Long ago, my husband, our two small boys, and I drove to another state where my husband had taken a new job. After arriving at the new town, during the first morning after a night in a motel, we ate breakfast at a nearby café. We needed … Read more

"Are you ready to hear a Mayberry moment?" I once pastored a small country church near a tiny country town — located, in fact, in the smallest county in the state. The chairman of the deacons served as the chief of police. We always … Read more

I didn't think I wanted very much. I simply needed a lightbulb to replace the blown-out bulb in the utility room of the hospital ward where I was the charge nurse that night, years ago. I quickly discovered that this procedure was not my … Read more

I'm old enough to remember hearing popular radio program announcers say things like "Don't touch that dial" and "Stay tuned" and "Tune in again next time" that would keep the attention of the listeners during station breaks. I was … Read more

A year ago, early in Advent, on December 3, 2020, I took part in a Zoom dialogue with our Prime Minister and 400 faith leaders from across Canada. "I have been proud of our fellow Canadians to make it through this pandemic, but we have … Read more

A slightly built woman in her late twenties lay curled in a fetal position on a patch of grass between the sidewalk and a parking lot, just a few doors down from where I live. "Could you call 911 for help?" I asked someone going by with a … Read more

One of our local churches is in a high pedestrian traffic area, just off the main street, next to the post office and close to the library. In front of the church, there is an electronic sign which has a slogan on it, as well as the time … Read more

A lady who lives on my floor and would therefore be considered a neighbour, recently shared with me her experience with another neighbour. Her husband had died some years previously. They had no children. When health factors required that … Read more

According to statistics, in Canada, depending on location, between five and a half to six percent of the people who are able to work cannot find meaningful employment. Yet, employers don't seem to be able to find workers. Every once in a … Read more

Because I was an athlete in my younger years, God often uses sporting illustrations to teach me spiritual truths — they resonate with me. I was reminded of one of those when we took the grandkids to the swimming pool during March … Read more

Do you ever enter a room, and then wonder why? (Please say that I am not the only one who does this.) What am I doing? I look around, puzzled. With an exasperated sigh, I go back to the place where I was before, hoping to trigger my … Read more

Of all the stores to which my grandfather delivered ice cream, the one where the dog sat on my foot was my favourite. Aside from a few chain pharmacies and gas stations, mom-and-pop stores ran the retail world. Small stores owned by … Read more

I recall an instance in my life when I found forgiveness to be an extreme struggle to resolve. One evening, I had just finished reading Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37 . I closed my Bible, and said out loud, … Read more

Sometimes, it takes a period of enforced inactivity to make us look at things from a different perspective. This winter, I suffered a bad attack of the flu. I thought that I'd soon recover and that "tomorrow will be better". But as the … Read more

As I was doing my daily Bible reading in 1 Samuel 15, I came to the part where Saul is confronted by Samuel because, instead of destroying the Amalekites as the Lord commanded, he didn't finish the job. He got "creative" by sparing King … Read more

Every Wednesday during Lent, the church where I attend offers a soup lunch and Bible study. Last week was my turn to provide and serve the soup. Although not a huge task, making soup from scratch can take a bit of time and preparation. I … Read more

Recently, I attended a beautiful memorial service for Pastor Tom, a Baptist pastor who had a ministry to marginalized people living with addictions or untreated mental illness, or in poverty, in the city of Victoria, British Columbia, … Read more

For Canadians, July 1, 2017, is special: it is Canada's 150th anniversary! In December, I will have lived in this country for 50 years. I often return to my country of birth, England, but I love Canada. When I have visitors from England, … Read more

Have you noticed while driving in the city or on the highway how some cars veer off to the right or left? It never comforts me when I see cars leaving their lane and crossing the line into oncoming traffic. Most of the time, the offending … Read more

I was recently on holiday in London, England, and as I was standing in Paddington Station, I noticed a poster for Transport for London, the city's transit service. Their slogan is "Every Journey Matters". Immediately, I was struck by the … Read more

I awoke this morning from a vivid, song-filled dream. Off to the right in my peripheral vision, I saw a white-robed man loudly pounding a grand piano, accompanied by invisible stringed instruments and trumpets. Music filled the air while … 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

Everything God does on earth has a purpose for humanity, so I have been intrigued by His purpose behind the manger scene and the obvious poverty of the animal stalls and the manger bed. We are so used to the nativity scene with the manger … Read more

Most people in my Bible class at the Meaford Long Term Care Centre have worries. Some are unable to get around without help; others are having trouble remembering. There are those who worry about their families and, in some cases, their … Read more

After a bombardment of emails, I took the time to unsubscribe from many sites that had at one time been useful but were now distracting me from relevant information. Not having received my PresbyCan Daily devotional for a period of … Read more

Each April for the past three years, our household has received a picture postcard from the office of the Grey County Weed Inspector. The cards advised of an invasive plant called Wild Chervil that threatens forage crops. The postcards ask … Read more

I recently watched a program on the television about a man who had been entered into the Guinness World Records for the longest flight of a paper airplane that he had made. He had spent a lifetime, since he was a young boy, not just … Read more

On an outing, my husband always manages to end up at a Christian bookstore, not that he is looking for something particular, but in browsing around, he never leaves the store empty-handed. On this particular day, I was the one … Read more

Loving yourself is a divine law! It is in the great commandment in Scripture. Yet for many of us, a love of self has become synonymous with ungodly selfish pursuits. In Scripture, there are far more references to godly self-love … Read more

We have an upright vacuum cleaner for the downstairs carpets and kitchen, and one upstairs with a long hose and arm to get around the bathroom and bedrooms with all their nooks and crannies. Usually, the only time vacuum cleaners … Read more

Recently, my husband and I travelled to Washington, D.C., U.S.A., to visit the Holocaust Memorial Museum. Although I have seen documentaries about the horrific events which took place in Nazi Germany over sixty years ago, they cannot compare to seeing … Read more

At the grocery store checkout counter, a homeless man with a long brown beard and long scraggly hair and wearing a torn corduroy suit was mumbling strangely in an agitated manner in front of me. Ahead of him was an … Read more

I remember my enthusiasm as a new Christian joining Bible studies at a quaint little church where I became a member. During one session, I was surprised when the minister confessed his prior disbelief in the existence of Satan during … Read more