The grandkids raced to my house, all excited and yelling about the big tree that their dad had just purchased. I discovered that it was a ten-foot-tall, cone-shaped Christmas tree completely encircled by white LED lights with a … Read more

Being a writer, I have learned that it is vital to have a pen and a pad of paper or some sort of audio recording device readily available to save thoughts and ideas that come to mind. This is especially true at night. Very often in the … Read more

Where we live, sunflowers grow abundantly. They grace gardens in town, bloom as farmers' crops, and even wave jauntily from the roadside ditches. My young granddaughters are fascinated with these flowers and how they faithfully follow the … Read more

I clearly remember getting my first eyeglasses. I was 12 years old, and I didn't realize how blurry the world had been until we were driving home from the optometrist. I looked out the window and discovered a clearly-defined world with … Read more

I went to see Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One the other day. The special effects and stunts were entertaining, but what struck me was the message of a film that isn't advertised for a Christian audience: the fight between … Read more

My brother and I don't usually exchange birthday presents, so I was surprised to receive a padded envelope in the mail shortly before my recent birthday. This is more than a card, I thought, fingering a flat, rectangular object in the … Read more

At my office, we have a label maker, a nifty hand-held device used to type up labels and shoot them out, with a peel-and-stick backing to be removed before adorning files, drawers, and folders. Some people get a little carried away and … Read more

Recently, I took my daughter to school to save her the "long" walk with her backpack and kit. It's not far. The car has an electric heater in the windscreen that clears away the frost, which is great on a frosty morning. On the way home, … Read more

My neighbour recently dropped by for a visit. She had never been over to our place, even though we lived across the street from one another. As she and her little boy walked up our driveway, she was astounded at the amount of light that … Read more

The crowd collectively held their breath as the "black belt" entered the tournament arena. The young man had defeated other competitors to achieve the chance to win a Grand Champion trophy from his martial arts school. This was his moment. … Read more

The Christmas season provides a feast for the senses like no other time of the year. All five senses are fully engaged through the supersaturated sights, sounds, aromas, sensations, and flavours of Christmas. – We hear bell choirs and … Read more

Many people tend to divide their lives up into compartments, even if they may not realize that they are doing it that way. Right now, I have a few compartments in my life. I am dealing with the passing of my mom, working full time, being … Read more

I never really wondered why bananas are shaped the way that they are until I saw a children's program about them on television. I was intrigued, so I looked up the details on Google, and here is what I found out. Banana plants look like … Read more

As our little Shih Tzu puppy and I ventured out onto our patio one fateful morning, a female hawk dove directly towards Bailey. She was only a few inches away from me. I was terrified, so I furiously swung my iPad around (my only weapon), … Read more

Love and beauty fill every nook and cranny of an oak-tree-covered foothill farm, nestled in Penn Valley, California, USA. A young woman works at her dream to turn her grandparents' "Splendid Farm" into a self-supporting business so that … Read more

I have been fascinated with archaeology ever since I was young, immersed in our family's National Geographic magazines and books. I spent many hours looking at the finds in Egypt and South America. In recent years, I have enjoyed watching … Read more

Years ago, I wrote a devotional for Palm Sunday entitled, "Donkey Business". I did not realize it at the time, but since then, I have had the opportunity to hear several inspired teachings that … Read more

While I was in ministry, a young woman came to my office needing help. She was homeless, hungry, and desperate. I brought her into my home, took her to a doctor, and helped her to find a sparsely furnished basement apartment. She began … Read more

I was listening in on the radio to Jennifer Kavanagh, a representative for the RAND Corporation, an American non-profit global policy think tank. She made observations about social media and their influence in the recent USA presidential … Read more

During the 1960s and 1970s while John and I farmed, we also had a heating business servicing all of Manitoulin Island. We were located in the centre of the island, so the distance was pretty well the same for service calls going east or … Read more

Beginning in the 1500s, lamps were placed on city sidewalks and intersections so that evening shoppers and workers could safely see where they were going. People were accustomed to seeing the lamplighter near dusk, walking from lamppost to … Read more

I remember my first job interview for a post in the bank. The interviewer looked at me and asked, "Are you honest?" This was a question that got me smiling for a moment before I answered, "Yes, I am honest." The thought that ran through … Read more

As our pandemic lingers, people naturally yearn for former freedoms — including public worship. Mixed feelings abound over such matters. Restless tension grows between restraints and freedoms. As in any polarized situation, we can easily … Read more

Now that spring has sprung and the ice has melted into the earth, the livestock have been released from the corral to roam the whole property once again. For two weeks prior to the final melting, they would all crowd around the gate every … Read more

My annoyance over telemarketers has occasionally caused me to answer legitimate calls with a rather unfriendly tone. Once, I even hung up on someone. How rude! Thankfully, that person called right back. That got me thinking: How often … Read more

It's that SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) time of the year again! I don't like the dark, and I'm longing for the days when they get longer again. I've been using my light therapy lamp since the beginning of November. It's become part of … Read more

It was a bright, sunny day at the beach, a perfect day to relax and read. Yet the glare of the sun was so intense that my sunglasses weren't enough to block its powerful rays. As I shielded my eyes, today's verse came to mind: "The Lord … Read more

For years, it has been a pattern. Evening comes, it's time to get ready for bed, and into my mind come memories and thoughts from the day or the past. Every one is tainted by hurt, and at its heart, by self-pity or my desire for … Read more

Today, I am making four batches of my favourite dessert: creamy rice pudding. It was in response to a request for the community dinner in two days. I could eat bowl after bowl of it, it's that good, so it has been a bit of a struggle. I'm … Read more

In our Bible study group, we were reflecting on the reality of the temptations that we face as we seek to live Christ-centred lives. During the discussion, Ted offered some down-to-earth wisdom: "The birds are going to fly in and out, but … Read more

Over 25 years ago, I was told that I was going blind. Treatments and surgeries have slowed the onset of visual impairment over the years, yet the lack of sight is evidently growing, and it has become more apparent lately. Slowly, over the … Read more

Zoë is my eldest daughter from my second marriage, and she will be ten years old in the summer. Along with her younger sister Sophia, they are at a Church of England primary school where I am a Vision and Values governor. Every term, we … Read more

I was busy at the computer one morning, and I got tired of listening to the aggravating buzzing of a fly around the room. I was tempted to go and get the fly swatter, but as we all know, as soon as we get that in our hand, the word is … Read more