03-16T20:22:00.000Z

I’ve had this song in my head for a large chunk of today… since I read this blog entry from Michael Hyatt.

The connection?

Michael Hyatt’s entry describes how I’ve been feeling for a few weeks now – amongst other indicators is the sporadic nature of entries here. As I was reading his thoughts, and diagnosis, I came to the conclusion that the only sensible, possibly the only viable, option for me is to stop, take stock and regain a sense of control and composure; to think through my priorities; and to recover my daily disciplines.

In essence I need to step back to go forward. I need to do it for myself and for those that I love – hence the song title bobbing around in my head.

And if you haven’t given up reading already, you get the bonus of reaching the bit where a video of The Supremes singing the song is embedded.

If you have given up already (aye, I know it disnae make sense!), maybe you should check out Seth Godin’s offering for today.

A great day to be in Ayrshire

2010-03-06T19:36:00.001Z

On blogging

2010-03-05T19:24:00.000Z

No single thing in the last 15 years professionally has been more important to my life than blogging. It has changed my life; it has changed my perspective; it has changed my intellectual outlook; it has changed my emotional outlook... and it’s free!
- Tom Peters

The golden "golden goal"

2010-03-02T08:00:00.000Z

You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take.

Wayne Gretzky

So the Winter Olympics are over. It took me a wee while to get into them this time around, but I was captivated by the middle of the last week. Vancouver seems to have put on a great show.

Of course the pinnacle was Sunday night’s hockey final (with insincere apologies to any American readers). It was a fantastic match, with USA equalising with only 24.4 seconds left. Canada came back in overtime, to score the sudden death winner.

So Canada end up with more gold medals than any other nation at these Olympics. In fact they won more gold medals than any nation has ever won at a Winter Olympics.

Inevitably I think that there are a few things that we can learn from the match.

❑ Firstly, the Canadian victory was a real team effort. The superstar of Canadian hockey - Sidney Crosby - didn’t shine brightly on the night, or indeed throughout the tournament. For me Rick Nash was the man of the match. But the point is that the superstars on your team can’t win it alone. (I should note that Crosby scored the winning goal - almost inevitably!)

❑ Secondly, I love the drama of pulling the goal-tender with 90 seconds to go. It’s a lesson in concentrating resources where they are most needed. Aye, it is risky, but it also carries the hope of reward - which did materialise in this case.

❑ Thirdly, I admire the tenacity of the Americans. They pushed right to the end, never giving up hope.

❑ Finally, I was hugely impressed by the resilience of the Canadians. To come back out after the bitter blow of the late equaliser required courage and composure. We can all learn to bounceback from setbacks. If you don’t try, you won’t succeed - hence the quotation from “The Great One” at the start of this entry.

Chores - the sequel

2010-03-01T08:00:00.000Z

That Hideous Man recommended an article by Tim Chester about washing up. While I don’t agree with his rant about dishwashers, there’s a whole lot of truth in what he says. It reminded me of Brother Lawrence (The Practice of the Presence of God) and his continual awareness of God’s presence as he worked in the monastery kitchen.

Our vegetable garden is laid out monastery style - the paths between the beds are just the right width for kneeling, so that you can multi-task while weeding.

The key is always our attitude, not the task.

A joyous chore

2010-02-28T08:00:00.001Z

Following my entry yesterday about chores, I realised that I had failed to comment on one of my favourite chores of the year. About this time of the year the autumn fruiting raspberries need to be pruned. This is a job that I love. I’ve blogged about this before, but I think it merits a few more words, as I did the pruning yesterday (but not the weeding or mulching).

I like this annual task because there’s an element of restoring order by removing the old, dead growth, and creating a blank canvas for the new year.

This year the pleasure is more about the promise or, at least, the anticipation of spring. It’s been an unusually harsh winter, and most of the plants are several weeks behind their normal schedule. Most of the spring bulbs are barely breaking the surface of the earth, when typically they would be in bloom by now. But the raspberries are tough, so hopefully they can take the treatment. Maybe it’s an act of madness; I prefer to see it as an act of optimism, or even an act of faith - time will tell!

Chores and simple pleasures

2010-02-27T16:55:00.002Z

They are necessary for the continuation of everyday life. Yet the very term that we use for them carries negative connotations - CHORES!

Yet some of them bring a degree of pleasure - at leas that’s how I feel. I like polishing shoes - not doing loads at once, but polishing my work shoes every evening. There’s pleasure in the rhythm of brushing, and of taking something a bit scuffed and battered with the wear and tear of the day and restoring it to a state of shininess. Similarly with ironing - I like taking a crumpled shirt and ending up with a crisp, pressed end product.

By contrast, I find no pleasure (and little purpose) in car washing, even though similar principles apply. Weird, huh?

Lessons from Nelson Mandela #3

2010-02-23T08:00:00.001Z

Third, last and - for me - the most important lesson from Playing the Enemy/Invictus/ the life of this amazing man.

Throughout the long years of his struggle he had one clear, overarching purpose. That's it! He used whatever strengths, talents, tactics, abilities he had available to achieve this one purpose. His grand vision never left him, although its strength may have dimmed at times when the world around him seemed hostile, bleak and dark. Yet he kept the spark alive, and poured his life in to fanning it into a country-changing fire.

How many of us can clearly articulate our purpose, let alone live it out, under all circumstances, every day of our life?

Lessons from Nelson Mandela #2

2010-02-22T19:47:00.002Z

So, continuing with some thoughts from Playing the Enemy/Invictus.

I love the way that Mandela was able to challenge those around him - followers and 'enemies' alike.

He challenged his opponents, through the rugby authorities, about using the new flag, representing the new, inclusive South Africa; and he challenged his followers when they wanted to replace the green Springbok jersey. In both situations, he used his dominant position wisely - not jeopardising his influence over things that were of no consequence and not alienating people when he challenged them. In both cases, he was able to present his case on a reasonable basis, but also with an intriguing compromise.

The tradition of both sides dictated that their anthem had to be the one that was sung before rugby matches - the ANC wanted their freedom song 'Nkosi Sikeleli'; the Afrikaners insisted on the traditional, and equally provocative 'Die Stem'. The brilliant compromise was to combine them... and to convince the rugby players to learn to sing 'Nkosi Sikeli'. The version below gives the effect - although it lacks the power and passion of a rugby crowd.

Challenge and compromise - essential tools in the leaders kitbag.

One other impressive thing - in my opinion - about Mandela was the change in his attitude over the years. He developed a capacity for humility. Before he went to prison, his pride meant that his only way of engaging with his opponents was to go 'head to head', 'pride to pride' and the only possible outcome was that the dominant power would win. As time went by he cultivated a different approach, engaging with the other person, adopting a humble - but not subservient position. This frequently had the effect of disrupting the power equilibrium in the situation and changing the probable outcome.

And finally - for this entry - he developed an astonishing capacity to forgive. His lack of (obvious) bitterness was the key factor in persuading many Afrikaners that they could trust Mandela. It was expected, and would have been seen as reasonable, if Mandela had chosen to settle old scores when he was released from prison. Instead, he chose to establish relationships, heal wounds, and build coalitions.

Powerful lessons for all of us.

Booksneeze review: The Noticer by Andy Andrews

2010-02-20T10:20:00.003Z

The Noticer by Andy Andrews has been on my Amazon wishlist for quite a while now, after reading several bloggers who loved it. So when I joined Booksneeze and saw that it was available, I jumped at the chance. (I received the book as a complimetary copy from the publisher - Thomas Nelson.) This became my bedtime book for a few nights.

The story revolves around the mysterious character known as 'Jones' (or Garcia or Chen - depending on your ethnic origins), who notices things about people; offers them helpful advice about looking at things from a different perspective; and thereby fixing the things that are in their lives.

