Category Archives: Arts

Arts, Literature

Little Free Libraries

ENCOURAGING LITERACY

IT started in Wisconsin. They have been seen in France, Germany and the Netherlands. Now they are firmly in the UK. Little Free Libraries might look like bird-boxes, some are converted telephone boxes – they come in all shape and sizes. But they are full of books, free to take away and read.

The idea is to encourage literacy and bring neighbours together.

Todd Bol began it in memory of his mother, who loved reading stories to children. She would be delighted to see the great work Little Free Libraries are doing.

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Arts, Society

Overcome animosity and be better for it

CHARACTER

IT’S a very rare group, family, or community, where everyone likes each other, and everyone gets on. So, what do you do when you find yourself in a gathering with that one person?

We should all know that we are expected to make the effort, but why can’t we just do what is best for us instead of always having to do the right thing? Actually, as usual, they are the same thing.

We could walk away, ignore them, be snobbish or snooty. But anyone could do that. And most people would do it, because it’s the easy thing to do.

Speaking to someone when you don’t want to? Being pleasant to someone who isn’t and least deserving? Turning animosity into friendship? That’s so difficult that most people would rather not even try. Then they blame it on the other person.

You could do that. Or you could do the right thing. The difficult thing. Overcoming your doubts, animosity and the challenge.

The group will be better off. The other individual might (or might not) appreciate it. But you will be a much better person because of it.

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Arts, Christianity, Culture, Poetry

Look for the good

ST PAUL’S MESSAGE FOR CONVERSATION

IN his letter to the Philippians, St Paul encourages us to to look to the good and noble in life and make them the subjects of our conversations, rather than the other nonsense.

Canadian poet Edna Jaques must have had that letter in mind when she wrote:

“If there is beauty in a world of ill,

A quiet valley where a church bell rings,

Where there is faith and love and little homes,

Speak on these things . . . “

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