For nearly eight years, the seal between the double glazing on two of our windows has been broken, and condensation has progressively clouded the internal side of the glass and our view into the garden. Also, the old style of window is a … Read more

Have you ever apologized to God for bringing your small requests? I know that I have! When I hear of so much suffering, how can I ask God to take away my headache? How can I ask for trivial things when other people are dealing with … Read more

There are so many calls for my attention these days. Recently, my cell phone received a national alert that was only a test, and the message said that I did not need to take any action. My coffee pot beeps when the coffee is ready, and … Read more

"Where on earth can my jacket be?" I wondered. Uncharacteristically, I had mislaid my favourite jacket. Though it has seen plenty of wear, I like it for its suitability to most weather conditions. Many of us love an old, familiar garment … Read more

Having grown up on the west coast of British Columbia, Canada, I'm somewhat familiar with ocean tides. Sometimes, we could swim easily, but other times, we had to walk a long way to reach the edge of the water. In 1972, my husband and I … Read more

When I was younger in the faith, I recall God starting to teach me about the person of the Holy Spirit. On weekends, I would locate a public school close to my house and find an open, shaded place devoid of distractions. Then, I would sit … Read more

Did you notice the hidden miracle here? It's the conception of new life within Mary's womb. This, I say, is Advent's hidden miracle! Nobody witnessed this amazing overshadowing of the Spirit, not even Mary. Yet, what followed would be … Read more

I have worked for the past fifteen years in the justice system, hands-on as a social worker, speaking with offenders in their living units and trying to assist them to untangle the situations in which they found themselves. Sometimes, it … Read more

Christmas is creeping up upon me again. Each year it seems to come around even more quickly than the year before, and every year, I seek to remember and pray about the best way to honour the King of kings who was born in a manger so long … Read more

The second year that I lived in my summer home — a fifth wheel trailer (or RV) — the dual-power refrigerator quit working via electricity. Through a series of events — partly my fault, partly someone else's — it worked only on propane … Read more

What we see and what we hear has a powerful influence on our thoughts and actions, and has had from the beginning of time. For instance, remember Eve? She was the first woman, the first wife, and the first mother, but unfortunately, she … Read more

When I was twelve years old, my mother took a nervous breakdown in front of me. We were sitting in the living room, and she just started going crazy, throwing things around her, breaking ornaments and other items, cursing loudly, and … Read more

I listened with delight to my eighteen-month-old granddaughter's attempts to repeat the words with which her brothers and sisters were coaching her. As I saw the pride on her parents' faces, I remembered my own children's first words. I am … Read more

I belong to a writer's group that meets twice a month. When we get together, we have a ten-minute writing exercise, share a homework assignment, and engage in constructive criticism on two or three pages of something that we have been … Read more

As a pastoral care volunteer at the local Long Term Care Centre, I have on several occasions been asked to be with a person nearing death, who was in the "Comfort Room" with family members present. At some point, they would expect me to … Read more

Recently, I watched an interesting movie that brought back memories of a certain kind of pop art. The film portrayed the true story of "Big Eyes" artist, Margret Keane, who was famous in the 1960s and '70s. Her paintings depicted sorrowful … Read more

I may be retired, but as so many "retireds" know, it doesn't mean that we are idle. It means that we have more time to do things that we want to do, or at least, we can choose what we will do. That, at any rate, is the theory. The reality … Read more

In many churches, the traditional ways of worship have changed. The order of service is not as rigid as it used to be. Some ministers interact with the congregation, and some people even reply. There was a time when we did not laugh in … Read more

While I was working as a ward clerk in the hospital surgical unit, I had an encounter concerning a patient and the hand of God which has stayed fresh in my mind. Being careful to maintain confidentiality, a doctor expressed grave concern … Read more

A news item one night was about parents who lost a child through another teen's weakness and grave error in judgment. The parents, being interviewed a couple of days after their daughter's death, made a public statement that they not only … Read more

Eye surgery. It seems like every time we turn around, someone is having it: eye surgery for their cataracts. I surgery. It seems like every time we turn around, someone ought to get it: I surgery for their selfish attitude. With eye … Read more

Loving grandparents gave their three-year-old grandson a sturdy black and red four-by-four toy truck for Christmas. Squatted on his knees on the floor, the lad tore off the wrapping, picked up the truck, and went to a cupboard where old … Read more

It was summer. Four of our family had come to Southampton, Ontario, Canada, to spend time at a rental cottage along Lake Huron. My husband, the two youngest (a girl and a boy), and I enjoyed the white sandy beach and the cold water of the … Read more

As I stood up from my chair to take my first step at the end of our church's pre-service adult Bible study, I experienced a very brief feeling of vacancy in the back of my left leg. Then I flew across the room and landed on my left hip. … Read more

I like bread. I like it a lot. Whether it's the bread that I toast in the morning, the sandwich that I eat for lunch, or the roll that I may have with dinner, my conclusion is the same: Bread … Read more

At our house, the "Free Cell" solitaire card game on our computer is used while Internet users wait for web pages to load over a very slow dial-up connection. Almost daily, I watch other family members solve a game in … Read more

My daughter gave me a beautiful picture of a mother holding her baby as she looked out the window. Under the picture it said, "Mother, I will love you forever." It reminded me of how newborn babies are so tiny … Read more

In May, the rhododendron beside my front porch buzzes with bees. They flit from flower to flower seeking sweet nectar. Occasionally, one hapless bee flies into my plastic-enclosed porch and buzzes along the plastic wall nearest the nectar-laden bush. It … Read more

My earliest memory of prayer was when either of our parents put my brother and me to bed. They taught us to say the "Our Father" prayer and to say, "Please, God bless …" so and so, and we'd proceed through every member of the family. … Read more

My friend was painstakingly peeling cloves of garlic with a huge butcher knife. (Women often use the nearest tool at hand, thinking they are saving time!) "Why do you peel garlic like that?" I asked. "There is a better way." "Will you … Read more

There is a cute commercial running on television right now. It features a gal munching down on a bag of cookies. Mighty Will Power shows up to save her from herself. (Let me say that he is one puny-looking superhero!) … Read more

I have surrendered to temptation again: the temptation to wrest control of my life from God, to whom I have previously entrusted it. It is easily done — and, sadly, not for the last time. I hope I am getting … Read more

It's my age that makes a conversation piece at chit-chats. Someone's birthday brings us to think of our ages, and we begin the guessing. I am not good at guessing ages, but others bravely do so. What is systematically amazing … Read more