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Kel Richards'
Ozwords

Kel Richards' OzwordsKel Richards' OzwordsKel Richards' Ozwords

The Ozword of the Day: "Reflection"

Today has been declared a ‘Day of Reflection’ for the victims and the families touched by the Bondi massacre. 

I’m sure out local church will do something special along those lines this morning—and there will be a public event at Bondi later this morning. 

The word ‘reflection’ has been part of the English language since around 1398. 

It came into English from a Middle French word, behind which stands a post-classical Latin source word. 

The Classical Latin word reflectere is there somewhere in background. 

The core concept in all these words is that of ‘folding back’ or ‘bending back’ or ‘turning back.’ 

The flexion part of the word means bending or turning, while the prefix ‘re-’ means ‘again’ or ‘back again.’ 

This is why we talk about a mirror’s ‘reflection’—because it sends the image it catches ‘back again.’ 

By the 17th century the French source word had come to mean ‘reflective thought’ or ‘meditating.’ 

We live in an age that has been taught to believe that the best way to meditate is to empty your mind—to think of nothing. 

But this is a mistake. 

Mediation really means to think about, and focus on, something in particular. 

The great Christians mystics through the ages have understood this and have taught in their writings how to meditate on (for example) the love of God. 

Well, it’s this kind of ‘reflective thinking’ that today is meant to be about. 

Used as a word for mental activity the Oxford English Dictionary says that ‘reflection’ means ‘The action or process of thinking carefully or deeply about a particular subject, typically involving influence from one's past life and experiences; contemplation, deep or serious thought or consideration, esp. of a spiritual nature.’ 

I’ll be speaking a few words in our church this morning, and I think I’ll say that this awful event is a reminder that we live in a broken world—the horrors in the headlines reflect the horrors in history. 

And that is why we need to turn to a source of strength and love above and beyond ourselves. 

But may I encourage you to take this ‘Day of Reflection’ as an opportunity to feel for the victims—and to feel for our beloved country that never wants to see this kind of hatred again.


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* My latest book is Sherlock Holmes: 5-Minute Mysteries -- containing 50 new stories I have written about the great detective. You can find it on Amazon. Just go to Amazon and type in Sherlock Holmes: 5-Minute Mysteries in the search panel. Or use this link:  h  Amazon.com.au : Sherlock Holmes 5-Minute Mysteries Kel Richards 


* My book "Defending the Gospel" is now in a second, fully revised, edition. You can find it here:  Defending the Gospel – matthiasmedia.com.au 


* If you're looking for my recent book "Flash Jim" you'll find it here --  Flash Jim, The astonis

hing story of the convict fraudster who wrote Australia's first dictionary by Kel Richards | 9781460759769 | Booktopia 


* You can find all Kel's books currently in print here --  Booktopia Search Results for 'kel richards'. We sell books, hardback, paperback, audio, CDs.  

 

* And also here --   Amazon.com.au : Kel Richards 


* And you'll find more here --  Search: 4 results found for "Kel Richards" – matthiasmedia.com.au 


* Many of Kel's out of print books can be found at ABE Books --  Kel Richards - AbeBooks explaining words explain the term


BY THE WAY...


If you'd like to see my A-Z list of Aussie slang, you'll find it here in the Australian Geographic website -- A-Z list of Aussie slang. Here’s the link: The A-Z of Aussie slang - Australian Geographic


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THE AUSTRALIAN LANGUAGE

Kel Richards has been reporting on the Australian language for more than 30 years, and is the author of ten books about words and language. He has been described in one newspaper article as "the wordsmith to the nation." Kel is a veteran Australian author, journalist and broadcaster. In a long and distinguished career he has hosted ABC radio's flagship daily current affairs show "AM" and his own talkback shows on commercial radio. For 12 years Kel wrote and presented the popular daily feature "Word Watch" on ABC NewsRadio. For several years Kel was a member of the Standing Committee on Spoken English (SCOSE) at the ABC. Kel presents the weekly "Words Matter" segment on Peta Credlin's program on Sky News, he writes the "Language" column for The Spectator Australia and the "Ozwords" and "Placenames" columns for Australian Geographic. Kel joins John Stanley on 2GB, 4BC, 2CC and the Nine Radio Network each week for "The Word Clinic."

Ozwords appears in every issue of AUSTRALIAN GEOGRAPHIC.

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