CHAPLAIN
THE TIES THAT BIND
EMBRACING AND CELEBRATING THE THINGS OUR BOYS HAVE IN COMMON
REV DOUG CAMPBELL SCHOOL CHAPLAIN
We are living in an increasingly individualised age . The things that once inextricably bound us together as a people and provided belonging , community and purpose have diminished to such an extent that our sense of unity and identity have been impaired . Released from the old ties , we search for meaning while being blown about by the various trends and ideas that arise and confuse .
I observed a small example of this in my Year 7 class . After a quick straw poll , it was clear that only three out of 26 boys had watched this year ’ s AFL Grand Final . This might be explained by the fact that there were very few Brisbane or Swans fans in attendance , but it may be due to the simple fact that life today contains many competing distractions . In the past the Grand Final , like the Melbourne Cup , would stop and unite the state , and perhaps even the nation together . These days few seem to be willing to stop , and fewer still seem willing to join collectively with others . This has an impact on social cohesion .
Perhaps it is inevitable . As a boy growing up , only a few soccer games were shown on television in the season . To see your team play involved physical effort to endure the atrocious Scottish wintry conditions and travel to the game to witness the latest ignominious disappointment that would inevitably be served up . Soaked and shivering on the terraces , I would ask – ‘ Why on earth am I here ?’ However , I was not alone ; all my mates were asking exactly the same thing . We were bound together around our love for our team and destined to suffer together through thick and thin . Today the ties to our teams , our grounds , and alas our mates , are weakened , as we watch our teams from the comfort of our own air-conditioned lounges on our preferred streaming service .
The rise in increasing individualisation is seen in many other spheres . While in the past families tended to live in the same town or suburb , it is more often the case that family members live in different cities or even countries . Grandparents are now distant figures who are seen in person only occasionally . Our neighbours are at best only nodding acquaintances . Religious and faith communities are no longer the places that provide a sense of community and inspire others with a call to a greater and transcendent purpose . Meanwhile , footy clubs and charities struggle to find volunteers to help maintain their services to the wider community .
Even workplaces are no longer the havens of collegiality . It has been understood for years that work is fundamental to human society . It is the way most people provide financially for themselves and their loved ones . It is also the main way in which many of us interact with others outside our immediate household . Work brings community , meaning and identity . While society focuses almost exclusively on the financial and economic dimension of work , it fails to fully appreciate the broader significance of work to human life .
However , since the pandemic there has been a radical change to workplaces . There has been a rise in lone working where people work from home . This change can be very beneficial , as it allows workers to experience a greater sense of freedom , choice and flexibility . However , the risks this carries include an increased sense of isolation and the loss of collegiality . For many , working from home means they enjoy the freedom while yet grappling with the lack of real
12 Great Scot Issue 172 – Edition 2 2024