Ask Steph

So I've been going through some of the boxes that are still packed . The ones that didn't hold the kitchen equipment and bedding , that were not critical to my survival when the container first arrived with my worldly possessions from South Africa. And I found some old school memorabilia, certificates of achievement , you know, those all important spelling things , and full attendance for 100 years straight , all those typical nerdy things that 10 year olds are so proud of , but pretend doesn't matter to them. I stumbled onto some of my old poems. I was quite the little pen-woman in my primary school days. Particularly after my grandparents died. I suppose it was my way of dealing with something big  and shocking that I really couldn't process any other way. It was something that shook up my whole family. My grandparents, my Aunt , and 2 cousins , all died in the same car accident , when a drunk driver , on the wrong side of the highway ( freeway if you're Aus...

Just so we are clear - I am talking in philosophical terms here - not about specific people , or any particular incidents that may or may not have happened to me in the recent ( or distant ) past. I am expressing my beliefs and comments on world affairs. No more. This is a personal opinion, and it does not change my view of my Christian friends and family, whom I love dearly.  :  Christians think of themselves as a flock of sheep , following their shepherd. And truly - I cannot think of a more truthful analogy. There are few things more comforting that knowing that all the hard decisions in life are already made for you. You don't need think about all those really tough ethical issues - like what is right and wrong exactly , and how to determine whether your construct of the universe works well or not. It's handed to you , a ready made rule book , with a knowledge expert ( priest/ pastor/ counselor ) who will help you to understand something , or just t...