Advent, in the Church's tradition, marks a period of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. It's a time to reflect on hope, peace, joy, and love, as the faithful anticipate the coming of Christ both in the historical event of his birth and in the anticipation of His return.
Sue Genner (Tauranga priest and GP) reviews a book by Karen Bakker on how technologies are helping people to hear non-human sounds and how this opens us up to the voice of nature.
Sometimes as adults we forget that all our reflections on science and faith have a history and that we all came to this space by a long route, sometimes deep into childhood. In this blog we get a rare insight into the thinking of a child, one who thinks very hard and very deeply about the questions that really matter.
Humans share with other animals a set of instant responses which protect us from threats. Our brains trigger our bodies to flight, fight or freeze before we have time to think. But when we get stuck in stressful situations these reactions can get unpleasant and unhelpful. In this blog, Silvia Purdie maps out the stress response system, and asks ‘What is anxiety?’
Anxiety feels dreadful, and it can make us less intelligent and capable of solving problems. There’s plenty to be stressed about in 2022, but what is the alternative to chronic anxiety? Minister and counsellor Silvia Purdie identifies five strategies from the Christian faith tradition which are ‘tried and true’ – effective ways to reduce anxiety.