There can be no deep disappointment where there is not deep love. – Martin Luther King, Jr. – The book of Job has always fascinated me. One of the oldest books in the Old Testament and most celebrated pieces of biblical literature, it is dominated by two main characters: Yahweh and a wealthy man called…Continue reading Job, His Friends, and Disappointment
Author: Nicole Conner
Saying Goodbye Sucks!
Why can’t we get all the people together in the world that we really like and then just stay together? I guess that wouldn’t work. Someone would leave. Someone always leaves. Then we would have to say good-bye. I hate good-byes. I know what I need. I need more hellos. – Charles M. Schulz It…Continue reading Saying Goodbye Sucks!
In the Path of the Storm
“We live in a world that is beyond our control, and life is in a constant flux of change. So we have a decision to make: keep trying to control a storm that is not going to go away or start learning how to live within the rain.” – Glenn Pemberton Ten days ago we…Continue reading In the Path of the Storm
A Tribute to the Exiles Past and Present
“Exile is more than a geographical concept. You can be in an exile in your homeland, in your own house, in a room.” – Mahmoud Darwish I remember those in exile from my childhood days. They became outcasts because they protested when people were oppressed and marginalised because of the colour of their skin. They were…Continue reading A Tribute to the Exiles Past and Present
The Broken Birch
“Wholeness does not mean perfection; it means embracing brokenness as an integral part of life” – Parker J. Palmer Spring has come to the world’s most liveable city. You would be forgiven for doubting this. As I write, Melbourne is in the throes of arctic-like weather conditions and it is pouring down gallons of water…Continue reading The Broken Birch
“He Should Get His Wife in Order” – Reflections on Religion and Patriarchy
In April 2015, I recorded an interview with Dean Beck on Joy FM. It was part of the Inside Ex-Gay programme produced by Nathan Despott. I was there as someone who had been a Pentecostal minister for many years to reflect on the damage done to LGBTIQ folk who have experienced ex-gay therapy in conservative,…Continue reading “He Should Get His Wife in Order” – Reflections on Religion and Patriarchy
Lazarus at Our Gate
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus tells a story to his predominantly devout Jewish listeners. It is a story of a rich man, “who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.” Jesus draws a strong contrast in his story between this rich man and a beggar by the name…Continue reading Lazarus at Our Gate
Honey, I Shrunk the House!
Freedom, it seems, sometimes comes to us disguised as pain. Perhaps, that’s why it takes us so long to fully embrace it? It has now been several years since I became a fan of the minimalist movement – you know, the idea that you actually need a whole less shit to make you happy? Outrageous!…Continue reading Honey, I Shrunk the House!
Changes, Changes, Changes!
To every thing there is a season … Ecclesiastes 3 Changes, changes, changes … many years ago a sage whispered those words in my ears. Life is all about changes. My life has been witness to so many changes. There are times I wish it wasn’t so. Sure, change can be exciting and full of…Continue reading Changes, Changes, Changes!
Reflections on Faith & Superstition
“Fear is the main source of superstition, and one of the main sources of cruelty. To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom.” Bertrand Russell Myth, legend and superstition: the stuff of my childhood. Those familiar with Norse and Germanic mythology will know some of the popular Icelandic sagas like The Saga of Volsungs, with…Continue reading Reflections on Faith & Superstition