Since starting to write about six or seven years ago, I've done so many things I would have considered impossible when I was younger. At first, I resisted the idea of becoming a writer, doubting my own abilities and not … Read more

I had to retire several years ago due to failing health. It seemed to take forever for me to come out of my depression. After all the different medical issues were taken care of one by one, I became more … Read more

Timidly, I knocked at the door. I'd been away from the hospital setting for some time, and so it was with a certain amount of apprehension that I prepared my mind for the visit. A nurse quietly opened the door, … Read more

When a holiday or birthday approaches, I spend a lot of time choosing the right box and the right kind of paper, ribbon, and labels to wrap gifts for my grandchildren. I would never consider wrapping a birthday gift in … Read more

I attend our Wednesday evening Eucharist whenever I can make it, and it has long been a blessing to me. Last Wednesday, though, looked like an exception. I parked the car on the street as usual and opened the door … Read more

It's been proven that recycling can go a long way towards saving the environment. What may not be as well known is that recycling can also provide a person with a treasure, of sorts. For fourteen of the last twenty-seven … Read more

Recently, I learned of the death of my favourite stage and television star, Jerry Orbach, who made the role of Lenny Briscoe infamous on television's Law and Order. Like many of his biggest fans, I mourned his passing and felt … Read more

I was a problem child. I can remember one winter's night walking home from my aunt's house in the pouring rain. My mom was busy pushing a pram with the baby, and my other two brothers and sister were toddling … Read more

More than twenty years ago, God impressed my heart with this verse, and I answered Him just like Isaiah did: "Here am I. Send me." I saw my future as prophet-like. Using my words, my books, and my speaking engagements, … Read more

There is nothing like finding a welcoming, attractive place to stay at the end of a long day of travel. On our recent trip, we discovered such a place when we checked into our bed and breakfast for the night. … Read more

During my teenage years, alcohol played a heavy role in my life. Coming from the west of Scotland, a young boy felt pressured to drink at an early age. By the time I was sixteen, I was partying every weekend. … Read more

Our local newspaper recently carried headlined stories for two days about a theft in our community. A young man, on a dare, stole a five-hundred-pound bronze horse that marked the entrance to a subdivision. He hadn't thought the situation through … Read more

I am a frustrated gardener! The winter winds not only send shivers and chills through my parka, but the drifting four-letter white stuff covers everything, especially my garden. Thus I have learned to make the most of the snowy season … Read more

Several months ago, I was involved in a traffic accident while driving along a major roadway in a shopping mall parking lot. My car was hit by a driver coming out of an aisle, resulting in $2,100 damage to the … Read more

Some years ago, I became a Canadian citizen. I love Canada. I love the wide expanse of this wonderful country with its breath-taking Rocky Mountains, and the constant motion of the oceans which line our land on the east and … Read more

Dustme is a cockatoo that has become an interesting part of my daughter's household. He is very curious, and every time I visit, they have a new story of his antics. He's learned to imitate the 'phone, bark when the … Read more

On September 15, 1971, I was born. My parents named me Peter Christophor Carroll, a name chosen ten years before I came into the world. If I had been a girl, my name would have been Peatsa Christina. I was … Read more

On September 15, 1971, I was born. My parents named me Peter Christophor Carroll, a name chosen ten years before I came into the world. If I had been a girl, my name would have been Peatsa Christina. I was named after my mother's … Read more

Many people have asked me how I cope with the death of a loved one. Well, it is overwhelming — there is an emptiness and numbness that is impossible to describe. Every death is different, and we react differently to … Read more

When I was visiting one of my daughters, her four-year-old son was watching me put on my make-up. He wondered what I was doing, so I told him I was making myself beautiful. Then I asked him if he thought … Read more

There I was, driving down Keele Street, nearly late for an appointment, but sure that I could find the cemetery to take that one remaining photograph before I went on. I was sure of the location; I had been there … Read more

During my childhood, there was a day at school I always dreaded. It was the day the teacher told us to put our pencils in the groove on our desk, fold our hands, and sit up straight while she passed … Read more

During a recent visit with my son's family, I had occasion to attend a special activity at the elementary school where three of my grandchildren attend. While there, I met a sixth-grade teacher who had a wonderful rapport with her … Read more

I can remember visiting a geriatric ward, many years ago, which was full of patients who had suffered severe strokes. Most of them were in wheelchairs, and some of them had no idea where they were. I was just a … Read more

My journey led me down a one-lane road in the southwest tip of Ireland to the tiny village of Crookhaven. The note on the back of a souvenir postcard said, "Crookhaven, a safe anchorage protected from the fury of the … Read more

The other day, I received an e-mail that announced that the two-day conference I was to attend was cancelled. Now what was I going to do? I could just stay home, but I looked at my one-bedroom apartment and decided … Read more

Every now and then during my teenage years, in order to get away from the pressures at home, I would go and visit my aunt. She lived in a newly-built community, just outside of Glasgow, called Cumbernauld. I always enjoyed … Read more

As I sit in a village in rural India during the last leg of my ten-month Training In Mission program (Council for World Mission), Paul's words to the Philippians gain a new depth for me. Every need is felt more … Read more

I was standing in line at the grocery store waiting to be checked out. There were only two cashiers working at this time. The lines were long and slow. The lady ahead of me had become a self-appointed efficiency expert … Read more