I notice things about situations and people that produce perspective. That's what most folks lack - perspective - a broader view. So I give them that broader view... and it allows them to regroup, take a breath, and begin their lives again.

Essentially, each chapter follows this pattern and, after a short time, I found this to be predictable to the point of irritation. The advice seemed to be twee, the universal engagement with a stranger dispensing often intrusive advice completely bizarre, and ultimately, this was not an enjoyable read.

I don't like positive such a negative review, especially as my first one for Booksneeze, but honesty requires it.

I should also acknowledge that I rarely read works of fiction. So, maybe, there is one piece of Jones' advice that I will follow.

Other people's experience is the best teacher. By reading about the lives of great people, you can unlock the secrets to what made them great.

I think that I'll stick with biographies at bedtime - at least for a while.

Lessons from Nelson Mandela #1

2010-02-18T08:01:00.002Z

I said that I'd write about some of the lessons that I learned from Invictus/Playing the Enemy - I'll do some of this over the next few days.

It seems clear that Nelson Mandela is an amazing man. It also seems that everyone that he met succumbed to his charm and manner. We frequently hear about some people having 'presence'. From the portrayals in the book and the movie, Mandela had bucketloads of presence. He was naturally charismatic; he smiled a lot (there's a mini lesson in that for me!); and he took an interest in whoever he was talking to. He engaged them - even when they were hostile.

What follows is assumption on my part, so you can judge the validity of it. I think that Mandela was/is very conscious of the impact that he has on the people he meets. He knows that he can charm the birds from the trees, and he uses this to his advantage. I suspect that he also had to work hard to develop his natural ability into a skill that he could deploy to great effect.

In other words, he identified a key strength and carefully crafted it over many years.

So the question for us - do we know what our strengths are and are we actively honing them to maximise their impact?

Books and movies

2010-02-17T08:00:00.001Z

On Friday night we went to see Invictus – the film about Nelson Mandela and the Rugby World Cup of 1995 (more of which in later posts). I had just finished reading the book, originally published with the title “Playing the enemy” – I was determined to finish it before I saw the film. However, this tempered my enjoyment of it.

I was constantly comparing and contrasting the two versions, which certainly took away from the overall experience. Helen really enjoyed the film; I thought it was good.

Ironically I felt that John Carlin, the author of the book, overplayed the saintliness of Mandela and the power of his smile; for me, the film underplayed the sense of presence that Mandela apparently has.

How do you resolve the book/movie dilemma? Does it even affect you, or am I just being a bit anal?

Spiritual 5-a-day for Lent

2010-02-16T08:00:00.000Z

I prepared this for Nurture Group (inspired by nef), so I thought I'd share it. If anyone does use it, I'd really appreciate honest, constructive feedback. The idea is to print it as a booklet on one sheet of A4, so that it's portable. It's attached as two pictures, 'cos I'm not smart enough to know how to do it more elegantly - any ideas gratefully received.

Lent words

2010-02-16T06:30:00.000Z

http://www.wordle.net/

Lessons from rugby - snatching defeat from the jaws of victory

2010-02-15T20:55:00.000Z

Another dismal result for Scotland on Saturday - it really brings out the optimist in me! Well, there's always the next match to look forward to (against Italy - 27 February).

So rather than focus on the negative aspects, are there any lessons that we can learn from the match?

I think there are a few things:

We played with more adventure (at least in the first half) than when we played France. Things only started to unravel when we played more defensively, absorbing pressure and losing momentum.

LESSON - loss of momentum is a killer.

Our overall play improved - better execution of moves; better tackling and breakdown activity; played as if they knew each other (at times against France they looked like strangers meeting for the first time!). But... they didn't finish it off.

LESSON - starting well is good, but ultimately fruitless if you don't finish well.

We finished the game with 13 men - the referee invited two Scots to watch the end of the match from the comfort of the bench/changing room.

LESSON - discipline and concentration on the objective are essential.

At the very end of the match, Scotland could have kicked the ball into touch and the match would have finished as a draw. They didn't, Wales scored, we lost. Bizarrely I totally agree with this decision. Scotland set out to play a more expansive game; played to win; played - I hope - as they intend to play from now on, with a sense of adventure.

LESSON - stick to your principles - especially if they are the basis for future growth.

We suffered several notable injuries - most notably Thom Evans' neck injury which later required surgery.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON OF ALL - be grateful for good health.

Seascape

2010-02-14T20:52:00.001Z

Troon - 13 February 2010

The 45-minute hour

2010-02-12T08:00:00.001Z

One of the ways that I try to manage my energy and concentration is to adopt the 45-minute hour. What do I mean?

Well, I've discovered that my concentration span is no more than 45 minutes these days.

So when I'm working in my office at work or at home, I plan to work for 45 minutes on any one task, then take a break.

During the break I can make a cup of coffee or stretch a bit, or go and talk to someone else in the building. I also take a minute or so before I start again to re-focus and pray.

I've even found that it helps to set a reminder to alert me when the 45 minutes is up. As this rhythm is developing I find that I'm also scheduling meetings for 45 minutes, or having a break in longer meetings after 45 minutes.

It feels more productive and I've got more energy.

Do you have any tips for using time wisely? I'd love to hear them.

The 45-minute hour

2010-02-12T08:00:00.000Z

One of the ways that I try to manage my energy and concentration is to adopt the 45-minute hour. What do I mean?

Nothing is important

2010-02-10T08:00:00.001Z

Nothing is important

2010-02-10T08:00:00.000Z

Pacing yourself

2010-02-09T08:01:00.001Z

So the French gubbed us on Sunday - they played well, we didn't. But rather dwell on the aspects of defeat, I want to reflect on the French approach to the game, and one player in particular.

The French had clearly decided to rely on power rather than flair, pace and panache - no criticism there. They fielded a team of big lumps, and they executed their tactics with aplomb (mainly). They destroyed the Scottish scrum throughout the match, pushing it all over the park, buckling it as they saw fit. They picked some monsters in their back line as well, including the 18-stone centre Mathieu Bastareaud - he was 4 stones heavier than his opposite number. I know how that feels (I was only 9 stones when I played most of my (limited) rugby, so I was always outmuscled and thrown about like a ragdoll.) But I digress...

I don't want to talk about Bastareaud - I might get nightmares! I want to talk about Aurélien Rougerie. He's a wee fellow - just 16 stones, and 6 feet 4 inches - who plays at winger (which was my position!) Anyway, Rougerie had a remarkable game, his tackle count was unblemished, and unimpressive:

Tackles missed - 0

Tackles made - 2

Minutes played - 4

Aye, he lasted 4 minutes. Within the first minute or so, he flung himself into a tackle at full tilt - he was clearly committed to executing the tactics of the power game. It was a shuddering tackle, which sent his opponent backwards to the turf. But Rougerie came off worst by injuring himself. He got back into the game, but clearly hadn't recovered properly. Then he hurtled into another tackle - this time he didn't recover and had to be replaced.

What do we learn from this?

Well, experience should have taught Rougerie something!

But in any endeavour, while it's important to start well, it's also important to pace yourself so that you can finish well. Sustaining our effort may mean holding back a bit at the outset, but it's a discipline that's worth learning.

I hope Rougerie recovers from his injury quickly - and that he maybe takes some time to reflect on this experience.

Passing the Buckfast OR fast buckpassing?

2010-02-08T20:09:00.000Z

So once again, the unusual tonic wine is in the news here. I resisted blogging about it a couple of weeks ago, when it was reported as being linked to 5,000 crimes over a three year period. Now Scottish Labour has launched their own commission on alcohol and are calling for the amount of caffeine in Buckfast to be reduced. Maybe they've got a point - but it's a minor issue.

