Hurricane Sandy barrelled up the Atlantic coastline of the United States during the weekend before All Hallows Eve, earning it the nickname "Frankenstorm". This monster storm lived up to its name as it wreaked destruction all along the … Read more
Author Archive
Multiplying Like Rodents
I had put off cleaning out the shed behind the house for the whole summer. Recently, my son and I remedied the situation. In so doing, we found no less than four mouse nests. One mousy, brown rodent, with a … Read more
The Hero Of All Heroes
In Aurora, Colorado, USA, on Friday, July 20, 2012, violence leaped from the movie screen into the audience in the form a demented shooter clad in body armour. Gunfire thudded into innocent people during the latest Batman movie, The Dark … Read more
A Green Broke Colt
In mid-morning of a springtime day, when traffic is lightest, my dog and I saunter along our macadam roadway, getting our exercise. Usually, she has her nose to the ground, scenting out the latest rabbit, but occasionally, she will hear … Read more
Washing Dirty Dishes And Feet
My friend, "Brooke", hosted her own birthday party recently in the social hall of her church. Three of her five children, their children, their grandchildren plus two great-grandmas, one great-great-grandma, and friends came to share in her special day! Brooke … Read more
Walking And Talking
My pooch loves her walks far more than I enjoy them on these wintery days. She is a double-furred dog who loves the cold and snow. From the way she pulls me when we walk, she would make a fine … Read more
Heel And Follow
My dog always begs for a walk, regardless of the weather. But on sunny winter days, when the breeze teases my hair from beneath my toque, I am much more inclined to amble along, enjoying our day. Sometimes, her sensitive … Read more
Whatever You Do
Christmas had barrelled down upon us like a northern blizzard. The season was a whirlwind of activity speedily blowing by us. Now New Year was upon us, but procrastination gripped me. Amid my retirement freedom from bosses, it was simply … Read more
The Angel Of His Presence
As a small child, I had a fascination with angels, probably because whenever a nightmare woke me, my mother would come and pray for God to send His angels to guard me. Then she would say, "Darling, just look at … Read more
Black Friday And Boxing Day
This year, after we had our Christmas tree all decorated, we plugged it in, expecting the factory-installed lights to shine brightly as they had in previous years. But this year, they failed. Only the bottom half of the tree lit … Read more
Shining In The Darkness
Every winter, by late afternoon, darkness claims victory over our daylight hours, motivating us to string multi-coloured Christmas lights that twinkle brightly from decorated houses. Some of us use LED lights that cast luminous patches of reflected colour across the … Read more
Robber Rabbits
This year, the rabbits robbed my orderly rows of green beans. They nipped nearly every plant neatly off at the stem. All that hard work tilling, raking, planting, and weeding produced mere stubs of plants! The only remedy for the … Read more
Gallivanting Beagle
Recently, a beagle wandered into our neighbourhood behaving like a lost dog. Doubtless, in his doggy mind, he was having an adventure. Trailing a chewed-off leash behind him, he was having the time of his doggy life. He saw absolutely … Read more
Bird Feeders
This year, watching the antics of the birds at the feeders in my yard has enthralled me. Birds swooped down to a branch, then hopped onto the feeder to peck away at succulent seeds. As the little birds darted to … Read more
Criminal Activity
Two years after we were married, my husband took a second job as a social worker. His main duty was to supervise teens and plan activities at a teen centre. Despite well-meaning programs, the teens still got into trouble. Sometimes, … Read more
Sufficient Grace
Last fall, I failed to see a tool left on the ground by a workman. Why had I missed seeing that tool? Some time before, I had noticed straight lines becoming wavy. Before long, when I looked at a person, … Read more
Well-Placed Hope
In the winter, the cold and snow cause the attendance at our small church to dwindle to a handful, but in the summer, when the "snowbirds" return, so does our attendance. Nevertheless, our Congregational Life Committee has been searching for … Read more
Carving Hearts
When I was a "tween" (between childhood and adolescence), I was sweet on a boy in my class. Like many tween girls do, I found excuses to walk out of my way past his house. My hope was to catch … Read more
Fluttering Flags
On Sunday, on my way to worship, I pass many different flags fluttering in the morning breeze. This weekend, I saw many of our nation's flags. During springtime, I occasionally saw a banner adorned with tulips or coloured eggs. Last … Read more
Our Dwelling Place
Amid the honking and clamour of a downtown Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, traffic jam, my car screeched to a halt. In front of me, bumper stickers plastered over the back of a battered red pickup shouted, "He who dies with the … Read more
A Sun Shelter
The Israelites of Moses' day trudged, sandal-shod, through the desert of Sinai. The need to find shelter from the blistering heat meant survival. Finding shelter meant so much more than just finding a pleasant place to rest for a night. … Read more
A Cause For Rejoicing
Our rural village is located about halfway between Erie and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Within the last few years, our minister was diagnosed as diabetic, and was also operated on twice to insert a stent into his heart. One Friday afternoon, … Read more
A Garden Shelter
One sizzling morning in Israel, I disembarked with other tourists from an air-conditioned bus, to trudge my way up the clay-baked hillside to Gethsemane. My eyes travelled through the aged trees which were fenced for protection. My gaze wandered along … Read more
Face To Face
As I entered the door with loaded hands, my golden retriever bounded across the living room. Reacting to her eighty-plus pounds of flying fur, I commanded, "Off, girl, off!" Simultaneously, I shoved with my knee and turned my back to … Read more
Me, Meditate?
Whenever I read articles urging me to meditate, my instant reaction is to ask questions. For me, meditation conjures up images of people practising yoga, or saffron-robed monks who spin prayer wheels in oriental temples. Similarly, some Christian teachers confuse … Read more
Who? Me Write?
On my yearly read through the Scriptures, Exodus has engrossed me. In the third chapter, where God called Moses from the burning bush, Moses waffled. He gave the Lord all sorts of reasons why he was the wrong guy to … Read more
A Heart Of Flesh
Before World War II, my father had been sensitive and loving. Afterward, he emerged among the walking wounded. He suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. As a sleepwalker ambles in the night, so nightmares about being attacked caused my father to … Read more
God's Dawn
Sometimes, life shocks us. Something unexpected comes hurtling at us like a comet from the night sky. We reel backward, thrown winded by events. Such was the case for me. Two groups I dearly love announced major changes. The first … Read more
Never Say Never
How many times we have said, "I'll never do that again!" Personally, I've lost count. Most recently, I shot off my mouth to someone without thinking it through. I never meant what I said to be offensive, but it was. … Read more
Father's Day
The year after Dad died, when I walked down the card aisles and saw all the Father's Day cards, I struggled with sadness. Now, many years have passed, but I still choke up from time to time. I miss my … Read more
What A Family Reunion!
The images flickering on the television of devastation and death following earthquakes in Haiti and Chile have brought so many personal memories flooding to the fore: my husband's first awareness of terminal illness, the struggle at home to provide quality … Read more
Like A Bee
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