Well, I find that I get into a bit of rut with my reading. Back to the Graham Hurley series with Winter and Faraday - and Baz and the family - in Beyond Reach........ I love the way the stories build on each other - and how the characters develop - how they become almost like family. And always some good detectiving - and Winter saving the day for his new boss - and some interesting information about birds (the feathered variety) through Faraday's bird watching exploits.
There are also interesting moral dilemmas - and this book had a few. A mother taking the law into her own hands - after the law was helpless in saving her son or bringing his killers to justice. How solving an old crime can have awful consequences for the present - including the victim - law versus common sense. It highlights that absolute laws may help provide a structure for society and "justice" - but that life is lived very much in the grey. Religion often lis about the black and white. I wonder if God is in the grey?
Had dinner with a priest who we met many years ago in PNG - and I used the words that I had lost my faith. His reply was that I had more probably found my faith - as faith wasn't contained in musty old books that are quite violent in parts - but in humanity and in love. Maybe that was Jesus' message as well? The priest used a story from one of the saints about him coming across a boy pouring sea water into a hole in the sand. The saint asked him what he was doing - he said I am trying to put all of the ocean in this hole. The saint called him stupid for thinking he could do that. The little boy asked him what he did - he explained that he was trying to understand God. The boy replied that if he tried to put all the knowledge about God in his head, then he was truly the stupid one.
Hmm - does this mean that I am not going to have it all worked out before I leave this life? What arrogance to think I coudl even scratch the surface! On with Winter and Faraday!
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Shamons and Horses
After listening to the first 3 discs of The Horse Boy while travelling by car in Western Queensland, I was keen to know more about it - and found the DVD on line to watch! It is a very heartwarming story of a couple whose child was diagnosed as autistic and their struggle to break through to him (and survive!).
The only glimpses they had had of getting through to their son, Rowan, was from an interaction with Shamons from the indigineous people from around the world (they had come to a meeting in the US) and then from the horse next door - Betsy. So the farther, Rupert, put both together and, with his wife Kristin, headed off to Mongolia where Shamons and horses went together. Having travelled in Mongolia, I was quite entranced by their journey. The DVD was the documentary that they made to help fund their journey. It was quite raw and apparently unscripted - a "fly on the wall" documentary. It had its dramas and was suffused with honesty - and had a relatively positive ending (or rather beginning when we heard about the foundation that they established to help similar kids and connect them with horses too).
The issue arose whether the drum pounding and other rituals (including the parents being whipped and the mother having to wash out her vagina!) actually helped. The topic was dealt with well. Rupert was a human rights campaigner for the bushmen in Africa and had experienced bush healings before - and he had seen how Rowen had reacted to the inital Shamen encounter - and he believed. Although Kristen (a budhist) went along with all the rituals - for herself and Rowen - and had gone on this very difficult trip - she was less convinced about the Shamon influence - there was the break in routine, the overall experience for Rowen etc - but neither was she dismissive. It was part of the expereience whether it was "magical or not".
All in all it was compelling from so many angles - and left a challenge I thought. That was to extend yourself and not to limit your experience by your own prejudices and bias. Read, listen or watch "The Horse Boy"!
The only glimpses they had had of getting through to their son, Rowan, was from an interaction with Shamons from the indigineous people from around the world (they had come to a meeting in the US) and then from the horse next door - Betsy. So the farther, Rupert, put both together and, with his wife Kristin, headed off to Mongolia where Shamons and horses went together. Having travelled in Mongolia, I was quite entranced by their journey. The DVD was the documentary that they made to help fund their journey. It was quite raw and apparently unscripted - a "fly on the wall" documentary. It had its dramas and was suffused with honesty - and had a relatively positive ending (or rather beginning when we heard about the foundation that they established to help similar kids and connect them with horses too).