When you consider the extent of the problem that this country has with alcohol misuse, the use of Buckfast is all but irrelevant. Still it gives the politicos in oor wee Parliament something else to disagree about. Labour won't play with the SNP minimum pricing proposals, the SNP won't play with Labour's Buckfast proposals. I've heard a lot of arguments about these two issues over the weekend, but I haven't heard anything about the root cause of the problem. Nor have I heard any talk about working together in a consensual (call it adult) way to deal with this issue. You see that doesn't make good headlines, doesn't show how different we are from each other, how much more impressive my argument is than yours.

It's the politics of the playground; while alcohol continues to blight lives up and down the land. It drives me mad.

Pass the Buckfast - I need a drink!

Simplifying

2010-02-07T20:01:00.000Z

In an effort to simplify my life I've decided to stop blogging here. I will still be blogging as "Of dreams and visions". Please join me there.

That reminds me...

2010-02-07T11:40:00.001Z

Anne over at Get Out of Jail Free posted an entry the other day that triggered two thoughts.

Firstly, it seems that the planned trip to Peru might be the start of the deep involvement that I was advocating in a recent post.

The second (more trivial) thought was about a recent conversation with some longstanding friends who go to our church. Many years ago, I preached a sermon where I was encouraging the congregation to think about the areas that we were willing to get involved in. (There's a bit of a recurring theme here.) I concluded my talk with the question, 'When did you last have breakfast with a prostitute?'

Surprisingly, the sermon had stuck in the mind of their son, who was probably about 10 years old at the time. Over lunch, he asked, 'Mum, you're a prostitute aren't you?'

When she had recovered her composure and her thought processes, the penny dropped with Mum, who replied to her son: 'I think you might mean PROTESTANT!'

On leadership

2010-02-06T13:46:00.001Z

"We should be calling for leadership that will challenge us to face problems for which there are no simple, painless solutions."

Ron Heifetz - Leadership without easy answers

This sentiment has been on my mind lately - as I've been in conflict with colleagues, about facing up to the realities of our situation rather than basking on past glories and carrying on with management techniques that aren't able to meet current challenges.

I know that change is difficult, but we have collectively accepted that we need to change, we've committed to it publicly with our staff groups - now we need to move from rhetoric to reality.

And what about me? Well, I need to change too, and it begins with conscious acts of letting go. Letting go of some specific (comfort zone) tasks; letting go of control; letting go of old certainties; letting go of simplistic, unsustainable solutions to problems; letting go of moaning about the inability of my colleagues to move forward...

Instead I need to model the behaviour that we have said we will adopt - scary and exhilirating. I need to offer moral support to those managers who are keen to see the changes happening; to offer practical advice and guidance to those who don't 'get it' yet. In short, I need to champion the changes that we need to make, to be willing to explore the uncertainty; to re-trace my steps when we take the wrong direction; to listen to feedback - even when I don't agree with it; and to assess where we are honestly and frequently.

On leadership

2010-02-06T13:46:00.000Z

"We should be calling for leadership that will challenge us to face problems for which there are no simple, painless solutions."

Ron Heifetz - Leadership without easy answers

I know that change is difficult, but we have collectively accepted that we need to change, we've committed to it publicly with our staff groups - now we need to move from rhetoric to reality.

The meaning of words and phrases - "playing Devil's advocate"

2010-02-01T19:17:00.001Z

It strikes me that we frequently use words out of tired old habits, without thinking - or meaning- what we say. I thought it might be fun to occasionally pick a phrase and see if we can explore what's really being said.

So let's start with... "playing Devil's advocate". Two alternative meanings spring to mind:

"I disagree with you, but I lack the courage or integrity to say so."

OR

"I'm much smarter than you, but so that you don't feel totally dumb, I'll use this phrase to soften the blow."

Any other ideas about the real meaning behind this phrase?

The meaning of words and phrases - "playing Devil's advocate"

2010-02-01T19:17:00.000Z

Three pounds of haggis!

2010-01-25T19:43:00.002Z

We’re a sentimental bunch at the best of times – us Scots… and a wee bit morose at the worst of times. But there was something apt that Bill McLaren was buried on Burns Day. Especially in light of one of his many memorable and colourful phrases – watch the video, you’ll get it!

We’ve missed Bill McLaren’s rugby commentaries for several years now, but I, for one, will never forget him. His voice introduced me to rugby, as I watched Scotland internationals on TV. In fact, he provided more than commentary on the game, he entertained, enthralled and educated. My love of rugby owes much to this man from Hawick.

As part of his preparation for big matches he prepared ‘big sheets’ crammed with facts about every player. I’ve adopted the concept of ‘big sheets’, but not the format – and that’s an entry for another time and place.

One of the most remarkable things about Bill McLaren’s commentaries was his sense of balance – he didn’t offer his opinions, he didn’t criticise players or officials, he wasn’t (too) partisan; yet he was always passionate and enthusiastic.

He seemed like a thoroughly decent man.

So farewell to the voice of rugby – the privilege was all ours (although I’m sure he’d disagree).

Haiti, transformation and the safety of my cheque book

2010-01-25T08:00:00.001Z

“As long as there are people, Christ will walk on earth as your neighbour, as the one through whom God calls you, speaks to you, makes demands on you.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

As I noted in an earlier post, I’ve been thinking about Haiti – how we should respond and what our response would mean.

First of all, I think that there is an imperative that we do actually respond – in cash and in prayer. We should meet the immediate humanitarian needs that arise from the impact of the earthquake, which has hit an already poor country. And while there is an inevitable feeling of helplessness (“Can my few quid make a difference?”), we should follow Mother Teresa’s guidance:

“If you can’t feed 100 people, then feed just one.”

BUT (and, if you read this blog regularly, you knew there was a ‘but’ coming!) there has to be more than just a cash commitment in the face of catastrophe. I liked what Jim Gordon said about working out theological response in the community of faith.

My thinking has taken me down the track of engagement: deep, long‑term, community‑to-community, transformative engagement. For a long time now I’ve argued that churches, my church, should get involved with one or two projects and embrace them. I’m talking about getting to know the people and the faces, about making connections that are informed by personal contact, not just by satellite technology.

I’m talking about giving to help, and learning in the process. This type of transformative engagement will encompass social, economic, moral and spiritual dimensions – for both giver and receiver.

It’s too easy, in my view, to wait for the next disaster to come along, then respond and forget. We need to be involved in a deep and enduring way. As an example, Tony Campolo has been involved in Haiti for many years. Are we – am I – willing to get so close, to establish long-term commitments with all of the associated frustrations and disappointments? Or will I hide behind the safety of my cheque book?

Birthday Girl

2010-01-24T17:50:00.000Z

Rachel... just 17!

Hope - the beauty that can come from ashes

2010-01-24T11:55:00.002Z

I came across a short film (20 minutes) called "The Butterfly Circus" through Michael Hyatt's blog. It seemed to link to my earlier post. It's well worth watching.

The persistence of hope

2010-01-24T10:02:00.000Z

Like everyone else, I’ve been thinking a lot about the situation in Haiti – and I’ll write about it later. In the meantime…

Yesterday we were informed that the Haitian government had called off the rescue efforts. This is an understandable, rational decision to have reached. But 11 hours later a 24-year old man was pulled from the rubble (you can find the BBC story here).

This raises questions for me – questions that challenge my rational mind. Why would the families, and rescue crews, hold out any hope of finding someone alive after all this time. From previous disasters of this kind, the evidence would clearly indicate that we are way past the point where a human could survive. Yet, miraculously, they are!

The challenge? How do you make a decision that eliminates hope for those who haven’t found their loved ones? How do you choose between the slim prospects of finding any more survivors and beginning the tasks of clearing rubble, providing immediate aid and rebuilding? Such decisions must be agonising to make – we should pray for those who are faced with these impossible choices.

