Serving Higher Purposes

Universities of the 21st century and beyond must be about teaching, learning, research excellence, creativity and innovation as much as they must be about enabling the destiny of students, communities and nations to realize their potential. UJ succeeded in her vision and responsibilities to transform the divisions, prejudices and limitations that often restrain the advancement of society. The story of UJ’s transition to an inclusive, diverse, dynamic, bold and purposeful institution of learning demands to be read by everyone, South African, African and beyond. It is a story of how to be an object rather than the subject of history, while dynamically shaping our shared futures, laying a solid foundation for future generations to be advocates and architects for social change and cohesion. It is a story of courageous and visionary leadership. The book offers our nation profound lessons in leadership that should enrich all our efforts to transform institutions in a sustainable way, to play a meaningful role in building ONE NATION. - DR WENDY LUHABE, Economic Activist, Social Entrepreneur, First Chancellor of the University of Johannesburg

When we sow our seeds in the garden of life, do we settle for a meager display of two or three flowers? Or do we aim for a pageantry of rich colors and breathtaking beauty? So asks author David Bruce in the exquisite essays inspiring us to live an active spiritual life. Fresh and concise, he discusses themes such as living with purpose, spiritual practice, digital distractions, reincarnation, the human condition, and offers advice on books and reading. Free of dogma, he helps the open-minded inquirer find ultimate meaning.

"To Serve a Larger Purpose" calls for the reclamation of the original democratic purposes of civic engagement and examines the requisite transformation of higher education required to achieve it. The contributors to this timely and relevant volume effectively highlight the current practice of civic engagement and point to the institutional change needed to realize its democratic ideals. Using multiple perspectives, "To Serve a Larger Purpose" explores the democratic processes and purposes that reorient civic engagement to what the editors call "democratic engagement." The norms of democratic engagement are determined by values such as inclusiveness, collaboration, participation, task sharing, and reciprocity in public problem solving and an equality of respect for the knowledge and experience that everyone contributes to education, knowledge generation, and community building. This book shrewdly rethinks the culture of higher education.

When we sow our seeds in the garden of life, do we settle for a meager display of two or three flowers? Or do we aim for a pageantry of rich colors and breathtaking beauty? So asks author David Bruce in the exquisite essays inspiring us to live an active spiritual life. Fresh and concise, he discusses themes such as living with purpose, spiritual practice, digital distractions, reincarnation, the human condition, and offers advice on books and reading. Free of dogma, he helps the open-minded inquirer find ultimate meaning.

This is a book of thoughts. Ive always been intrigued by thoughts. And now, in my mid-sixties, after a few successful careers, watching my kids grow into adults and having celebrated my 40th wedding anniversary, it has become clear to me that my life is definitely a direct reflection of the thoughts that I have held over all those years. I have read about this notion; and while intuitively it made sense to me, I now can say, with clarity, that my life is living proof that the emotional intensity and amount of time that I applied to a thought had a direct relationship to what results showed up in my life. My life has been a search for meaning and significance. The thoughts and quotes in this book have provided me with the greatest inspiration for reflection. I hope you take this book home - pick it up, put it down, reflect and pick it up again and again.