The issue arose whether the drum pounding and other rituals (including the parents being whipped and the mother having to wash out her vagina!) actually helped. The topic was dealt with well. Rupert was a human rights campaigner for the bushmen in Africa and had experienced bush healings before - and he had seen how Rowen had reacted to the inital Shamen encounter - and he believed. Although Kristen (a budhist) went along with all the rituals - for herself and Rowen - and had gone on this very difficult trip - she was less convinced about the Shamon influence - there was the break in routine, the overall experience for Rowen etc - but neither was she dismissive. It was part of the expereience whether it was "magical or not".
All in all it was compelling from so many angles - and left a challenge I thought. That was to extend yourself and not to limit your experience by your own prejudices and bias. Read, listen or watch "The Horse Boy"!
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Ends and beginnings
Well, so much for my varied reading. I am just coming to the end of the essesntially 6 book series by Robin Hobb about the Farseers, Fitz and the Fool..... and as per previous blogs, I remain totally captivated by the writing, story and characters. Coming to the end of such a series leaves you somewhat stranded..... like you are losing friends or family to a far place...... (but at least in that case, their story continues and you can continue to follow it, be part of it and drop in sometimes!). Robin Hobb said on her web page that she does not think she will continue the story of Fitz and the Fool any more - but there is always that chance!
And, in relation to my earlier blogs about the confrontation - diffierences rather than similarities - in the religious/ (new) athiest positions - I was so encouraged to read a story passed on to me about Francis Collins who is Director of the National Institutes of Health, the researcher behind the Human Genome Project and a his interaction with Christopher Hitchins (can't get the italics off!!!) Despite strong differences in faith positions, Collins says (from The Washington Post On Faith): "
"Some observers have expressed surprise that the atheist intellectual and the Christian physician-scientist could become friends. After all, in the current political climate in Washington, anyone who doesn't agree with you is supposed to be your enemy. But I would like to think that Christopher's sharp intellect has challenged my own defense of the rationality of faith to be more consistent and compelling. "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another" (Proverbs 27:17). On a personal level, I have been blessed by getting to know Christopher and Carol better - despite the "enfant terrible" reputation, Christopher has a warm humanity that is easy to perceive. And his willingness to be utterly open and transparent about his cancer diagnosis provides a breathtaking window into his personal integrity." He finishes with "Over these last few months, we have not talked directly about faith. He knows that I am praying for him. But my prayer is not so much for a supernatural intervention - as a physician I have not seen evidence for such medical miracles in my own experience. Instead I pray for myself and for Christopher along the lines of James 1:5 - "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." And I then give thanks for the chance to share in a deepening friendship."
This quite warmed my heart and gave me hope that maybe dialogue and care can surpass "die in the ditch" positioning!
And, in relation to my earlier blogs about the confrontation - diffierences rather than similarities - in the religious/ (new) athiest positions - I was so encouraged to read a story passed on to me about Francis Collins who is Director of the National Institutes of Health, the researcher behind the Human Genome Project and a his interaction with Christopher Hitchins (can't get the italics off!!!) Despite strong differences in faith positions, Collins says (from The Washington Post On Faith): "
"Some observers have expressed surprise that the atheist intellectual and the Christian physician-scientist could become friends. After all, in the current political climate in Washington, anyone who doesn't agree with you is supposed to be your enemy. But I would like to think that Christopher's sharp intellect has challenged my own defense of the rationality of faith to be more consistent and compelling. "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another" (Proverbs 27:17). On a personal level, I have been blessed by getting to know Christopher and Carol better - despite the "enfant terrible" reputation, Christopher has a warm humanity that is easy to perceive. And his willingness to be utterly open and transparent about his cancer diagnosis provides a breathtaking window into his personal integrity." He finishes with "Over these last few months, we have not talked directly about faith. He knows that I am praying for him. But my prayer is not so much for a supernatural intervention - as a physician I have not seen evidence for such medical miracles in my own experience. Instead I pray for myself and for Christopher along the lines of James 1:5 - "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." And I then give thanks for the chance to share in a deepening friendship."
This quite warmed my heart and gave me hope that maybe dialogue and care can surpass "die in the ditch" positioning!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)