If you were born in the 1600s, you might have had a fair chance of understanding the 17th-century English poet John Milton – if not, there’s only a slim chance unless you studied English Literature at university! ‘Paradise Lost’ was his masterpiece containing over 10,000 lines of blank verse arranged into 12 books – it […]
We humans have been obsessed with treasure for a long time. Sir Walter Scott’s book ‘The Pirate’ (1822) was a prelude for Robert Louis Stevenson’s ‘Treasure Island’ published in 1883. Stevenson had the idea for this novel based on a map of an imaginary, romantic island whilst on holiday with his stepson Lloyd Osbourne in […]
Are you risk averse or a risk taker? Is either position right or wrong? The truth is that from dawn to dusk and from first breath to final gasp, we take risks and are encouraged to do so. Our parents encouraged us to take risks as we took those initial wobbly steps, holding our hands and then releasing us to walk by ourselves. Whilst it may be true to say ‘nothing ventured, nothing gained’, everyone lives within what they deem to be acceptable risk levels. Whether it is in the genes or in a person’s experience of risks already taken and consequences received, our risk parameters become established. One person with a high risk tolerance may think of someone with a lower level as unnecessarily timid; conversely, the view would be of irresponsibility! Many people routinely took the risk to cross the famous limestone Azure Window on the island of Gozo, but on the 8th March 2017, this ancient arch crumbled into the sea.
Today we speak of the ‘legacy footprint’ that every person leaves. You could see this as a thing of ecology or of theology. If you plant an acorn, you can reasonably expect an oak sapling! If you plant an apple seed, it would be ridiculous to be waiting for lemons! The DNA of each seed predetermines the fruit that will come in time, given the right conditions. We are all fruit-bearers during our lives and God our Father is described as ‘the gardener’ watching for the fruit of our lives:
