To have a sensible or wise perspective is an essential aspect of living a life of meaning and purpose as opposed to expending one’s life on trivial and nonsensical activities, and thus living life merely as a sophisticated animal on the proverbial pet-shop window treadmill.

Over the last two weeks, if we depended on TV and our newspapers, or even tweets and blogs, it would seem that the most important event in the entire universe was the former speaker, Bronwyn Bishop flying to Geelong in a helicopter, thereby unfairly expending tax-payers money for her own interests. The media have whipped this up day after day, and the following accusations and confessions of the other Pollies about their travel expenses continued to fill the headlines for another week.

I simply could not believe what I was reading. This is a classic media frenzy where they get caught up in their own distorted unreality – and forget that they are selling their wares to members of the public who are, by and large, disinterested in local petty politics.

The media have failed yet again to provide any sensible perspective in their reporting in recent days however I realise it would be foolish to think they will cease presenting “reality” through such distorted lenses.

Are we hearing much about the huge shifts in the Chinese economy? Was there much about the hundreds of desperate refugees who drowned in the Mediterranean last week – men, women and children? Where was the story about the 9 million people who are displaced in Syria and surrounding countries?

We try at Newington to get our students to ask the big questions confronting our current world, and it is heartening to hear our students grappling with such issues as global warming; Aboriginal land rights and their recognition in this country’s constitution; and issues related to global poverty and injustices existing in so many countries and so on and so forth.

We are educating “global citizens” – young men who hopefully will be looking beyond their own careers and self-interest, and getting involved in international as well as national issues.  

At assembly last week we honoured Old Boy James Henderson (ON 2008) for receiving the ONU Centennial Trust this year. James is in the process of conducting some very successful research into the treatment and prevention of liver cancer, the outcome of which will transform many lives.

Life is short and should be lived to the fullest – but deserves to be lived with a perspective that is honourable and focused on improving the world in the present, and for future generations. Our ancient wisdom from the book of Micah gives us rich perspective:

“What does God require of us but to do justice and to love mercy and walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)

Rev David N Williams
College Chaplain