Lovely yet pointless sentiment
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not anti faith. I don’t believe in any religion, but I have a great deal of faith. It’s been well tested over my half a century, but I still have it.
But, I feel faith is pointless, without practical purpose. Especially if it involves spending money sending thoughts and prayers, instead of donating to worthy, desperate causes, such as the cyclone relief funds, that are so sorely needed at the moment.
I just took a stamped, posted, envelope out of my letterbox, with a lovely, handwritten letter, offering me “comforting thought from the scriptures”, and I wonder how much money did that kind person spend to send me, a complete stranger (envelope addressed “To The Resident”) and however many others these missives.
At $1.70 postage, per letter, plus the envelope and paper, and printed flyer, that’s potentially a lot of “thoughts” that could have put food on tables or bedrolls under bodies. Would that not have been a better option, than randomly sending people quotes from the scriptures?
My priest, growing up Catholic, would tell us every Wednesday at bible practice “turn your hands to practical matters and your hearts to spiritual”. And he’d follow that up with the simple explanation “Do something useful”.
So, dear people, rather than preach about how the big G cares about us, show you care about others, and live your faith, practically. If you can’t physically help, don’t waste money preaching, use it to help. Don’t be the preacher on the cliff who let the boy fall, because God loved him. Turn your hands to practical matters, and your hearts to faith!
And if your church is footing the bill, there’s better things they can do with the money too.
Keep the faith, but, please, do something practical. I don’t need saving, but thousands really do.
Brain Teaser of the Day 🧠✨ Can You Solve It? 🤔💬
Make a hearty dish. Take just half a minute. Add four parts of kestrel. Then just add one. What have you made?
(Trev from Silverdale kindly provided this head-scratcher ... thanks, Trev!)
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm on the day!
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Poll: 🤖 What skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
The Reserve Bank has shared some pretty blunt advice: there’s no such thing as a “safe” job anymore 🛟😑
Robots are stepping into repetitive roles in factories, plants and warehouses. AI is taking care of the admin tasks that once filled many mid-level office jobs.
We want to know: As the world evolves, what skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
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52.7% Human-centred experience and communication
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15.2% Critical thinking
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29.5% Resilience and adaptability
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2.6% Other - I will share below!
Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
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