Thought for today:
"I have always believed that destiny marks each of us out for a special role in life which can often be more clearly viewed retrospectively after the role has been adopted. I am sure that we all know people who we consider born nurses, carers, teachers; almost any profession we are minded to think of. Equally, when we move our mind from profession to the dynamics of role within a family or social group, we will find, leaders, followers, gatekeepers, scapegoats, peace-makers, etc.etc.
The roles that we take on in life often determine the professions we choose to follow and are invariably shaped by our earlier experiences. I grew into my teenage years wanting to be a footballer, fireman, priest or surgeon and I eventually finished up a Probation Officer.
Having attended hundreds of different training groups in my life as well as having led hundreds, I was obliged to conclude that my role in life which I had naturally adopted was one of 'Rescuer.' Whether it be the footballer who rescues the masses from the tedium of life on a Saturday afternoon, or the surgeon who saves their life on the operating table, or the fireman who carries them to safety from their burning home, or the priest whose role is to save their souls from the flames of hell, or the probation officer who seeks to prevent them from being punished and imprisoned; all are undoubtedly acting in the role of 'Rescuer.'
Once a person has determined the role they adopt to play in life, their overwhelming action thereafter, is determined by this role. Most of the things that ever happened to them, along with all the things they've done, the types of people they chose to befriend or marry; all these aspects of life assumes a clarity that did not previously exist before one's purpose in life was eventually discovered.
From child to adult, I performed the role that destiny had decreed, and even after I'd retired from my regular work as a Probation Officer, my role in life didn't change; instead, it simply took on a new dimension. I still spend my days acting out the role of 'rescuer', but these days I tend to concentrate on saving people from their baser selves, their ill-health, their unhealthy fears, their lives of isolation and depression, and their negative cynicism and their boredom. Unlike the surgeon, I carry not a scalpel, but instead a bucket of hope. Unlike the fireman, I prefer to show people how to carry others than be carried themselves. Unlike the footballer, I am forever reminding people that while it is essential to have fun in our lives, we should never forget that playing by the rules of decency and basic humanity in all of our dealings with others, is much more than a game reserved for Saturday afternoons only! Unlike the priest, who, in an ever increasing world of non-believers, tries to bring God's gentle ways into people's lives by the front door, I prefer to adopt a different route of persuasion. Through illustration, example and cleverly crafted words, I let God slip in the back door of their lives unannounced. I want people to be able to taste the 'Power of Goodness and Love' without the need of pushing it down one's throat. Therefore, I believe that real change is more likely to appear acceptable and come about more by demonstration than moral diktat.
One of my major roles as 'rescuer' since 1989, has been that of an author; particularly, in the books I have written for the benefit of children and the story themes I have covered.Throughout my writing career, which has currently resulted in over sixty plus of my books being published, and which has raised over £200,000 for charitable causes through their sales, I always preferred to see myself in the role of 'a social crusader masquerading as a writer' as opposed to that of a budding children's author. I was never concerned with the primary objective of selling books over that of selling a way of life and an effective piece of advice to my young readership. That is why all of my story themes for children and young persons deal primarily with those situations in life that create emotional disturbance and difficulty in their healthy negotiation: themes like loss, separation, bereavement, bullying, discrimination, anger, jealousy, homelessness etc.etc. If adults find such situations extremely difficult to emotionally process, how much harder must children find them to cope with?
Since 2013, when I learned that I had a terminal illness, circumstances has afforded me the greatest of all opportunities in my role of 'rescuer' that destiny ordained.There are so many ill people in the world who find it hard to cope with pain and who fear death and in particular, the prospect of dying. If through my words and example, I am able to convey to just one person, that when one puts one's life in order, death is not a thing to be feared, I know my life will have served a purpose. If I am able to befriend a dying person on the last stage of their journey towards the next life and lessen their fear of isolation, so that they can enjoy whatever little life they have remaining, I will die a happier person. If I can show someone how best to live and die; if I can do all this, I then I know my life has not been in vain, and that my designated role has been of meaningful purpose and has struck a cord of contentment with self and others." William Forde: December 10th, 2016.