Thinking about... football shirts

2010-01-17T20:19:00.001Z

Last night I caught the last 20 minutes of the Everton/ Manchester City game. I don't support either team, but I've got mixed feelings about Man City at the moment. They used to be regarded as the team that real Mancunians supported, and were more true to their roots than their city rivals United. Now they're owned by a billionaire who seems to be intent on spending obscene sums of money to achieve success - but I digress.

What struck me was the strip that City were wearing - it's their third kit for this season. I really like it.

I like it for three reasons:

the design is crisp and elegant;
it's a throw back to an earlier era (the black and white background image), appealing to the long lost days of my youth;
the sponsor's logo doesn't overpower the design.

Sadly, the third bullet point isn't true for their first or second kits! Maybe more teams should adopt a similar strategy, rather than designing their gear around very large logos.

Just a thought.

Frozen Tay

2010-01-10T17:51:00.001Z

We've lived in and around Perth for more than 20 years, and I've never seen the river frozen right across - till now!

We spent some time yesterday taking photos, in the snow. This is a selection that hopefully captures the essence of it.

The last one reminds me of a satellite image - maybe the eastern Med?

The video shows that the ice was still forming, even though the river was flowing quite briskly - I guess, that confirms that it's been a bit chilly around here.

Lucy's Virtual Visit Challenge

2010-01-09T16:31:00.001Z

I'm happy to accept Lucy's challenge and play. Here's my space.

The funny thing is that unlike some of those who have commented at Lucy's space, I don't feel that this is too personal to post. In fact, one of the reasons for playing is to keep me motivated to organise and simplify this working space.

Feel free to join in the challenge.

Silver linings

2010-01-07T19:59:00.001Z

They say that every cloud has a silver lining - so here are some silver linings related to our current weather situation:

crisp cold mornings that stimulate the body;
the amazing quality of light that we have when the sun shines on the snow-clad land;
the beautiful sunset tonight as the blue sky turn red at the horizon;
thinking about using the car for short journeys, rather than automatically using it;
clearing the junk from the garage to get the car into it;
(to some extent) neighbours helping each other - in some cases getting to know each other;
and a beautiful photo of our lovely city over at That Hideous Man's place.

(Having said all of that, a wee break in the weather would be most welcome, although the forecast isn't too promising.)

Please feel free to add to this list!

Epiphany thoughts

2010-01-06T20:14:00.001Z

Maggi Dawn wrote:

"Epiphany is not only the climax of the Christmas story, it’s also the marker of the return to everyday life – being faithful to the vision even though the stars and angels are nothing more than a distant memory."

... which got me thinking that, maybe the only time of year when we collectively (as a society) enter a reflective mood is over the New Year period. It's surely not a coincidence that this is the time when people make resolutions to change this, that, or the other aspect of their life. Then, when we get back to "everyday life", the life expectancy of our resolutions and our reflections drops dramatically. In our busy-ness, we forget so easily, become pre-occupied, or fall back into old habits.

... which got me thinking - when will I next take the time to do a bit of reflecting and reviewing? How will I build this important activity in to my "everyday life". Or will my ponderings just melt away - like "snaw aff a dyke" (though not this winter!)

More on 'why'

2010-01-05T19:41:00.001Z

Interestingly (after yesterday's post) I came across this today:

The one question you should ask now.

More on 'why'

2010-01-05T19:41:00.000Z

Interestingly (after yesterday's post) I came across this today:

The one question you should ask now.

The importance of purpose

2010-01-04T17:34:00.001Z

This is an extract from an entry over at Kevin Eikenberry’s blog:

“It seems like Kevin talks about “why” a lot; he talks about the importance of purpose – both looking backwards and forward.”

This struck a chord with me. It seems that in some settings – work, church – people can get a bit nervous or, even, defensive when I talk about vision. Maybe there’s too much association with snappy (or not-so-snappy) slogans.

But the key to planning, and therefore reviewing, any organization or task must relate to its purpose. So maybe I need to focus more on telling the story of ‘why’, or asking the questions that help us all understand ‘why’; rather than trying to convince people of the need for a coherent vision.

Certainly at work, as I continue to adapt to a new role in what we hope will be a new culture, I need to focus on “the importance of purpose”; to deal with “why” more than “how”; to do the thinking and the communicating rather than (micro)managing tasks.

Like all changes, this won’t be easy. But it should make a significant difference, and it will help me to look at things positively, instead of moaning about other people ‘not getting it’.

It’s not exactly a New Year’s Resolution, but I’m happy to be held accountable for my performance as the year progresses.

The importance of purpose

2010-01-04T17:34:00.000Z

This is an extract from an entry over at Kevin Eikenberry’s blog:

“It seems like Kevin talks about “why” a lot; he talks about the importance of purpose – both looking backwards and forward.”

Like all changes, this won’t be easy. But it should make a significant difference, and it will help me to look at things positively, instead of moaning about other people ‘not getting it’.

It’s not exactly a New Year’s Resolution, but I’m happy to be held accountable for my performance as the year progresses.

Tuesdays with Morrie

2010-01-03T20:00:00.000Z

You know you’ve read a good book, when you reach the end of it and you know that it hasn’t finished with you.

That’s what I wrote in my journal, when I finished reading ‘Tuesdays with Morrie’ by Mitch Albom. It was definitely the best book that I read last year.

I read it on the train to London at the start of our holiday in July, and as I was reading it I had in mind two older men who have had a significant influence in my life.

It’s an autobiographical account of a man re-establishing his relationship with his former college professor – when he realises that the professor is terminally ill.

It’s a book about learning what is important in life :

And which are the important questions?

“As I see it, they have to do with love, responsibility, spirituality, awareness. And if I were healthy today, those would still be my issues. They should have been all along.”

Two days after I finished reading it, we received a phone call to tell us that my Dad was in hospital, and as the days and weeks passed I realised that the real poignancy of this book for me was about my relationship with the old man that I was closest to. I really feel that I was able to change as a result of reading Tuesdays with Morrie – which I can’t say about many other books.

I learned to draw close to my Dad in the short period that remained of his life, to have conversations with him that I would otherwise have shied away form, to get involved in his personal care, to enjoy just sitting in silence with him, and I think that it helped me to deal with his death when it came.

“Death ends a life, not a relationship.”

Funnily enough, I feel that this book still hasn’t finished with me. It’s a book that I will read again, but not just yet.

Have any books affected you in a similar way?

New traditions at New Year

2010-01-02T15:04:00.002Z

Since this is the second year that we've done it, I'm calling it a tradition!

I'm talking about watching Jools Holland's Hootenanny. I know it's pre-recorded, but there seems to be a really good atmosphere in the TV studio, and the performers all seem to enjoy themselves. I should acknowledge that I'm a fan of Jools' Rhythm and Blues Orchestra - we saw them several years ago in Perth City Hall and they were fabulous.

So what were the stand out performances for me this year?

I enjoyed Paolo Nuttini's version of 'Lovin Machine'; and the technique and innovation from Rodrigo Y Gabriela; and I quite enjoyed Florence (without the Machine) doing 'My Baby Just Cares For Me'.

I was surprised to find myself enjoying the sartorially suave Mr Dizzee Rascal vs Nirvana. (I wonder why Mrs Rascal named her son Dizzee? Does he have siblings called Naughtee and Cheekee?)

But for me the stand out performance of the evening was Ruby Turner singing 'This Train' - check it out!

Do you have any new traditions that you'd like to share? Or, even, traditions that you'd like to introduce to family life?

Coping with weather - an insight to ...?

