2 - 9 Nov 2008

The pace of change in society is increasing every decade – and the pace of change in higher education seems to be increasing even more than in society. The theme of the “Thought for the Week” over the next few weeks is ‘Change’ and how we cope with it. We begin this week with a positive quotation about change within ourselves.

“To live is to change; to be perfect is to have changed often.”

John Henry Newman (1801-1890, theologian, Anglican priest and leader of the Oxford Movement who later became a Roman Catholic Cardinal)

26 Oct - 2 Nov 2008

It seems that life all about competing with others: individually - for jobs, charitable organisations - for grants, universities - for students. Competition is part of the market economy which is under much scrutiny at the moment. Competition is assumed to be good but it can bring out the worst qualities in us:

"The greatest danger facing the human race is the world-view that sees human life in terms of a power struggle. We are convinced that in order to survive we must compete rather than co-operate. This is like a lethal virus infecting the human race."

The writer, Gerard Hughes, sees this virus affecting every organisation, even church organisations. The quotation continues:

"When the Church forgets the real meaning of holiness, that virus is just as likely to flourish within the Church as outside of it."

Gerard W Hughes God in All Things (Hodder & Stoughton, 2003).

19 - 26 Oct 2008

This coming week is "One World Week" (see www.oneworldweek.org) and also the Interfaith Week of Prayer for World Peace. Whatever your belief or world-view, your actions are important because through your actions you love others and care for the world. Becoming holy - or, if you don't like that religious word, becoming whole and at one with the world - has a direct connection:

"In our era, the road to holiness necessarily passes through the world of action"

Dag Hammarskjöld (1905-1961; Secretary-General of the United Nations 1953-61 who died in a plane crash while trying to bring peace to the Congo. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1961).