Author Archives: Laura Dobson

“The powers we have released could not possibly be absorbed by the narrow system of individual or national units which the architects of the human Earth have hitherto used. The age of nations has passed. Now, unless we wish to perish we must shake off our old prejudices and build the Earth.” Pierre Teilhard deContinue reading “Thought for the day, Wednesday 20th August”

“”Abstinence sows sand all overThe ruddy limbs and flaming hair,But desire gratifiedPlants fruits of life and beauty there.”William Blake, Abstinence Abstaining or fasting from the things that we enjoy is not in itself a bad thing; indeed, it can restimulate our appreciation and give us a better balance in the way we use life’s resources.Continue reading “Thought for the day, Tuesday 19th August”

“Life doesn’t always get better.But you do.You get stronger.You get wiser.You get softer.With tattered wings you rise.And the world watches in wonderat the breathless beauty ofa human who survived life.” L.R. Knost Image by Carlos Tamayo

“In our own sense of the Highest and Holiest, let us now in silence face our own shortcomings and failures, and those we find in others; looking first into our own depths and then at the life around us, facing honestly the inevitable imperfection of being human… Let us now, in some awareness of weaknessContinue reading “Thought for the day, Sunday 17th August”

“Does the caterpillar know what’s about to happen when it spins a cocoon?Does it realize that it’s doing more than simply seeking safety?Does it understand that it’s involved in something greater than simply acting on instinct?Does it imagine, within its long-sought rest, the beauty to which it will open itself? Does it glimpse the possibilityContinue reading “Thought for the day, Saturday 16th August”

“O friend, Who could be so lucky?Who comes to a lake for waterAnd sees the reflection of the moon?Who, like Jacob blind with grief and age,smells the shirt of his lost sonand can see again?Who parched with thirst,Lowers a bucket into a wellAnd comes up with an Ocean of nectar?Who could be so lucky?Or likeContinue reading “Thought for the day, Friday 15th August”

“Let us be still and listen for all the sounds around us…The noise of passing traffic, the steps of passers-by; a distant train or a barking dog; an aeroplane overhead…The wind in the leaves, the rattle of branches; the singing of birds, the patter of rain; the rustle of autumn leaves or the quiet ofContinue reading “Thought for the day, Thursday 14th August”

“Make space for having a moment. Go outside and find the magical places. The hidden parts of the garden, the woods and the streams. Even if you’re in the city you can always find the wild. Back-alleys can be great places for that! As for ceremonies, they can be as simple as lighting a candleContinue reading “Thought for the day, Wednesday 13th August”

International Youth Day “When you took the time to recognizewhat I was doing well,you were measuring water into the mouthof a desert-parched little girl. Now I carry a pitcher,treasured legacy in my hand. I offerwitness: a voice to say, “I see you.”affirm, “What you can do matters.”argue, “You have something good to share.” Thank youContinue reading “Thought for the day, Tuesday 12th August”

“One of the best preparations for the future is to pay attention to the present moment. Not by being provident, cautious, and miserly with life’s experiential wealth, but by attending to the unfolding of today’s events and one’s part within them. For those who have places to go and tasks to accomplish, the active useContinue reading “Thought for the day, Monday 11th August”