A Glass Full of Water

Why do bad things happen to good people? Last year there was a ‘smash and grab’ raid on our local Superette in Raglan. Angry and supportive messages filled the community Facebook pages. Photos of the mess and damage were alarming and it wasn’t the first time the shop had been targeted like this. The owners are  a delightful, hard working, kind couple.   The following day after the raid I visited the shop and had a chat with the owner. Remarkably, the mess had been cleaned up and most of the damage was fixed. He was deeply touched with the love and practical support from locals.  The offenders also raided the Te Uku General Store. There was less damage inflicted on the store due to the owner being on site and scaring them off. I spoke with one of the shop staff members and encouraged them as best I could. Surely my class could do something to help.  After discussing the facts of what had occurred with my students we then explored how the owner and staff would be feeli...

In my early days of teaching at a northland primary school, we used to live next door to a family that belonged to an ultra conservative church/cult. The children had to abide by many strict rules. No television was on the long list. Some rules are meant to be broken, so sometimes we would move our TV next to a big window that faced the families back yard. The volume was turned up and windows opened so the children could see and hear some cartoons or a nature documentary. It wasn’t too long before they would be sitting on their lawn, enjoying being part of a wider world. POINTS to PONDER Being kind can help to break down rules and regulations that bind people to cultish nonsense, that is the antithesis to kindness. Be willing to take some measured risks in helping others. Asking for permission might mean nothing is done. If you’re not sure what to do, follow your heart.

  Walking through Raglan I noticed a jogger stretching at a bus stop. He had a worried look on his face, so I asked him if he was OK.  “Just waiting for a friend,” he replied. I walked past him and carried on my way.  A few seconds later he called out to me, “Thanks for asking!”  “You’re welcome!” I called back.  I smile when I recall and share that moment, because caring, encouraging words have the potential to be empowering and appreciated. POINTS to PONDER Be aware of people around you. If an opportunity to care comes up, take it. Your moment of caring can make a difference in someone’s life. Mean your words if and when you ask if they are ok or a similar sentiment. Listen carefully to their answer. Caring can create connection between people and that has to be a good thing.

Val and I were beginning a drive to Auckland. I noticed an elderly man waiting on the side of a road in Hamilton East. Perhaps nothing out of the ordinary. Val noticed him too. “There’s something about that man that doesn’t seem right. Let’s go back and see if he’s ok.” Val smiled. We turned around and parked a few metres away from him. He hadn’t moved at all and was unsteady on his feet. I cautiously approached him and introduced myself. “Hi I’m Steve. What’s your name?” In a quiet voice he replied, “John.” We chatted for a minute or so. “You look like you want to go somewhere.” John nodded. I noticed a sign behind him that said ******** Rest Home “You want to escape, don’t you John.” He nodded again. “Do you want to go over the road to the dairy?” A thumbs up sign from John confirmed that indeed he did.  I took him gently by the arm and we very slowly inched towards the curb till we were on the edge of the road. Val was watching intently and asked me, “Do you want me to stop the ...

  Losing your car keys is so frustrating and annoying. Most times, we find them and all is well with the world again. Losing your car keys on holiday can magnify the stress. Losing your keys on a beach far away from home is next level stress and the chance of finding them is very small.  Recently, while walking with family on Matapouri beach 40 minutes north east of Whangarei, we noticed a man walking towards us furtively looking in the sand. Quick looks between each other meant that for the next half hour or so we helped look for the impossible find. Other walkers on the beach joined us. I estimate that up to thirty people were now helping. Wonderful to see and be a part of. I’m not sure if the keys were ever found and that isn’t the point of this story. People unknown to each other cared enough to work together to help a stranger. POINTS to PONDER We have all been in the position of being in a frustrating, worrying time. A bit of shared humanity in such times is impor...

They say we remember our teachers, not for what they taught us, but for the way they made us feel. In my experience as a student and a teacher that is an insightful statement. Mr Black, my sixth form Art History teacher at Auckland Grammar School (in the early 1970’s) was an exceptional teacher. Seemingly very old, he made his subject relevant, engaging and interesting, because  he taught with passion and skill. On one particular occasion he was a teacher who did the right thing by me. Looking through my school bag at home after an art exam I suddenly realised that I had inadvertently put two completed pages of my exam in my bag along with unused spare paper. Oh no! All my exam results were important to my chances of University Entrance being accredited. My heart sank. Who was going to believe me? This was a school that ‘stuck by the rules’. Consequently, I didn’t get much sleep that night. The next day Mr Black was waiting for me outside his classroom door. He asked me where the...

Many years ago my twin brother Chris and I were travelling through Orewa, north of Auckland to our home in Warkworth. We were hungry, so stopped at a fast food place. Standing at the counter after ordering, I couldn’t help but notice a large handwritten sign on the back of an office door. The wording on the sign concerned me. It read, ‘Some staff are lazy. Do your job properly or I will fire you.’ My immediate thought was, that’s no way to treat people. A   sign like that showed the culture in the place was wrong. The sign message was disrespectful and rude. My anger grew. I asked a member of the wait staff if I could see the manager… I assertively told the manager to take the sign down and to treat all workers with dignity and if he had an issue with a staff member then deal with it in private in a fair way. He looked at me blankly. I repeated my message in a more forceful tone. Seemingly ignoring me again, he turned away without saying a word, walked over to the offensive sign a...