The Father Bob Show #43 - Bob communicates by hand squeezes in morse code
Today Bob discusses the penalty for rape in the context of an article written by Barbara Biggs in the Herald Sun. We talk about Open Family Australia’s Christmas Appeal and Christmas Cards, and the opportunity to donate to the Father Bob Maguire foundation for Christmas.
We also chat about the recent happenings on the forums, and the opportunities for people to step up and help out, or do one of the ninja Mini-Missions. Also, Bob suggests talking to someone at a nursing home. Ethical question of the week - should we give money to beggars in the street?
December 14th, 2006 at 11:43 pm
Hey Bob. You need your own show on television or at the very least a video podcast!
Viva Bob!
December 15th, 2006 at 7:18 am
Eddie see:
http://www20.sbs.com.au/speakingintongues/
December 19th, 2006 at 8:29 am
Hi there Father bob and Mikala,
Today i paid $10 for a big picture magazine. The guy selling it would have been in his 50’s wearing a christmassy looking jesters hat. He was standing outside southern cross railway station. Well before I got to him I seached around in my wallet but the smallest note i had was a $10 note. I was thinking ‘bugger’ i would like to buy a copy of the mag just to help the guy out, but then I thought of Father Bob….. ‘do no harm, but do a little good’. The fact that the smallest note I had in my wallet was $10 was an indication that I was doing well in my life so when I gave him the note and he started to look for change i said ‘dont worry about it mate, merry christmas’. the guy stopped, looked at me and said merry christmas to you to, hope you have a good day. Just the way he looked at me when he said it conveyed his sincerity. In all the running about, getting ready for christmas, that moment was the first where i actually felt the spirit of christmas, of giving.
I have no delussions about what the guy was was probably going to do with the money, he was probably going to use it to help himself get well and truely pissed. But as I continued up the sidewalk heading to work I thought that it doesnt really matter what the money, Beyond his homelessness or addiction to alchohol he has his own self determination, he is the maker of his own descisions and I dont care what other people say, on some level he knows what is wrong and what is right. The point is that by giving him something for nothing, I showed that I care about something outside myself. Maybe if more people cared, then maybe some of these people wont feel so disconnected from our society, maybe it will encourage them to try and lift themselves up from where they are.
As I said at the beginning of this post Fr B, I thought of your words. I hope you continue your podcast in the new year, it certainly has raised my own social conscience in the 6 months I have been listening.
Wishing you all the very best for christmas
John M
December 19th, 2006 at 1:55 pm
Wow, John. What an inspiring story. I’m so glad that Bob’s words have had such an effect on you. It’s a trickle down effect when he’s such a profound man.
Don’t worry about the safety of the podcast - I’ll keep him going all next year. Happy Christmas to you, too.
Michaela.
December 19th, 2006 at 7:51 pm
Michaela. Let Father Bob know that the Paypal button is a great idea. I remember when Cameron suggested it. Have used it a number of times myself. I reckon John McGuinness is not the only person that has been encouraged to be more thoughtful towards others after listening to these podcasts.
As both Cameron and yourself suggest,using this online media is a great way to send Father Bob’s message out to those of us who spend a large part of our time online. I myself work remotely from home and listen to podcasts whilst doing so. Our numbers are growing. Keep up the good work.
Mick S
December 20th, 2006 at 11:49 am
Mick S - thank you. That’s so encouraging to hear. Doing the podcast does take some time and effort especially when I study full time and work. However, it’s worth doing when I hear comments like yours.
I will pass it on to Bob in case he misses it.
Cheers, Michaela.