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Year-end Review 2007
How good will your goodwill be?
Goodwill is more than the name of the Zulu king. It is also more than a day, that day after Christmas. It is more than an attitude or a feeling too, although it is so often associated with a feeling of well-being.
The day after Christmas used to be known as Boxing Day. Somewhat shrouded in tradition, apparently the name came from the practice of giving a “box” to tradespeople after Christmas. That, of course, changed only a little, and every dustman, security guard or beggar will approach one to ask for their “Christmas box” well before Christmas. Read more…
Seeking the child
A reflection by Fr Ralph de Hahn
All philosophy finds its limitations; all theology is confounded, all history is startled and given a new meaning when the Almighty God speaks one word — one Word only. And that Word was made flesh and came to dwell among us. Read more…
Sufjan Stevens – Hark! Songs for Christmas
This 5-EP set totals 42 Christmas songs, some traditional carols, some original compositions, which Sufjan (pronounced Soof-yan) initially produced annually for family and friends. He is a committed Christian but he also has some fun, with titles like the excellent Come On! Let’s Boogey to the Elf Dance! and Get Behind Me, Santa. Read more…
Corinne Bailey Rae – Corinne Bailey Rae
CD REVIEW
The superb Put Your Records On contributed to the soundtrack of this year’s late summer. An ideal song for hot weather, it should still do the job this summer.
It is, however, an uncharacteristically upbeat song for this tuneful but mellow debut album which is best suited for kicking back late at night.
Corinne Bailey Rae draws her influences widely. Think Alicia Keys with a strong dash of India.arie and a bit of vintage ‘70s soul (in fact, Corinne reminds one of the wonderful Minnie Riperton, who died in 1979)—a most appealing recipe. Read more…
X-mas vs Christmas
The jingle bells jingling all the way to the sound of overworked cash registers are faraway from the peals of church bells that usher in the silent and holy night advocated by an Austrian parish priests and his parishioner in that other famous Christmas song. Read more…
Are we training new dictators?
As I was about to write about how a true servant leader gets things done, I was reminded about a research project that my wife Teboho has carried out on leadership in schools.
I decided to go to St Michael’s College to see how tomorrow’s leaders are groomed there. Fr George Hunt was discussing leadership with school prefects. Read more…
Bad luck can be good luck
AS the year draws to a close many of us will probably be thinking ahead to 2008, and praying for our political, social and business leaders to have wisdom enough for this country to prosper in an atmosphere of peace, tranquility and morality.
The fact that not just this country but the world at large is so devoid of peace, tranquility and especially morality suggests that there is not too much wisdom around these days. Read more…
Presidential succession
On December 16, the delegates to the 52nd national conference of the African National Congress will make a decision which will likely shape the future of this country into the next decade. Read more…
A lonely Christmas
Christmas 2003 was probably my loneliest—and most blessed. My internal life was undergoing what St John of the Cross called the “dark night of the soul”.
Outwardly things were not that great either. I had come to final realisation that I was on the wrong path career-wise; most of my immediate family were living in England; and we had, six months earlier, buried my father. Read more…
