Seek Peace and Pursue it

Observing the emphasis on trouble making in politics I revisited a speech by Malcolm Turnbull when he was leading the opposition.


Reflecting on a challenge to "Seek Peace and Pursue it" he said .. 


"What does pursue mean? ... the pursuit of the hunter. The relentless, unyielding, driving hunter. Chasing his or her quarry over hill, down dale, through the thickets, battling through the undergrowth, climbing over the rocks. Determined to get their quarry. ... the Psalmist is telling us here is that we should not simply be looking out for the social welfare, wellbeing, the commonweal, ... Not simply looking out for it, not simply being alert to it, but striving with all of our heart to do it ...
So that is what all of us in public life must seek to do. To look out for the public good, to seek to serve the people not in an administrative way, not in a bureaucratic way, not in a procedural way. But to reach out, to identify, with energy, with passion, with commitment, with zeal, the wrongs that need righting and go forth and address them. And it’s that energy, that passion for public service that it should inform all of our work, all of our work in politics and in public life. 


Malcolm Turnbull - Seek Peace and Pursuit it