Author Archive

Learning From Lucy

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

I'm still reading the Peanuts cartoons, even though no newspaper has carried them since Charles Schulz died in February, 2000. I am especially still learning from … Lucy. Yes, Lucy! One … Read more

Balance — Or …

Monday, February 19, 2024

There is balance to a life of faith. Our Reformed ancestors sought to re-establish such a balance centuries ago as they placed emphasis on "faith" and not so much on "works", so much so that Martin Luther called the book of James "an … Read more

Do Good; Seek Justice

Monday, January 22, 2024

I am privileged to be the Presbyterian member of the Canadian content writing team for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, January 18-25. One of my tasks was to reflect on the themes for the eight days and give them a Canadian … Read more

Sankofa

Wednesday, January 3, 2024

The corner of Yonge and Dundas streets in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, will never look the same again at the Square that bore those two names. Soon this part of the city will bear the name "Sankofa Square", a concept that I have used in … Read more

Seeking Balance

Sunday, August 13, 2023

What fun we have with some of the novices who come to visit our region in the summer. We have a plethora of possibilities when it comes to watercraft — from kayak to canoe, from tender to sailboat. One thing the tourists all have in … Read more

The Sound Of Eternity

Monday, July 3, 2023

My friend and I had a ritual when I went to visit. Since she had severe arthritis in her hands, I would always wind her grandmother clock — which was shorter than a longcase grandfather clock. It was one of those thirty-day clocks, and … Read more

The Voice In The Stillness

Tuesday, May 23, 2023

The Bible seems to be written for the culture in which we live rather than one thousands of years ago. It is hard for me to imagine a non-industrial society being so noisy as to overwhelm the senses, but maybe it was. I do know that when … Read more

No Charge

Saturday, May 13, 2023

I came to get my car from my neighbourhood mechanic and asked, "What's the charge today?" "No charge," he immediately replied. Now, that was good news, since I had expected a hefty bill for my 14-year-old car. "That's hard to believe," … Read more

Discovering Hope

Wednesday, May 3, 2023

God has prepared for us things beyond our imagining. Our hope is for a renewed world and for fullness of life in the age to come. As Jesus taught us, we pray: "Thy kingdom come." – *`Living … Read more

This Is My Message – For You

Sunday, April 9, 2023

It was to be a very special Easter morning. We had already been to the ocean to greet the rising sun and were back in time for the early morning service followed by a congregational breakfast — a full day to be sure. But now came the … Read more

Irritation!

Saturday, March 25, 2023

Do you like tongue twisters? Here's an old favourite: "What noise annoys an oyster most? A noisy noise annoys an oyster most." I doubt that noise annoys oysters at all since they can't hear. But I do know what does annoy them the most, … Read more

OCD

Thursday, March 16, 2023

I learned a lesson the other day — don't throw around phrases that can hurt people. I don't mean the "sticks and stones may break my bones but names can never hurt me" kind of stuff (which really do hurt, by the way). I mean referring to … Read more

Panic Attack

Thursday, March 9, 2023

Does that sound like a panic attack to you? Many factors — including biology, heredity, temperament, stress, and the particular experiences of a situation — can contribute to panic attacks. This can be a serious medical condition and … Read more

Someone To Guide Me

Wednesday, March 1, 2023

Her name was Louise. She died a month or two shy of 105 and shared half of that long life with me. She worked with my mother during World War II and they were the best of friends. She was there for my mother when she developed multiple … Read more

The Lunatic Fringe

Friday, February 10, 2023

There is a Peanuts cartoon in which Lucy is telling her brother Linus to get involved. Linus stands sucking his thumb and hanging onto his security blanket, and Lucy says, "You can't drift … Read more

Awfulizing

Thursday, January 19, 2023

I have an acquaintance who wakes up each and every day of her life with the absolute conviction that life is just awful and will never get any better. While trying to find help for her to cope with this anxiety, I found that this … Read more

Arise, Shine

Sunday, January 8, 2023

I have a friend who is SAD, and she has a really hard time coping with the consequences. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that typically occurs each year during fall and winter. While many just speak about having … Read more

