Author Archives: Laura Dobson

“This is the workof the Sabbath.All creatures floweringout of themselves,a rose, a clusterof galaxies, the pollenof the stars,a blue-green eggat the centerof a well woven nest.The work of the effortless.A prophet does not seeinto the future.A prophet seesdeeplyinto the present moment.” Fred Lamotte

“In the course of history, there comes a time when humanity is called to shift to a new level of consciousness, to reach a higher moral ground. A time when we have to shed our fear and give hope to each other. That time is now.” Wangari Maathai, the first African woman to be awardedContinue reading “Thought for the day, Saturday 8th October”

From God Has a Dream: A Vision of Hope for Our Time by Desmond Tutu, born on this day in 1931 “Dear Child of God, I write these words because we all experience sadness, we all come at times to despair, and we all lose hope that the suffering in our lives and in theContinue reading “Thought for the day, Friday 7th October”

“One learns more from listening than speaking. And both the wind and the people who continue to live close to nature still have much to tell us which we cannot hear within university walls.” Thor Heyerdahl, born on this day in 1914

A Litany of Atonement [for Yom Kippur] by Robert Eller-Isaacs “For remaining silent when a single voice would have made a difference – we forgive ourselves and each other; we begin again in love. For each time that our fears have made us rigid and inaccessible – we forgive ourselves and each other; we beginContinue reading “Thought for the day, Wednesday 5th October”

Feast Day of St Francis of Assisi – patron saint of animals “”Ask the animals, and they will teach you, the birds of the air, and they will tell you; ask the plants of the earth and they will teach you, and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all theseContinue reading “Thought for the day, Tuesday 4th October”

“We often hear grown-up people complaining of having to hang about a railway station and wait for a train. Did you ever hear a small boy complain of having to hang about a railway station and wait for a train? No; for to him to be inside a railway station is to be inside aContinue reading “Thought for the day, Monday 3rd October”

“My religion is based on truth and non-violence. Truth is my God. Non-violence is the means of realising Him.” Mahatma Gandhi, born Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi on this day in 1869

Return Again, a traditional Jewish song, sung during the Days of Awe (the 10 day period between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, when people seek to bring themselves back into alignment with themselves, each other, the earth and God): “Return again, return againReturn to the land of your soulReturn again, return againReturn to the landContinue reading “Thought for the day, Saturday 1st October”

Autumn Day by Rainer Maria Rilke “Lord: it is time. The summer was generous.Lay your shadows onto the sundialsand let loose the winds upon the fields.Command the last fruits to be full,give them yet two more southern days,urge them to perfection, and chasethe last sweetness into the heavy wine.Who now has no house, builds noContinue reading “Thought for the day, Friday 30th September”