December is here. Many of us in Canada are busy preparing for Christmas. Statisticians tell us that the majority of people in Canada are no longer Christian. Almost every world religion is represented in our population. Many claim no belief in God at all, yet still the stores gear up for Christmas. Have you ever…
A common question people ask when they learn that I’m a writer is, “What do you write?” Their faces often show surprise when I answer, “Novels, short stories, children’s books, worship resources, blogs, and a newspaper column.” I usually smile and add, “My pen likes variety.” When I look out at God’s spectacular world,…
ipictures by pixabay.com Halloween: A Time to Play Halloween is a night to be different. In a world where it often feels safer to just blend in, Halloween traditions offer freedom — the freedom to dress up and be someone else, at least for a little while. Since becoming an “adult,” candy has lost much…
Scarred and Beautiful – A Lesson in Courage A Lesson in Living I look out my study window. What do I see? Bird feeders that need filling every two or three days. Why? Mourning doves, pigeons, and blue jays gulp down the seeds much faster than the tiny songbirds. I see both responsibility and greed….
Thanksgiving weekend is here. What thoughts do I have to offer? Richard Wagamese, in “Embers,” his book of devotions, tells us that all we truly have are “moments,” precious moments given as gifts by the Creator God. Let’s think about that this Thanksgiving. What we do with our precious moments is up to us….
Thrifting! Last weekend, from my chair in my friend’s basement, I could see nine extra-large reusable bags, heavy with freshly washed and ironed, gently used children’s clothes, lovingly and carefully chosen from thrift shops around the city. My friend, Nancy, always detested shopping. Over the last few years, though, she has found delight shopping for…
Let’s Wear An Orange Shirt. As Canadians, we see ourselves as friendly, nice. It’s painful to accept that in the past our ancestors supported governments that chose evil. From 1831, before Confederation, until 1996, our government established and funded “Indian Residential Schools.” The goal of these schools was to “wipe the Indian out of the…