Decision and Division NSTU and NSCC

The Roman Catholic Lectionary for today presents decision to people. The psalmist suggests there are two ways. Paul in addressing the Romans offers sin and death or the Free Gift and life. NSTU members are considering a decision too. If the tentative agreement is accepted, it brings “life” to the College, the Students and the NDP. Rejection means that the retirees and the those who plan long service at the College may have another chance to reduce the “missed” revenue as it compounds over the years from this settlement. Does this settlement set a precedent for the NDP? For the NSTU? Is it a healthy precedent?

Watchful Slaves and NSCC FAPS

Luke 12:35 ‘Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; This is the exhortation in the Roman Catholic Lectionary for today. In some way, I think the Faculty and Professional Support at NSCC were prepared for action today. Fortunately, a tentative agreement was reached. A spiritual and motivational question remains in my mind. What is the best path to healing the damage? Is it necessary to determine how we ended up prepared to strike even though, as the NSTU ads suggest, we were part of the last cycle of negotiation that did not complete. Did it not complete because we were overlooked or taken for granted? If that might be the case, are we ready to find out why it happened so the path of reconciliation can truly contain the promise of it never happening again?

Is the NDP building idea barns in NS?

Today, in the Roman Catholic Lectionary, Luke presents an episode in Jesus ministry when He comments on the folly of the accumulation of riches. This is a folly in which most of us participate. The temporal concerns are often given priority over the infinite matters. In the current dispute between NSCC and the Faculty and Professional Support, something more than money appears to be sought by both sides. The folly of the rich man would not be less if he were accumulating pride, prestige or reputation. All of these are pursuits which lead to fleeting reward and endanger the development of ourselves as givers and servants. An idea or an ideal can also be unworthy of our headlong pursuit. In many ways it can block our movement toward others and the Divine. In the NSCC, NSTU and NDP scenario ideas are blocking progress. What is fair? What is equitable? What ‘principle’ are we standing on? It is wise to consider the finite effect of holding ground compared to the infinite implications of pride and arrogance. In the time frame between finite and infinite, now, we see much damage to goodwill has already been done. A heart for reconciliation is needed now and even more so if our desire to be like the Rich Fool continues.