One day, I spoke at length with an elderly man, who told me of his long career in the Canadian civil service. It had been years since his retirement, yet his memory was sharp as he recounted the departments in which he had served, the …( read more )

As children, we enjoyed playing with and learning about the properties of light through using its rays. A small, bright light in a dark room allowed us to make shadow puppets on the wall, using our hands. The magnifying glass opened up new …( read more )

I have been on a cruise ship, travelling among the islands of the Caribbean. One of the privileges was for each passenger to meet and greet the captain of the ship. Fully dressed in uniform, he graciously welcomed each passenger and posed …( read more )

My brother is fortunate to live on a beautiful Ontario lake, and also to be surrounded with good friends and neighbours. Some time ago, the kayak belonging to a neighbour floated off in the night, not having been securely tied. The next …( read more )

Many Canadians, among others, follow the lives and activities of the British royal family: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Prince Charles and Camilla, Prince William and Kate, and, particularly recently, Harry and Meghan. Here in …( read more )

My family has issues with eyesight. All of us wear glasses or contact lenses of some sort, and some have had cataract surgery. My mother has glaucoma and other eye issues, which makes life difficult, although she manages to get around by …( read more )

Sometimes, I feel that much of my life has been spent in a waiting room. In my overseas travels, a great deal of time is spent waiting in airport lounges, in lineups, sitting on planes as they idle on the tarmac, and resting during the …( read more )

When we were children, my brothers would at times try to build a floating raft, using spare boards and bits of rope. We watched many dramatic films of life and death experiences aboard life rafts, with sailors battling waves and storms and …( read more )

On a visit to London, England, a friend escorted me to a number of historical and popular sites, one being St. Paul's Cathedral. A heroic survivor of the World War II blitz, and site of the 1981 royal wedding of Prince Charles and Lady …( read more )

Probably the most difficult thing for me to do at times is to experience the joy of the Lord and to be positive when I don't feel it on the inside! The struggles of daily life can be overwhelming on most days. When I read the stirring …( read more )

A workplace tradition at Christmas is the practice of assigning each employee the name of another co-worker to be given an anonymous gift. Our office has made our own version of the Secret Santa game: we are to choose a small gift that our …( read more )

I once took a class in black-and-white photography at a local art school. Our first assignment was to take interesting photos to develop in the school photo lab. I spent happy hours photographing the Rideau Canal locks here in Ottawa, and …( read more )

On a gloriously sunny, cool Sunday in October, I made my way to the Rideau Falls here in Ottawa, the place where the Rideau River tumbles into the Ottawa River, surrounded by parkland and memorial gardens. The week's demands had made my …( read more )

I have an artist friend who paints glorious landscapes in amazing detail. His depictions of the Atlantic waves breaking themselves on the rocky shores of Newfoundland, or the gentle slap of fresh water on the burnished, burnt rocks of …( read more )

The weather in Mexico during the winter months is beautiful. However, storms can come in quickly from the sea. I witnessed one such tropical tempest one evening — the howling wind of the Pacific whipping the palm trees and shredding …( read more )

As a student, I participated in a job experience program for a few weeks at a local newspaper office. One evening, I took the stairs down to the building lobby instead of the elevator, but as the heavy door latched behind me, I found that …( read more )

I have had many friends in my life — ones from childhood, my school years, university days, and adulthood. Many of these friendships waned, not for bad reasons, but simply because we moved on with our lives in career, location, and life. …( read more )

As a young teenager, I took music lessons at a local music school. My teacher, a nice young man and a very patient instructor, surprised me one day by venting against Jesus Freaks. Not being committed to my faith and questioning Christian …( read more )

I am not a brave person. I have a fear of heights, and though not completely claustrophobic, I avoid confined spaces. I'm not pathologically afraid of snakes and reptiles, but I would always give them a wide berth! I tend to be shy around …( read more )

I recently saw a video online called The Atheist Delusion , featuring interviews by Ray Comfort. Most of those interviewed were young people who claimed to be atheists; in their teen years, they failed to see believable evidence for the …( read more )

I find myself inundated with voices these days. The newsfeed is 24/7, full of stories of pandemic, civil and racial unrest, political bickering and threats, and the plight of refugees. Even if I turn the radio and television off, there are …( read more )

As our economy slowly re-opens following the COVID-19 pandemic, after months of shopping restrictions and the availability of essential services only, there will be all sorts of promotions to attract buyers into brick-and-mortar shops. I …( read more )

Each time I turn on the radio or connect to the Internet, I am inundated with news about COVID-19 and new developments. It seems that my social media feeds are peppered with conspiracy theories which verge on the scary, but which are …( read more )

Each spring, the melting snow and ice upstream cause the Ottawa River to rise to a roaring torrent, crashing over the Chaudiere Falls near Ottawa and Gatineau, Canada, barrelling on its way to meet the St. Lawrence River, and eventually, …( read more )

My father passed away suddenly when I was fifteen, and well I remember the stunned disbelief of family and friends at the loss of a vibrant, gifted husband and dad. In my memory, the funeral was surreal and muted; the still, pale figure in …( read more )

During this time of social distancing, of staying at home, and of home schooling, I've been watching all kinds of suggestions on social media as to how to keep children entertained at home, while maintaining their education. Many of the …( read more )

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the usual deadline to submit our income tax returns at this time of year has been delayed. It's no-one's favourite thing to do. I don't know of anyone who rushes joyfully to pay their taxes! Instead, we …( read more )

Each spring, the melting snows flow into the Madawaska River. From its source in Algonquin Provincial Park, it spills from lake to lake, punctuated by hydro dams along its course, until at last, it meets the Ottawa River. The lakes rise …( read more )

Each spring in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, the season is announced first by snowdrops, then by crocus blossoms. The sloping lawns around the Parliament Buildings are adorned by beds of the cheery crocus, purple and golden. For those of us who …( read more )

When my brothers and I were young, we avidly collected chunks of mica and pyrite. Because the minerals sparkled and were beautiful, we assumed that they were valuable. Pyrite is known as "fool's gold", because its metallic shimmer and gold …( read more )

When I was a student, I spent two summers in Jasper, Alberta, Canada, working in service jobs, as many students still do, earning money for the next university semester. Many mountains encircle Jasper, one being Mount Edith Cavell, its …( read more )

During these days of crisis and uncertainty, the memories and experiences of the British people during the dark times of the Second World War come to mind. The nation faced a dangerous and seemingly unstoppable enemy army, as it marched …( read more )

In late January of this year, I had total knee replacement surgery. The recovery is slow but consistent, although it's painful. I often find it hard to sleep at night, and I spend hours awake "in the watches of the night". As I have been …( read more )