I try to get my little granddaughters out for a walk every day. The fresh air is good for all of us. It is also a great time to exercise my dogs. In the winter, however, it is quite difficult, as the paths are covered with snow, which is … Read more

I live half a block from a funeral home. Hearses come by all the time, familiar drivers waving happily at me from the front seats, just doing their everyday assignments. It isn't their mother being buried today. I always wave back, … Read more

To every action there is a reaction. In turn, these actions and reactions create expectations. When someone behaves unexpectedly, we are surprised. When we do something that we didn't plan or expect, we are surprised. The most important … Read more

I had been thinking about going to Egypt, off and on, for well over 50 years. It was one of the places that I wanted to learn about and see. During the 15 years when we worked and lived in Europe, we never went there, because at that time … Read more

Oh, that shifty word, but! It has an uncanny way of reversing everything. For example, you just heard your superior list several remarkable qualities in you; and then comes that word, "but". You brace yourself, for whatever comes next … Read more

Blowing soap bubbles and having them rise in iridescent splendour brings delight to young and old alike as we hope for the next bubble. Rainbow colours enchant the soul. "Happy" is the nearest word to describe how watching bubbles form … Read more

Recently, I watched my grandson playing with some blocks. He was cheerfully building a tower by piling each brick one on top of the other. At some point, the tower became unstable, and he laughed loudly as the blocks tumbled down. He … Read more

The Portuguese Man o' War is made up of millions of polyps called zooids. These zooids work together to function as a single organism. They differentiate so that some become dedicated to stinging, catching, defence, digestion, or … Read more

As we turned out of the parking lot, I knew that it would be the last time. Both of my paternal grandparents' sides of the family had annual family reunions, but my family rarely attended. I barely knew many of those who did — people … Read more

I have a habit of listening to, and inviting myself into, other people's conversations. So the other day, as I was making a purchase, I was intrigued by the clerk's comment: "I'm looking for shirt stays." "Shirt stays?" I inquired as I … Read more

Recently, while I was at a local restaurant, I kept feeling a nudge in my spirit to go to a clothing store when I finished eating. As I arrived there, I recognized a homeless man named Mike. We struck up a conversation. "I can't give you … Read more

As I approach the corral, it is still dark, and the icy morning seeks to penetrate the warmth of my parka. My headlamp illuminating the way picks out the horses as they hover at the gate. They are waiting in expectation, as they know … Read more

Many years ago, I brought home a lovely Siamese kitten when he was about three months old. We decided to name him Blue. He was a joy to us. Of course, as a kitten, he wanted to behave as a kitten and enjoy lots of play. When we went to … Read more

A slightly built woman in her late twenties lay curled in a fetal position on a patch of grass between the sidewalk and a parking lot, just a few doors down from where I live. "Could you call 911 for help?" I asked someone going by with a … Read more

I love to host a dinner party. I plan the menu, prepare what I can in advance, and set the table. It's a chance to bring out the nicest dishes, the linen, the vintage pressed glass pieces that I collect, and the prettiest napkins. It … Read more

Do you ever keep a journal or diary of things you don't want to forget? I found one I had started writing many years ago. I'd like to share a page with you. It was bedtime. I had just finished reading a story to my children. As they were … Read more

How do we know what we ought to do? Where do our direction and strength come from? A friend once wrote me about how God helps her to know what she ought to do. She experiences His nudging or encouraging when she is making decisions, just … Read more

For many years, I have enjoyed listening to Queen Elizabeth's message on Christmas Day. This past Christmas, the Queen mentioned the importance of small steps leading to great change. She said that this was consistent with the teachings of … Read more

"You will find gold all over the sand," our young friend told us as we travelled to the Salton Sea. We were thrilled as we got out of the car to search for treasure. Sparkles tumbled about in the water and shone in the sun as the gentle … Read more

Our pastor designed a diagram easily understood by the congregation. It often appeared on the screen as he preached. There were some who rolled their eyes and muttered, "Not the circles again!" But most of us grinned and settled down for … Read more

During recent extreme weather, when our temperatures dropped down to between -35 and -40 degrees Celsius, my old mare, Mama died, no longer able to withstand such temperatures. We do not know for sure how old she was, but after speaking … Read more

There are situations in which I am robbed of my peace because I have little say in the outcome, such as when I was dealing with faceless officialdom that takes weeks of calls and letters to resolve. Life can get a bit stressful for me. … Read more

Do a favour for a person, and the world will reward you with a flat tire — or so it seems! The last few flat tires have had the same scenario: call the tow truck for a ride home, just after I had done a favour for a friend. My … Read more

None of us had ever experienced what we were about to. Eight couples from our church travelled to a cabin in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, USA, for a marriage retreat. My wife and I had stayed in several cabins over the years. Some we … Read more

When I first started doing street evangelism, I had a real challenge. I noticed that for every ten persons I came across on the street, nine claimed that they already knew Jesus and were born-again Christians. Hence, preaching to them was … Read more

I smelled rubber as the sedan screeched to a halt. With legs spread, palms stretched wide, and arms waving, my three-year-old son, Matthew, stood in front of the car with an expression of delight. How had he slipped his hand out of mine? I … Read more

Once a month, we go to a church some distance from our home. Most of the drive is through farmland and a couple of small villages, but there is also a considerable section of forest on both sides of the road. Some years ago, the road was … Read more

My dad has dementia. He started to wander and get violent in mid-November 2019. There were two trips to the emergency room in three days, admission to the hospital for twelve days, and then admission into a nursing home. During this … Read more

I enjoy walking through forests, especially old ones, which are rich with sounds and smells. I tend to stick to the paths that I know. Sometimes, however, I may be on a favourite path that I have followed many times, but get myself turned … Read more