2010-01-01T16:43:00.004Z

By the standards of recent winters, we have had an exceptionally cold and difficult spell of weather to deal with. For a couple of weeks the temperature has barely been above freezing, and has dropped to -12C in the city. In addition, we've had several snowfalls, including about 12 inches on Boxing Day, and the forecast for the next few days doesn't indicate any let up in the conditions.

So what? We live in a northerly country - what do we expect? Well, listening to the citizens complaining and the pathetic excuses of public services, we expect normal life to carry on without interruption.

Anyway, as I was driving home from work last night it occurred to me that coping with these circumstances was very demanding. I've spent lots of physical energy clearing snow and ice from the driveway so I can get my car out; but I've also spent lots of mental energy concentrating intensely on driving in fairly poor conditions. The result - I've been completely knackered by the time I get home each night.

And it struck me that maybe, for once in a decade, I've been given an faint insight to the lives of those who struggle to cope with their environment. Whether the environment is scorching desert, or involves carrying water for many miles, or surviving as an asylum seeker in this country on benefits of £35 per week, daily living requires all of the physical, mental and emotional energy that people can muster.

I hope that I don't forget this too readily when things get back to normal around here. Regrettably I suspect that I'll slip back into my comfortable, complacent, middle class, affluent, thoughtless, Western lifestyle all too easily.

God save me from my self-absorption!

Snowy Perth

2009-12-27T10:32:00.001Z

(That's Perth, Scotland for the avoidance of doubt!!)

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

2009-12-27T10:30:00.000Z

Last night we had the heaviest snowfall that I can remember - something around 12 inches. This has been a fairly long cold snap for this part of the world - over a week now with the temperature barely rising above freezing. There is a stunning, aching beauty about it all, but it has created havoc with travel and normal life for many people, who feel trapped in their homes because of the icy pavements etc. In a way, the two cordylines summarise these responses.

Walking in a winter wonderland

2009-12-23T20:56:00.000Z

The weather curtailed our travel plans for today. It was a bit disappointing, but common sense had to prevail.

In the afternoon we wrapped up warmly and went for a walk around this part of Perth. It was beautiful.

Christmas fun with Organic Demo

2009-12-22T20:20:00.001Z

An interesting take on some old favourites. Go on, smile! You know you want to!

P.S. After posting this I went back to what I'd been listening to before - Franck's Panis Angelicus. Slightly bizarre?

The wonder of Woolies - again!

2009-12-22T20:02:00.000Z

Earlier this year, all of the branches of Woolworths closed across the UK, so there are no Woolies adverts on TV this Christmas. Many of the shops have remained closed, probably due to the unhelpful economic climate.

I was delighted to hear on the radio this morning that one of the stores had opened again in the run up to Christmas. It's only going to be open for a week - and it's being run by St. Andrews Church in Bo'ness [story here].

I love the thinking behind this decision - to provide an opportunity for people - shoppers - to experience something of the spiritual aspect of Christmas, in the midst of their shopping trip. Taking the good news to where the people are - it's not new in itself, but I like the way that the opportunity of a vacant shop has been taken, it's innovative, it has the potential to capture the imagination of the passers by, and it certainly gives out a positive message about the church.

When I heard this I was reminded of a sermon that I listened to recently. Harvey Carey (preaching at Willow Creek - you can find it here) told the congregation that:

"God is calling you not to be boring anymore... Don't do the same stuff year after year."

I don't think he could level that accusation at the congregation of St Andrew's in Bo'ness - at least, not this year.

Perplexed and pondering

2009-12-21T20:14:00.002Z

“But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.”

(Luke 1:29)

I really like the New Revised Standard Version’s translation of this verse. The alliteration (perplexed, pondered) is nice, but I also think that these words are evocative. They capture the feeling of the moment – with Mary need time to deal with the brain churn following the angel’s appearance and unusual greeting (if you can have such a thing as a normal greeting from an angel).

I can readily identify with Mary – in that I’m not very good at thinking on my feet. I’ve always been a bit slow on the uptake. I like to stop and think, and ruminate or cogitate, to digest and adjust my thinking.

So I’m finally reacting to the Tiger Woods story. I remember being intrigued by some of the adverts that Accenture produced (before they dumped him). I particularly liked those that were in the ‘split percentage’ format. I admire (present continuous) Tiger’s prowess as a golfer; his dedication to practice and fitness; his ability to remain calm amidst the tumult of the crowd (mostly); his charming way of dealing with fans and media alike.

I do not seek in any way to minimise the magnitude of his errors. He has acted badly, and he needs to address that. His performance as a husband and father do not match his performance as a golfer. But to some degree that applies to all of us – we are found wanting in some area of our lives. Hopefully not to the same extent, and hopefully our dirty washing isn’t the subject of tabloid headlines.

I hope that during his break from golf, he takes the time to be perplexed and ponder what he should do - that he reflects and ruminates; puzzles and wrestles. I hope that he is able to find restoration and forgiveness with his family.

As he has been a role model to so many aspiring golfers (young and old alike), maybe he can be a role model in the way that he puts the pieces of his family life back together. But it will require:

100% effort, 0% compromise;
100% sincerity, 0% denial;
100% integrity, 0% spin.

Dealing with negativity

2009-12-19T18:07:00.005Z

Talking Bear was saying something about this yesterday.

Then, this afternoon, I started to watch a game of rugby on telly, and I found a real life case study to follow.

Leinster were playing the Scarlets. Leinster have a very talented full-back called Rob Kearney, who was one of the stars of the British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa earlier this year.

On 25 November 2009, Kearney told the Irish Times:

“I suppose I have to be (confident),” says Kearney of his own faith. “It’s something that I try and work on. I build up in my own head a level of confidence because I find that I play my best rugby when I am and if I do doubt myself and people around me then that’s when things start to go wrong.

“Everybody has their own different techniques,” he adds, ignoring Earls’s flattering reference. “You try and relive some good games that you’ve played, the good aspects that you did that week in training; maybe you made some good tackles. You try and put all these things together and slowly but surely it will manifest in your head that you’ve trained really well this week and you are prepared for the task ahead.”

And in today’s Irish Times:

The sight of Kearney jumping to pluck the ball out of the air as masses of opponents descend upon him as become of the sporting year’s true defining images. While he’s been delighted with this aspect of his game for the last good while it’s only good “until I start dropping them”.

“But that’s a confidence thing too as well. When a ball is kicked up and you think to yourself I haven’t dropped one of these in a while then you wouldn’t have any negative thoughts in your head.”

So how did he play in the game against Scarlets?

In the first 20 minutes he dropped three high balls. After 65 minutes he allowed the ball to bounce in front of him, rather than trying to catch it. The problem is that a rugby ball is oval, and the bounce isn’t always predictable and it sailed over his head, was collected by an opponent who scored a try.

But… he scored a try in the 7^th minute; and another in the 22^nd minute; and in the second half added his weight to a colleague’s backside to help him score a try! Also, in the second half he took two high balls in his normal comfortable, confident style (although he did make a couple of other mistakes).

All in all - a mixed performance. So the question is, which events form this afternoon’s match will make his highlight reel?

I guess that he’ll remember the good stuff, but I also guess that his coach will be giving him some extra practice sessions catching high balls!

One final thought. After he allowed the ball to bounce over his head, one of the television commentators said something like:

‘He’s so much better when he’s attacking the ball. These little chinks come in when he waits for it.’

I wonder of that can be said of some of our efforts in other walks of life?

Now it feels like Christmas

2009-12-18T20:21:00.002Z

Two reasons for the change of mood:
1 - the wonderful school Christmas Concert on Wednesday, and

2 - the change in weather with the first real snow and serious frost arriving.

(The view is from my office yesterday.)

Beautiful and useful

2009-12-14T20:19:00.005Z

“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful”

William Morris

It seems to me that the philosophy of the arts and crafts movement is captured in this article on Subway Architecture (found via the Fast Company weekly).

