Author Archive

Stilling The Storm

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

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

Multiplying Like Rodents

Friday, October 5, 2012

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

Friday, July 27, 2012

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

Sunday, April 1, 2012

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

Monday, March 26, 2012

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

Monday, February 27, 2012

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

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

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

Saturday, December 31, 2011

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

Thursday, December 29, 2011

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

Monday, December 26, 2011

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

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

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

Monday, October 24, 2011

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

Friday, September 23, 2011

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

Thursday, September 8, 2011

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

Saturday, August 27, 2011

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

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

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

Thursday, August 4, 2011

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

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

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

Monday, July 4, 2011

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

Thursday, June 16, 2011

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

Sunday, May 22, 2011

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

Monday, May 9, 2011

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

Saturday, April 16, 2011

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

Monday, November 15, 2010

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?

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

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?

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

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

Monday, September 6, 2010

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 Can!

Friday, August 20, 2010

I am reading in Exodus. In the chapter where God calls Moses from the burning bush to lead Israel out of Egypt, Moses waffles. He gives all sorts of reasons to God about why he is the wrong guy for … Read more

God's Dawn

Friday, August 6, 2010

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

Saturday, July 10, 2010

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

Sunday, June 20, 2010

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!

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

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

Monday, May 31, 2010

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

 



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