Not bread alone
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 129 No 7, 27 September 2024, page 30.
The quotation “Man shall not live by bread alone” is mentioned several times in the Bible, and it is something that many come to live by. However, I fear that it has been taken too literally, for some of the woes of our country stem from that fact that some of us have over-indulged in the good things of life.
This is not to say that enjoying good food and beverages should be discouraged, but we should always remember that we should look to moderation in all that we do. Numerous programs are giving instructions on the problems and encouraging us to get checked out.
If bread refers to materials aspects of our lives, then some people find that they have numerous possessions many of which they do not really require. Today we possibly have a glut of possessions that are not required for life itself. For example, how many television sets does a family need?
Maybe the answer lies not in possessions but in experiences and learning to appreciate the world around us. This could be the beauty of nature, sounds of music, the colours of a painting old or new or the well-written literature of people telling stories of today or long ago. As teachers, we know that learning to read opens the doors to the world around us, and I wonder how many teachers have put pen to paper or sat in front of the computer to record their exciting experiences.
Within the school curriculum for the early years there is an area of social learning, which deals with “wants” and “needs”. It would appear that the line between these has been blurred and the “wants” have moved to the fore. Let us hope the curriculum still has areas and time that allow children to learn to appreciate the world around them.
As we get older, and especially in retirement, it is only the “needs” that are important. Experiences and memories give us great pleasure. I had my memory bank built up with the experience of taking grandchildren to the theatre. What a joy it was to see the expressions on their faces all the way through the show. For me and for them, the memory of that experience will live forever.
The QRTA recently held the annual AGM meeting at the QTU building at Milton. Sadly, we were down on numbers, and so I again appeal to members to consider joining the Executive for two hours a month to help organise this wonderful association. Please contact me if you have spare time and would like to join us.
There are only three activities remaining this year and we are beginning to plan for next year. If you have any suggestions of things you think that we should include in our program, please get in touch with me or the events committee on qrtaevents@qtu.asn.au
For information on forthcoming activities, please check the newsletter.