It seems these days that you take your life in your hands just to purchase some flowers. I was in a shop recently, purchasing a bunch of roses for my wife, when an elderly lady (whom I presume to have been short-sighted) came alongside me at the flower display.
Unaware of my presence she dramatically withdrew a large bunch of flowers from one of the buckets on the display and promptly emptied most of the water from the bucket down the leg of my trousers and into my shoe. I bent forward and glared into her back, perhaps grateful that she couldn't see the manner in which my face registered how I felt. Still unaware that I existed, she realised that the bunch of flowers she had selected was dripping water and she proceeded to shake it in the air behind her back. My grimacing face collected an assortment of petals, decaying leaf matter and a further supply of cold water.
Having imagined that she was purchasing the flowers to benefit someone, the last thing I could possibly do, would be to ruin her day, so I quietly sloshed away. (It just goes to show that even purchasing flowers can be a dangerous affair!) It is hoped that this new BLOG will benefit someone, even more than a bunch of flowers. We welcome your feedback — even an occasional slosh of cold water.
Happy reading. A number of people have asked if they can use quotes from my Blog in church bulletins or newsletters. Permission is granted provided credit is given to: Dr Lionel Hartley, www.hartleyonline.blogspot.com
Profile
- Lionel Hartley
- Born in New Zealand of English parentage, Lionel D C Hartley worked as an office and theatre manager and commercial artist while gaining qualifications in Business Administration and an honorary diploma in Dramatic Art. In the 1970s, he graduated as a Registered Nurse with subsequent postgraduate qualifications in Psychiatric and Psychopaedic Nursing, Nursing Nutrition and Administration, Sex Therapy and Family Life Counselling. In 1980, he graduated from a Melbourne Theological Seminary with a Diploma of Religion and in 1989 received a PhD in Sociology. He also has qualifications in graphic design, computer programming, business law, accountancy and economics. He is perhaps best known as the author, co-author, editor, and/or illustrator of over 100 books and hundreds of periodical articles, pamphlets and multimedia publications. He retired after 30 years as a family life counsellor. Lionel is still very involved in campanology, writing, manuscript translating (English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Hebrew, Latin, and Portuguese), and public speaking. He is married to Rosemary (nee Wells) and they have three grown children. -- Adapted from a profile written by Theo B Hawkins.