There is nothing like moving house to show us that we have a lot of things that we don't really need — and perhaps never did. These were things that we could not live without, so we thought when we bought them, but as we downsize, we … Read more
Archive for March, 2014
Empty Pews
I am blessed to attend two different churches; I attend one with my family on one Sunday and another on the next Sunday in my job as a direct support professional for adults with developmental disabilities. The two buildings are totally … Read more
Never Too Bad To Love
My parents cautioned me about it over and over again — especially my dad. When I became a middle-schooler, my parents began to warn me about whom I hung around with. "Bad company corrupts good morals," they would say. While both my … Read more
Bible Study
I had moved to a new community and looked for a church to go to, a church that would be Christ-centred and welcoming for a newcomer. In no time, I was involved in a Bible study, and at one point, I was asked how I had found the study. My … Read more
The Surprise
As the sun grew brighter and the days grew warmer, the horses and goats began to shed their thick winter coats. And as they did so, I noticed that Mama, one of our miniature horses, had gained a lot of weight over the winter. *I'm going … Read more
Reaching The Celestial City
Recently, I watched a wonderful film called Pilgrim's Progress: Journey to Heaven, a modern adaptation of John Bunyan's classic tale. The story is a clever allegory depicting the spiritual journey of a man named Christian who could … Read more
Sincerely Wrong
My birth weight was 9 lb. 4 oz. My mother weighed 90 lb. Obviously, I was not the petite, fine–boned, delicate child that she had hoped for, and that was when the problem began. I am sure that she loved me, but it was on her terms. She … Read more
Follow The Leader
"Arrrgh!" I gasped, as my body gave the impression of being turned into a statue! I clung to the buggy, and was mesmerized by what I had witnessed. Outside the primary school where Zoë attends, there is a major road. A mother, buggy, … Read more
The Preparation
When we moved from suburbia to a small northern town in British Columbia, Canada, the house we purchased came with a drilled well that produced lots of clean, fresh water. We were thus not prepared when the following spring, the water … Read more
The Stray Dog
One Friday, a work colleague spoke to me regarding a stray dog which she had found on the grounds of her church the previous Sunday. I thought, Perhaps the dog was left by the owner who didn't want to care for it. The colleague was … Read more
Keeping It Together
As a boy, I used to love making model aircraft. Most of my allowance was spent on buying small kits of plastic jets or World War II aircraft. Sometimes, I even purchased model vintage cars, but those were usually very difficult to put … Read more
The Old Shoe Irons
When I purchased my house in the village of Roland, I found a few things left here and there that I thought the descendants of the former owners might like to have: an end table, some framed pictures, a footstool… . Out in the garage … Read more
Unquenchable Love
Some time ago, a dear friend gave me a special gift of heart-shaped measuring spoons, a memento from her nephew's wedding. Knowing that I would put the spoons to good practical use, she wanted me to have them. So now, whenever I bake, I … Read more
Love, Corinthians-Style
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
Stark Reality
Let me tell about a dream I had last night. I saw a barren tree stripped of all its leaves, ready for winter — no green, red, or gold left behind, just stark and naked in the frosty air — so dead looking — just like we feel in lonely … Read more
Beyond Control
When the news came, I knew that the situation was beyond my control. I moved to the upstate of South Carolina in the early 1980s, and jobs were scarce. I had vowed never to work in a textile mill again. Unfortunately, this was about the … Read more
Just Like A Child
Every once in a while, we are confronted with statements that question whether the stories in the Bible accurately describe those events or whether they even happened, so many years ago. Many of those events are ones on which our Christian … Read more
Total Commitment
My dear friend, Shirl, was close to the end of her agonizing struggle with multiple sclerosis, family breakdown, and abandonment, when she asked me to write her life story. It was her hope that women, who were suffering in any manner, … Read more
No More Ding
I have a car with computers in it. When it detects a fault, it has an instructive ding sound to let you know that there is a message. The more serious the fault, the more piercing the tone, and the more persistent and unrelenting the … Read more
The Locker
At the jail where I guard, there is a row of lockers to store our clients' personal belongings while they are in a holding cell. The lockers preserve their valuables and clothing from being lost or stolen until they are returned to them … Read more
Laser Surgery And Relationships
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
Ashes Of Repentance
For many years, I received the customary ashes for Lent without any thought to the biblical basis of this ancient practice. However, when the priest applied the ashes to my forehead in the form of a cross, I was faced with the unpleasant … Read more
Holy Heights
I suffer from acrophobia — a fear of heights. Perhaps if I were a tall person, it might not be so bad. I get dizzy and unbalanced whenever I am up high. Standing on a ledge or a rooftop is very hard for me to do, although if I'm on a … Read more
Oh No! More Snow!
Looking out the window first thing this morning, I see that it is snowing again. I can almost hear the moans and groans of the commuters. Normally, I would be moaning and groaning right along with them at the thought of more shovelling. … Read more
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