The realities of life

Yesterday I was happily wandering about the campus talking to various people and putting up notices about this new Blog when I met P. It was his first day back on campus after a break. The break had been caused by the sudden death of his Father. P - our prayers go to God for your continued strength and resilience through this tough time.

Both Work places and places of study are not really set up to deal with the realities of life. Inevitably, efficiency and timetabling are the name of the game. Unfortunately, this tends to try and squeeze everyone into the same mold. Whilst exceptional circumstances can result in exceptional adjustments to routine. It is routine that dominates. Occasionally "life" interrupts the "machine" of a work or study place. At least it often seems to be an interruption to those immersed in a routine. Maybe, we should think of it the other way around. Life events - even the tragic ones, but also the "minor" ones like a child's first steps, or a wedding to celebrate, are really what life is about. These events often don't fit routine or happen at "convenient" moments. I think that is as it should be. We need to learn that work and study, as important as they may be, are not the goal and purpose of life, but merely part of a much larger picture. When they begin to dominate then, perhaps, we have begun to idolatrise our work or study place.