I will never forget the Christmas Eve service that I attended on December 24th, 1989. That year, it was decided that a significant portrayal of the Christmas story would be presented complete with wise men, shepherds, Joseph and Mary, and … Read more

I watched as if it were rolling in slow motion — or it could have been me moving in slow motion. I stretched my hand forward as it rolled to the floor — shattering. My heart skipped a beat. My favourite coffee mug lay in pieces on the … Read more

Recently, I've become acquainted with a woman who is rapidly losing her eyesight. She once had full sight, but as the years have advanced, her vision has declined, until now all that she can perceive is brightness and shadow. Her white … Read more

One of the great sadnesses that I have noticed about this prolonged pandemic has been the constant lack of love when people argue about their personal choices. It's far easier to berate and ridicule our opponents, rather than to have a … Read more

Pregnant with our last child, I begged my husband to stop sending the Unwed Mother Worker from her job with Children's Aid to visit me whenever she was near the tiny village where we lived temporarily. My husband was her boss, so she had … Read more

On Labour Day weekend, we went for a two-and-a-half-hour ride on our quads (four-wheeled all-terrain vehicles) — and what a ride it was! Donning jackets, wind pants, gloves, boots, and helmets, we mounted our quads and away we went. My … Read more

My oven has a triple-glazed oven door. Over time, the weekly routine of cooking fish and chips, cakes, and various roasts accumulates residue on the inside of the glass door. Whilst we may easily clean the outside of the glass daily with … Read more

Over the years, you have probably walked over many welcome mats at people's front doors. You may even have one of your own. The mat serves a practical purpose: to clean our footwear. But if it has on it the word "Welcome", it makes a … Read more

When I was five and my brother was four, we'd play church. We dressed up just like the grownups. My brother was the minister, and I was the organist. He'd stand on the kitchen table with a book in his hands (often upside-down) and preach … Read more

After three summers in my 34-foot fifth wheel, you'd think that I'd have figured out what works best and where to put everything, but this year, I discovered several ways to improve both the use and function of space. I replaced the couch … Read more

My friend and I had the opportunity to house-sit for her sister this past summer. Her sister lives on Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada, so we figured that this would be a great opportunity to enjoy a little get-away. … Read more

At this holiday time of the year, the word "family" often seems to come up. Thanksgiving is observed in Canada in October and in the United States in November. Next month there will again be times of holiday celebrations, especially at … Read more

Having recently retired from being a Professor of Biology, I find the transition strange. No longer Professor, I am Professor Emeritus, and have the privilege of carrying on what I have been doing over the last couple of decades: on the … Read more

What do car washes and love have in common? This isn't a joke; it's to get us thinking. Obviously, both improve life: of vehicles, or of people. But that's not what I had in mind that day when I stood at the carwash mulling over the … Read more

I like to look at Facebook several times a day. Because my family is so far away in Scotland, it gives me the opportunity to see what they're doing and to comment on their exploits. I am able to keep in touch with them in a remarkable way … Read more

It's that time of year again: time to go through drawers and closets, sorting out, downsizing, and organizing. It's something that I like to do about this time each year, before the good weather comes when I would rather be outside … Read more

Recently, I lost my wedding ring. For over 43 years, it had seldom been off my finger, but at the end of that day, I looked at my hand and felt my stomach knot. Having already been evacuated once this summer by a forest fire, I had spent … Read more

I bought a spare chair a while ago. It sits in a corner of my kitchen, and for the most part, it doesn't do a lot. It came with a lovely, handwoven, green chair pad, which the cats really enjoy lounging on. I do stand upon it at times to … Read more

What? Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing a broken piece of pottery using gold, platinum, or silver mixed with lacquer. I learned about it on the Internet. Rather than throw away a treasured and precious possession, something that … Read more

Now that the starter plants have been transferred to the outside garden beds, I stop amidst my morning chores to pop over and examine them. I check to see if each plant looks healthy and has enough moist soil around it. If not, then I do … Read more

The Samaritans are a national organization in the United Kingdom, whose 20,000 volunteers listen. Every six seconds, day or night, someone contacts them. They help callers talk through their concerns, worries, and troubles. Many years … Read more

Some years ago, I checked in at a high-rise hotel, and was instructed by the hotel clerk how to find my room. I stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the floor to which I had been directed. When the door opened, I stepped … Read more

During a Bible study class, I learned that some of the older women had asked for and received a verse from God for their wedding, a verse that sustained them through the ups and downs of married life. I had thought that the "Love is…" … Read more

I have been a musician for many years — all of my life. I have played with many musicians in a variety of places and situations. As a Christian, it would be nice to be able to play with like-minded Christian musicians who have the same … Read more

After a half mile and a 400-foot elevation increase, I was huffing and puffing. My only relief was knowing that I'd soon be travelling in the opposite direction. My wife, middle brother, and I were on a four-day trip to the mountains for … Read more

It was one of those absolutely gorgeous winter days: bitterly cold, but with a brilliant sun shining out of a cloudless, powder blue sky that went up forever. It made me smile as I heard the hymn "Immortal, invisible, God only wise" by … Read more

What does this mean? We could use it in many contexts. I was sitting, sipping my tea, and reflecting on an older movie that I have in my entertainment library, starring James Garner and Larry Fishburne, called "Decoration Day". It is the … Read more

One day when I was downtown, I saw a young girl I know hugging three guys, and then before she left, I heard them all say, "Love you", and they went their separate ways. I asked my daughter about this, for she knows more about young … Read more

Many of us know what a scourge Alzheimer's disease is. While cancer in its various forms seems to dominate the attention of our aging congregation right now, we have also had our share of Alzheimer's and dementia victims. The despair, … Read more

Years ago when I was first married, I made a large poster-like sign of today's verses and proudly hung it above a common staircase wall leading up to our second-floor apartment. I was in love, and I was going to spread it everywhere. Each … Read more

Recently, one of my daughters had to have laser surgery to fix some retinal problems. It so happened that on the same weekend we went to visit her, another one of my daughters and I unfortunately had a "snafu": a euphemism for a … Read more

Materialism, or fixation on earthly possessions, is one of mankind's strongest temptations. During the past several months, with the help of friends, I have been going through a process of scaling down my personal belongings. My part in … Read more

In 1984, Sir Bob Geldof and Midge Ure wrote a song titled Do They Know It's Christmas? to raise money for the people of Ethiopia who were in dire need due to the famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Many musicians gathered together … Read more