"I have always believed that destiny marks each of us out for a special role in life which can often be more clearly viewed retrospectively after the role has been adopted. I am sure that we all know people who we consider born nurses, carers, teachers; almost any profession we are minded to think of. Equally, when we move our mind from profession to the dynamics of role within a family or social group, we will find, leaders, followers, gatekeepers, scapegoats, peace-makers, etc.etc.
The roles that we take on in life often determine the professions we choose to follow and are invariably shaped by our earlier experiences. I grew into my teenage years wanting to be a footballer, fireman, priest or surgeon and I eventually finished up a Probation Officer.
Having attended hundreds of different training groups in my life as well as having led hundreds, I was obliged to conclude that my role in life which I had naturally adopted was one of 'Rescuer.' Whether it be the footballer who rescues the masses from the tedium of life on a Saturday afternoon, or the surgeon who saves their life on the operating table, or the fireman who carries them to safety from their burning home, or the priest whose role is to save their souls from the flames of hell, or the probation officer who seeks to prevent them from being punished and imprisoned; all are undoubtedly acting in the role of 'Rescuer.'
Once a person has determined the role they adopt to play in life, their overwhelming action thereafter, is determined by this role. Most of the things that ever happened to them, along with all the things they've done, the types of people they chose to befriend or marry; all these aspects of life assumes a clarity that did not previously exist before one's purpose in life was eventually discovered.
From child to adult, I performed the role that destiny had decreed, and even after I'd retired from my regular work as a Probation Officer, my role in life didn't change; instead, it simply took on a new dimension. I still spend my days acting out the role of 'rescuer', but these days I tend to concentrate on saving people from their baser selves, their ill-health, their unhealthy fears, their lives of isolation and depression, and their negative cynicism and their boredom. Unlike the surgeon, I carry not a scalpel, but instead a bucket of hope. Unlike the fireman, I prefer to show people how to carry others than be carried themselves. Unlike the footballer, I am forever reminding people that while it is essential to have fun in our lives, we should never forget that playing by the rules of decency and basic humanity in all of our dealings with others, is much more than a game reserved for Saturday afternoons only! Unlike the priest, who, in an ever increasing world of non-believers, tries to bring God's gentle ways into people's lives by the front door, I prefer to adopt a different route of persuasion. Through illustration, example and cleverly crafted words, I let God slip in the back door of their lives unannounced. I want people to be able to taste the 'Power of Goodness and Love' without the need of pushing it down one's throat. Therefore, I believe that real change is more likely to appear acceptable and come about more by demonstration than moral diktat.
One of my major roles as 'rescuer' since 1989, has been that of an author; particularly, in the books I have written for the benefit of children and the story themes I have covered.Throughout my writing career, which has currently resulted in over sixty plus of my books being published, and which has raised over £200,000 for charitable causes through their sales, I always preferred to see myself in the role of 'a social crusader masquerading as a writer' as opposed to that of a budding children's author. I was never concerned with the primary objective of selling books over that of selling a way of life and an effective piece of advice to my young readership. That is why all of my story themes for children and young persons deal primarily with those situations in life that create emotional disturbance and difficulty in their healthy negotiation: themes like loss, separation, bereavement, bullying, discrimination, anger, jealousy, homelessness etc.etc. If adults find such situations extremely difficult to emotionally process, how much harder must children find them to cope with?
Since 2013, when I learned that I had a terminal illness, circumstances has afforded me the greatest of all opportunities in my role of 'rescuer' that destiny ordained.There are so many ill people in the world who find it hard to cope with pain and who fear death and in particular, the prospect of dying. If through my words and example, I am able to convey to just one person, that when one puts one's life in order, death is not a thing to be feared, I know my life will have served a purpose. If I am able to befriend a dying person on the last stage of their journey towards the next life and lessen their fear of isolation, so that they can enjoy whatever little life they have remaining, I will die a happier person. If I can show someone how best to live and die; if I can do all this, I then I know my life has not been in vain, and that my designated role has been of meaningful purpose and has struck a cord of contentment with self and others." William Forde: December 10th, 2016.