I realise that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and that for some things function must take priority over form, but if something functional – like a subway/underground station – can be made interesting/beautiful as well, why not? I’ve certainly enjoyed the emerging variety of stations on the London Underground in recent years.

Do you have a favourite station from the article, or from your own experience?

Frosty Perth

2009-12-13T19:17:00.001Z

It's been a frosty weekend in Scotland - this was Perth earlier today.

The politics of Scrooge

2009-12-08T19:49:00.001Z

Sometimes I wonder if politicians in this country (and probably everywhere) go out of their way to look foolish. Today's nonsense in Scotland is about Christmas cards - particularly the design chosen for the First Minister's card. The image offends political opponents because the saltire is deemed to be a symbol of nationalism... well, it is our national flag. Doh!

Would I have chosen this card? No.

Is it worth a political stooshie? No.

Will our politicians ever grow up? I'll leave that for you to decide.

In praise of talent

2009-12-04T20:01:00.002Z

Last night I had the great pleasure to attend (the second half) of an annual Christmas concert. (There’s a story about why just the second half, but it’s not really relevant for now!)

The concert features young people from across Perth & Kinross. We are very fortunate to have a wide range of musical options for our youngsters, thanks to the enthusiasm and dedication of music tutors.

We are also blessed by having a wonderful concert hall, with possibly the best acoustics in Scotland.

We attended because Dolly D is now a member of the Perth Youth Orchestra – she plays cello. The Youth Orchestra filled the very large stage in the Concert Hall, and produced a fantastic sound bringing out the best of the acoustics. They played with energy, but also discipline, following the direction of the conductor. It was really wonderful to be there.

The Youth Orchestra were joined by the Perth and Kinross Chamber Choir who performed a goosebump-inducing version of “Steal Away”.

But in a night full of highlights, one piece stands out for me. The Perth and Kinross Senior Brass Band played “Who is He?”, starting with two cornets playing alone. They were perfectly in time, perfectly matched, perfect in every way – and my Dad would have loved it!

I’m convinced that being involved in music like this is really beneficial for young people – developing discipline, playing together, using talents, learning new skills, and building confidence. I didn’t have the perseverance to learn an instrument when I was younger, maybe it’s not too late?

So much energy, so much talent, so much to be thankful for.

Advent words

2009-11-30T16:52:00.002Z

These words just came to me throughout today - in sets of three. I offer no theological analysis. Feel free to suggest your own - groups of three would be neat, but not essential.

The value of community

2009-11-24T20:18:00.001Z

Recently Ron Edmondson wrote about the value of community. We have drawn great strength during my Dad’s illness and death from the support of several communities.

The carers and nurses who looked after Dad for the last few weeks of his life were fantastic. They were loving towards my Dad – though sometimes forceful. But they always treated him as a human, as far as I know they never talked about him in his presence, they talked to him. They treated him with dignity, while undertaking some pretty undignified tasks. Above all of that the carers provided vital companionship for my Mum. This helped Mum to carry on caring for Dad at home, and she was thrilled that two of the carers were able to attend the funeral. I hope that the carers in my organisation provide such a good service.

Our church here in Perth was great. We were overwhelmed with offers of practical support, with messages of encouragement and sympathy. But most of all we were sustained by the prayers of so many people. As we approached the church on the day of Dad’s funeral I was acutely aware of the number of people who were praying for us at that time – it gave me a huge lift, and helped me enormously.

The minister of Dad’s church (and the assistant minister) helped us by encouraging us to talk about Dad, to remember the many positive aspects of his life. My Mum’s priest has provided her with sensitive, supportive pastoral care throughout this difficult time.

Personally I received great support from work. My boss was very understanding about time off whenever I needed it. I was very moved to receive sympathy cards from my staff groups. I hadn’t expected it at all, but it was greatly appreciated.

Of course, friends and family were great, which you would expect.

The value of community? Priceless.

Our heartfelt thanks go to all who supported, and continue to support, us through these times.

“In a Sentimental Mood”

2009-11-22T16:41:00.001Z

I’m really not sure how to write this entry. So I’m just going to type and I’ll see how it ends up. As I’m writing I’m listening to some Duke Ellington’s “In a Sentimental Mood” on Spotify. It’s the kind of music that my Dad loved – actually he loved a wide range of music. He played trumpet, cornet, clarinet and a wee bit of sax, but the trumpet was always his favourite. He played in semi-pro dance bands and amateur orchestras.

He died on 10 November 2009, which is why I’m “In a Sentimental Mood”. His death wasn’t unexpected, which meant that we had some precious time with him before he died. The brain tumour impaired some of his functioning – physical and cognitive – but somehow there was a wonderful intensity to those last few weeks. Of course a lot of time was taken up with the practical task of caring for my Dad, but there were times of intimacy that I will always treasure. On several occasions I was alone with my Dad, mainly to give my Mum some respite, and we had the chance to say things that we’ve not been good at saying. I’m glad that I had the chance to tell Dad that I loved him, was proud to be his son and was incredibly grateful for all of the opportunities that he had given me (often based on sacrifices made by him and Mum).

As Dad’s health deteriorated, I got involved in aspects of his personal care. We’re not a naturally tactile family, but I was surprised how easy I found the close physical contact and how it helped me to deal with Dad’s illness.

In the end Dad died peacefully in his sleep. He was very calm the last time that I saw him alive. He couldn’t talk, in fact he was barely able to open his eyes, but he seemed totally at ease with his fate. He really did seem to be resting in peace.

I’ll write some more about Dad later.

Fun Theory

2009-11-06T08:31:00.003Z

I came across this at Steve Roesler's site.

Which got me thinking - if we look at things from a different perspective, how can we apply this sort of approach in work, in church - without trivialising core activities?

The answer, I think, lies in two key elements.

Firstly, ensuring that we don't lose sight of our objective (in this case encouraging people to use the stairs).

Secondly, and probably most importantly, to look at the required activity from the viewpoint of the participants. Lecturing people about the value of using the stairs would have had some impact, engaging them and allowing them to express themselves is clearly much more successful.

Hands up for change

2009-11-04T20:33:00.004Z

I think I've mentioned before that we're in the middle of a major re-organisation at work - many of us changing roles, all of us changing the way we work (culture). I was speaking to a colleague today about the process, and the associated frustrations, which led me to a half-formed thought about the stages of changing roles. Driving home it grew a bit. It's still rough around the edges, but...

I think that there are four changes that are needed when people stay in an organisation, but change their remits.

1 - Handover

This happens before the change is implemented, and involves discussing the role with the next incumbent; highlighting issues; passing on information etc.

2 - Hand holding

This straddles the change date and covers helping your colleague settling in by taking them to meetings; introducing them to key contacts; answering their questions as they take the reins.

3 - Hands free

This should cover the first few months - being there when called upon; finishing any tasks that require continuity.

4 - "Hands off!"

This is when the new postholder is confident in the role and wants to stamp their own mark on the job. It should include a 'thank you' and a 'please go away now'.

Self-absorbed

2009-11-01T15:54:00.001Z

There are a lot of things changing in my life just now, and when I think about it I tend to think about the negative aspects - additional responsibilities at work; change of office location with a resulting sense of loss; illness for my dad meaning travelling each weekend; etc.

On Wednesday of last week I was feeling particularly low. Too many deadlines due on Friday; a sense of remoteness in my new office – relationships still to be formed, alliances and politics still to be identified and understood; physically a bit ‘under the weather’. Generally I was feeling a bit sorry for myself.

Late in the afternoon I found myself staring out of the window, sort of wondering what to do next, really just wondering when I could go home. Then I noticed the setting sun send its warm, golden rays through the grey clouds that covered most of the sky. As I stood there mesmerised, the sunset grew in intensity turning to a vivid red that changed the whole perspective.