The Gospel According To The Old Folks – Anna

Monday, January 2, 2023

In a sermon that he delivered in 1522, Martin Luther told the story of Simeon and Anna. There he praised Anna as full of the Holy Spirit: "Most assuredly the Holy Spirit dwelled in her, and … Read more

The Gospel According To The Old Folks — Simeon

Thursday, December 29, 2022

In a three-day conference on pastoral care of the elderly, Pope Francis talked about the gift that older women and … Read more

A Sad Misunderstanding Of Time

Monday, June 13, 2022

I almost blew it! My first year at university was nearly a disaster. Midway through the first month away from home, I was introduced to a temptation that became an addictive drug in my veins. The more that I tried it, the more addicted … Read more

I'm Sorry!

Saturday, May 21, 2022

The primary purpose of Christian preaching is to invite reconciliation — in every aspect of life. The first step on a journey of reconciliation just may be to say, "I'm sorry." "I ask for God's forgiveness, and I want to say to you with … Read more

Killing Time!

Saturday, May 7, 2022

I met a friend unexpectedly, and I asked what he was up to. The answer? "Just killing time." He wasn't the first person to answer in such a way … we are all guilty of killing time! It's a common enough saying, but it struck me in a … Read more

Earth Day

Friday, April 22, 2022

During this Eastertide, we are living through a season of resurrection and hope. Some use that word hope as an acronym for Heal Our Planet Earth. Hope is what we cling to in these dark days of war and destruction, global warming and … Read more

Easter In Kyiv

Sunday, April 17, 2022

Eastern Orthodox Christians use the Julian calendar, so as many of us Christians celebrate Easter today, we ask ourselves how on earth the Ukrainian people will be able to observe Easter next Sunday with many of their churches destroyed, … Read more

Sackcloth And Ashes And Sighs Too Deep For Words

Thursday, March 24, 2022

Moshe Reuven Asman, chief rabbi of Ukraine, called on Christians and Jews to say together the following words from Psalm 31 as Russian forces attacked the Ukraine on various fronts. People of faith are drawn together to offer comfort and … Read more

Trap's Timely Tips

Sunday, March 20, 2022

I have been surrounded by sailors my whole life, but I had little opportunity to join them until 1986, when I moved to Pictou, Nova Scotia, Canada. I sometimes joined my Uncle Trap's crew, mostly as "rail meat", which means that my most … Read more

Grampy's Cassettes

Wednesday, March 9, 2022

There are a few things that I cherish in this life, and hopefully, you'd be surprised by the list. Very few possessions are on that list, and the few that make it have little or no monetary value. Take those old battered cassettes, for … Read more

Click

Sunday, February 27, 2022

Sunrise is moments away, and I eagerly wait to capture the moment for the hundredth time. I do this almost daily, waiting to snap the perfect picture. A few seconds one way or the other changes the result completely. Click. What moment … Read more

Grampy's Candlesticks

Tuesday, February 15, 2022

My grandfather had many admirable traits and a few that made life a bit difficult for his rambunctious grandkids. Grampy was a perfectionist. He was a boat builder who would tear out complete decking if things did not line up perfectly. … Read more

B F F

Saturday, February 5, 2022

I can handle myself pretty well on social media, and I'm not taken by surprise very often. I do have 700 "friends", and there has been a time or two when that word "friend" has been pushed to the limit (really, who are you?) It was a bit … Read more

Come, Let Us Sing!

Thursday, January 27, 2022

I've been missing many things during the pandemic, but nothing compares with the missing elements in worship. Yes, there have been alternatives to traditional worship such as services on Zoom and YouTube and drive-in church and physical … Read more

Marking A Milestone

Wednesday, January 12, 2022

Seventy years ago today, I entered this life. The expectation at that time was that a good and long life would span 70 years, and maybe, just maybe, I might see 80. Her majesty was just beginning her reign, acceding to the throne on … Read more

Age Shall Not Weary Them

Thursday, January 6, 2022

The older I get, the more that I realize that I have a unique role to play in life. I spent many years in active service to our Lord. I am now at a different point in my faith journey where I have just as much to share, but often with a … Read more

 



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