Contents
- Time for Reflection
- Topical Question Time
- Fisheries
- Fair Work
- Decision Time
- Land Ownership Information
- Correction
Time for Reflection
Good afternoon. The first item of business today is time for reflection. Our time for reflection leader is Mr Joe Livingston, parishioner at St Columbkille’s Catholic church, in Rutherglen.
Presiding Officer and members of the Scottish Parliament, thank you for this opportunity to address you this afternoon. It is truly an honour for me to be invited here to speak on behalf of my association, which is called the Foundation of Truth.
The daily help that I give in the parish sometimes involves reading from a pulpit or helping out with general parish duties, including fundraising events.
The world today needs love and peace. That is so needed. Today, there seems to be a lack of true love in hearts.
When true love is present, peace automatically ensues. The world tends to ignore that powerful fact. If leaders everywhere brought true love in their hearts to each negotiating table, there would be no suspicion or distrust.
Lack of empathy cancels out forgiveness. But what about truth? Pontius Pilate did not even know that he was speaking to the truth. Does it matter? Of course it does. Without truth, there is a distortion of reality, especially at the negotiating table.
I ask you—everyone who is listening to this short reflection, around the world—will you help me? Will you look deep into your heart and at least try to put love—the true essence of love—into all your actions, negotiations and meetings? Then and only then, a new attitude will begin to permeate your very being, which will be noticeable to others. It will produce peace and happiness.
At the moment, the world says, “I haven’t time for people. Let’s move at a high pace and fulfil the schedule.” Do we—can we—look at people with patience and compassion? If we can achieve that, something inside us will come to the surface. People around you will sense the change in you. It will take you to another level of empathy, which in turn will change your very being.
Love sometimes means “putting the other person first”. This is the challenge. Let us all try to make this a better world.