Nothing had changed in terms of the pressures that I felt, but my mood had picked up considerably.

On Thursday morning, the sky was clear and blue as I drove through the Perthshire countryside. There was some low lying mist lingering before the sun warmed up. The trees were clinging to the last of their leaves. The sunrise was beautiful – not particularly dramatic – just beautiful. The yellow glow hinting at the rising sun, still hidden behind the hills. My spirits soared.

There are no photos to accompany this entry. I did have my camera with me, and I thought about stopping on a couple of occasions, but I decided that I wanted to enjoy the moment. So I turned the radio off, temporarily suspending my acquisition of information, opened myself to the beauty around me, and thanked God that I was alive and blessed in so many ways.

Sometimes we’re too self-absorbed to see things in perspective; and we are too ready to focus on our problems rather than revel in the joy that we can find if we would only open our eyes to it.

How cool is this??

2009-10-23T21:04:00.003+01:00

This is such a great idea - I love it. Seems to me like the ideal decor for an office.

By the way - I decided to come back... but you know that already!!

Having a break

2009-09-16T07:34:00.003+01:00

There's a lot going on in my life at the moment - work, family, stuff - and anyone reading this will know that my posting has been erratic (quantity and quality) for several months now. Rather than limp along in this way, I'm going to take a few weeks away from blogging to re-focus, re-calibrate, and re-think.

Will I be back?

In the immortal words of Kenny Dalglish: "Maybe's aye; maybe's no!"

I will commit to one more entry (before the end of October) - to let you know the outcome of my ponderings.

London Bridge is falling down

2009-09-03T19:40:00.003+01:00

While in London we visited Tower Bridge (built to ease the pressure on London Bridge – hence the title for this entry).

I wasn’t as convinced about doing it as the rest of my family for two reasons. Firstly, it seemed to be a bit tourist-y, but then again, we were tourists! More pertinently, my limited head for heights has become almost non-existent in my middle age, so the prospect of climbing 43 metres above the Thames wasn’t altogether appealing. But the lure of the view carried the argument, and we went for it.

There is a reasonably good exhibition about how the bridge was constructed, as well as a chance to walk around some of the original engine rooms that were used to raise the bridge. But the best bit is the high bit – crossing the walkways between the two towers. Again, there’s interesting information provided, but the views are stunning, especially on a nice summer’s day.

As an aside, they say that you can judge the prosperity of a city by the number of cranes in the skyline. Recession, what recession?

Lyrics

2009-09-01T20:44:00.002+01:00

"Hope is never light years away"

A phrase that leapt out from Athlete's new album - Black Swan.

The track is called "The Unknown".

Public art and education

2009-09-01T20:39:00.003+01:00

We’re really fortunate in this country to have a rich cultural heritage, which is readily accessible, and frequently free! While in London we visited the National Gallery. It has a massive collection spanning the 13^th to 20^th centuries.

Apparently it gets very busy when it rain… well it is on Trafalgar Square, and it is free. While I loved the Monet (several versions of the lily pond), the highlight for me was the 10-minute talk. Monday to Friday at 4 p.m. one of the staff gives a wee talk about one of the paintings. It’s free education – and it’s interactive. You stand in a group around the painting, then there’s the talk, then you can ask questions.

I went to hear about Caravaggio’s Emmaus. The talk was very informative and... did I mention that it was free? Seriously, if you’re in London it’s worth finding out what the talk is about - even if it's rubbish it'll only take 10 minutes; and if it's good you'll remember it for a long time.

Where did the summer go?

2009-08-30T19:24:00.002+01:00

That’s not a question about the weather – specifically the absence of the forecast “barbecue summer”. Rather, it’s a recognition that this summer has flown past, without too many blog entries from me. Over the next few days I’ll pick out a few highlights.

We spent a week in London in July, which was great.

One of the most memorable things that we did was to visit the Houses of Parliament. We didn’t follow the usual tourist route, but had arranged in advance with our local M.P. for a tour with a member of his staff. This had two advantages.

Firstly, we were able to access areas that would be off limits to routine tourists – thanks to her staff pass.

Secondly, and far more importantly, we were able to get a first hand insight into working in Parliament. The young woman who showed us around was enthusiastic, informative and engaging. She managed to connect with each of us (probably not too easy), and left us feeling a bit more positively disposed towards our tarnished home of government.

I wonder if I’d give a similar impression to people visiting my place of work?

Even if you can’t get the same sort of tour that we did, the Houses of Parliament are well worth the visit.

Loch Leven

2009-08-23T17:53:00.004+01:00

That Hideous Man has reminded me of a morning that I spent with the Fish Wife around Loch Leven last year, we climbed the same hill, and took similar photos (merged in to this panorama). It is truly beautiful - and more or less on our doorstep.

There's also a nice farm shop sort of place at the northern end of the loch, for food etc.

How much we take for granted!

Difficult decisions, justice and compassion

2009-08-20T20:05:00.003+01:00

Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has decided to release Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi (the Libyan who was convicted for the Lockerbie bombing) on compassionate grounds. I don’t envy MacAskill – this was surely a difficult decision for him to make. He has been condemned for releasing Megrahi; I am sure that he would have been criticised if he had decided not to release him.

What are we to make of this situation?

Firstly, we must remember that Megrahi remains guilty of the crime. He has had two unsuccessful appeal cases heard, and he withdrew his latest appeal.

Some objectors have stated that this decision means that the victims’ families can’t have closure. While I understand that this decision must be difficult, since it brings painful memories back to the surface, I don’t see how it affects individual closure. Megrahi is still guilty, he is dying. Would keeping him in prison really help?

I find the statements from Hillary Clinton (“absolutely wrong”) and Barack Obama (“ a mistake”) unhelpful. In my view, there are no absolutes here.

It’s difficult, but I tend to agree with MacAskill when he said:

"Our justice system demands that judgement be imposed, but compassion be available.”

I’m glad that our justice system has the scope to be compassionate, and on balance I’d rather that we made ‘mistakes’ through being compassionate, than through being vengeful.

Does anyone recognise this man?

2009-07-24T20:10:00.002+01:00

I came across this video from TED last night (it runs for about 16 minutes). I almost didn't watch it, given my feelings about politics in this country at the moment. However, I'm glad that I did.

While I recognise that the speech and appearance was no doubt carefully scripted/choreographed (although someone needs to teach him how to knot his tie!), there is a confidence and vitality about his delivery. This got me thinking... if the difference is that Gordon Brown is speaking authentically about something that his is passionate about, why don't we see this side of him more often?

But also, for the rest of us, how much vitality do we bring to our day-to-day work, and how much more do we bring to the tasks that excite and inspire us? And, what can I do as a manager to help staff bring their "A" game to the for?

In the meantime, can we please see more of this side of our undoubtedly talented but flawed PM please?

Astonishing

2009-07-01T18:56:00.000+01:00

"If we did all the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astonish ourselves."

- Thomas Edison

I am part of they

2009-06-24T18:29:00.003+01:00

Child protection services in Dundee have just received a fairly damning inspection report, against a backdrop of a recent high profile case of a child dying at the hands of his mother's drug using partner. I'm not going to comment on any of the details.

However, I was intrigued by the response from a long standing councillor. Rather than simply saying, "It wisnae me!", he expressed a more balanced view. He looked at himself and accepted his share of responsibility. Effectively, he was saying "I am part of they". You can find the newspaper story here, but I particularly liked - and respected - the following comments:

“I’m an elected member with 46 years’ standing. In all that time I have never had such a damning report put before me.

“I’m duty-bound to ask, what was my role in this?

“I feel more than a little ashamed as a member of the authority when this report is before us.

“Where did the failure occur? Were we alerted early enough?

