In a recent interview, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair told the German Die Zeit newspaper that it is clear that the eurozone crisis will lead to “powerful political change of the EU,” adding, “And on this point, I am deeply worried that Britain could decide by referendum to leave the whole process” (Fox Business News, August 8, 2012).  Are we seeing the first cracks in Britain’s long-standing relationship with the wider EU community?

When tragedy suddenly strikes a home or family, a city or a nation, the people directly affected experience any number of emotions, including unbridled sadness, hurt, loss, emptiness and grief. When the sharp edge of shock and piercing point of pain are slightly numbed by emotional fatigue, it is not abnormal for anger and resentment to enter people’s hearts. Anger from the devastating loss seeks to focus on or attack something. Whose fault is it? Who is blame for such an atrocity? Counselors see these transitions as part of the normal grieving process.

Last Saturday, two powerful earthquakes struck Iran.  The first was 6.4 magnitude and the second 6.3 (ITV News, August 12, 2012).  They were both followed by many aftershocks.  At least six villages were completely destroyed and dozens more experienced great damage.  More than 50,000 have taken temporary shelter (Reuters, August 14, 2012).

It is amazing how often life’s everyday endeavors can point us to the spiritual. There is much we can learn from the most mundane situations, if only we take time to stop and meditate on them.

In a recent “letter drop” in the east Auckland suburb of Botany, the National MP for the area, Mr. Jami-Lee Ross, issued a message to residents. The letter, titled “Same-Sex Marriage: What do you think?” explained that “Parliament will soon be voting on draft legislation to enable same-sex couples to marry. Members of Parliament will be given a [individual] conscience vote on this issue. To help me represent the Botany Electorate when I vote, I would appreciate knowing your views on same-sex marriage” (Jami-Lee Ross, National Party, Same-Sex Marriage Letter, 6th of August, 2012).