I wish that more of our politicians were like this - sadly very few of them are.

2009-06-09T19:36:00.001+01:00

The Earth is a miracle.
Life remains a mystery.

From HOME by Yann Arthus-Bertrand

Making sense of election results

2009-06-08T20:26:00.003+01:00

... I can't (make sense of election results that is!)

We voted in the European Parliamentary Elections on Thursday, with the results announced today. Well, I say we voted - actually less than 30% of the electorate voted in Scotland. I should know better, but I still find this shocking. The turnout in elections here is dismal, with the European elections typically very low. Why do people choose not to vote?

Equally shocking is the election of two MEPs from the British National Party. I find their far-right policies repugnant, and their tactics dubious. I feel offended and embarrased that they were elected from my country. Yet, if people turn out to vote for them, can I really complain?

I can't have it both ways.

So will this shock people into casting their votes the next time around, to ensure that dodgy fringe parties are not elected - I doubt it very much. And maybe that's the greatest tragedy of all, that we seem to no longer care who represents us.

I can't make any sense of that!

Home

2009-06-07T19:36:00.003+01:00

Yann Arthus-Bertrand has produced a film called 'Home' highlighting the beauty and frailty of our planet. His purpose is to draw attention to the depletion of the Earth's resources and the need for all of us to act to sustain it. The images are beautiful, the message is important. Quoting the blurb:

HOME has been made for you : share it! And act for the planet.

You can watch Home (approx 90 minutes) free on YouTube until 14 June 2009 - please take a look at it, even if you don't watch all of it.

Low tide

2009-06-01T19:41:00.003+01:00

We visited the in-laws at the weekend. When we arrived I popped down to the harbour to take some photos. I was surprised to see the skeleton of 'Miller's' boat shed. I knew that they had ceased trading some time ago, but the removal was unexpected.

When I went back up to the house, we had a chat about it, and it was clear that Fish Granny and Granda had quite deep emotions about the loss of this building. Fish Granda started to work there when he left school, and the boat building business was able to thrive when the fishing industry was more vibrant in that part of the world.

On reflection, I understand the poignancy associated with the loss of this building that in many ways has served to symbolise the traditions of the village.

Some people are happy to see it removed - it will improve their outlook - and realistically no-one would want the building to fall into disrepair or become an eyesore.

All of this got me thinking about what things - places, people, memories - am I emotionally attached to and unwilling to let go. Probably, more than I care to admit!

Park life?

2009-05-30T09:55:00.003+01:00

All the people
So many people
And they all go hand in hand
Hand in hand through their parklife
(Blur: Parklife)

We spent yesterday in Edinburgh it was a gorgeous sunny day, with almost cloud-free skies and high temperature to match (well, high by Scottish standards). After lunch the Fish Wife and Dolly D went shopping, and I wandered off towards some bookshops through Princes Street Gardens. I expected the gardens to be quite busy, but was surprised how many people there were. I was equally surpised by the obvious desire by so many to soak up as many sun rays as possible.

Now I don't want to be a total grump... but a recent news story told us that skin cancer in the UK has doubled over the last 12 years or so. We also seem to have added a new 'binge' to our lifestyles - after binge drinking and eating, apparently we now binge-tan!

Will we ever learn that healthy lives need balance, not excess?

Silver lining

2009-05-27T18:52:00.002+01:00

Our housegroups are in the middle of an interminable series on the armour of God – not my cup of tea to look at stuff like this in detail. Anyway, a couple of weeks ago we were looking at the breastplate of righteousness, and I was leading the study that night.

As my mind wandered I recalled that there was a prayer by (or attributed to) St Patrick called the Breastplate of St Patrick. I even remembered where I had a copy of it (David Adam’s book The Cry of the Deer – which is another name for the same prayer). So I referred to it during the study, quoting a wee bit of it, and used it to conclude our prayer time at the end of the evening. It was only as I was reading it out loud that I realised how wonderful it is. Now it’s my new favourite prayer!

You can find the prayer here – other translations are available, but I like this one.

So there are silver linings to dark clouds… at least sometimes.

Bloggers block

2009-05-17T19:29:00.003+01:00

I've got so many ideas swirling around in my head just now, but somehow I can't settle down to write anything. I suspect that it'll fall into place in due course - if I can just let it happen.

In the meantime...

This seems to confirm that there can be a silver lining to a raincloud.

Surprising service

2009-05-04T19:03:00.004+01:00

This weekend I had to renew the anti-virus software for my P.C. The online subscription renewal was dearer than buying the latest version of the software (which included the annual subscription). So I went off to PC World, credit card in hand, knowing that I would hate the experience - I always do! My mood was not greatly helped by the pricing policy in the shop - they don't show the prices, so you have to ask for assistance even when you know what you want.

After a remarkably short period of time a member of staff approached me and asked if he could help. I asked him to clarify the price of the two products that I was choosing between. He gave me a rough indication, but said he would go and double-check, but added that there were a couple of other options that I might like to consider. My heart sank. I really didn't want to spend any more of my Saturday morning listening to a lengthy sales pitch about fancy and expensive features which I would never use.

He duly returned, told me the prices and said that he used another package which was very good, but slightly dearer. No gobblydegook, no whistles and bells, no sales pitch. As I had been using the package that he had priced for me for several years, he recommended that I stick with that. He was polite, efficient and very pleasant. He took me to the sales till (I assume that they are paid by commission to some extent) and wished me a good day.

As I walked to the car I thought about how helpful he had been, and how the experience hadn't been the horrid drudgery that I'd anticipated. I put the software into the car and went back in to the shop to find him and thank him properly - not just in the automatically polite way that I tend to in shops. Chris (that was his name) told me that he had just started in this particular shop. I hope he's still there the next time that I need to visit. I will make a point of finding him - even if I have to wait a bit longer - and I probably won't have the same sense of foreboding as I drive down to the retail park!

A ray from on high

2009-04-26T17:40:00.002+01:00

To see this world a person needs more than eyes.

"You need a certain dose of inspiration, a ray from on high, that is not in ourselves, in order to do beautiful things."

Vincent van Gogh

Manage like your hair's on fire

2009-04-23T19:21:00.003+01:00

I came across a blog entry with this wonderful title - and had to read it. I guess that Rafe Esquith has an interesting and inspirational story to tell, but I was particularly interested on the six levels of moral development:

Level 1: "I don't want to get in trouble."
Level 2: "I want a reward"
Level 3: "I want to please someone"
Level 4: "I follow the rules"
Level 5: "I am considerate of other people"
Level 6: "I have a personal code of behavior and I follow it"

This is relevant for me just now as I am preparing some bible studies for teenagers on the Sermon on the Mount, and need to convey to them the standards that Jesus is explaining to his disciples. So I can definitely use this.

As I was thinking about this I began to wonder if there should be another level:

Level 7: "I follow the standards of Jesus"

Of course, none of us can actually live up to that, but it seems to me that it's a pretty good target to aim for.

While thinking about teachers with their hair on fire, I was reminded of this TED video. I can't imagine what would happen if Clifford Stoll's hair caught fire, but I can see that it has probably happened to him on more than one occasion!

Instant judgements

2009-04-17T16:34:00.003+01:00

We all make them, and occasionally regret them. We take one look at someone, and decide how we will react to them.

I've heard about Susan Boyle a few times this week. Don't recognise the name? That's not really surprising. She's appearing on a TV talent show (see video). If you haven't seen it, it's worth watching - not just for her amazing voice, but for the reactions and (towards the end) the honest assessment by Amanda Holden of the prejudice that Susan instantly faced.

I won't be following the contest, although I will no doubt hear it on the news if she wins, but the challenge is: how do I avoid making the same kind of judgement tomorrow, and the day after that?