Cloudy days of the soul often block our view of God, threatening faith in his goodness. But they persist in our souls’ regions, these pandemic times. “Cloudy with increased chance of precipitation, in the form of salty tears,” a forecaster may say. The Preacher has fought depression ever since he …
At this writing, our globe has grappled with COVID-19 for almost a year. It has changed everything for too many people, and too many things for everyone. “I don’t want a new normal,” my friend said, referring to those pandemic changes. She stamped her foot a bit and fumed. “I—we …
I’m grateful for democratic elections, for national assistance programs and government watchdogs. But more than a restoration of what we had before COVID, Canada needs God. We need changed hearts. Too many other countries have demonstrated what happens otherwise… No trick or treaters, those. Blows rattled our friends’ door in …
“What are you up to?” the Preacher just asked. “I’m wrestling words,” I said, peering at him from behind my laptop. “Writing next week’s column. Why?” “When you’re done wrestling,” he said, “could you demonstrate the therapy harp to Anthony? He’s only seen pictures.” I’ll likely never be done word-wrestling. …
I met a spermophilus in our backyard the other day; literally, “seed eater.” A thirteen-striped ground squirrel, also called a thirteen-liner, among other names. The tiny mammal scampered back and forth between a hiding spot beside three ceramic frogs and the seed-strewn area under the birdfeeder. I wandered over as …
He’s ninety-six now, living in a residential care facility in B.C. I can’t call him on the phone anymore. He hears very little and struggles with dementia. My sister tells me that until she mentions me, he doesn’t speak of me. Then our father remembers the daughter two provinces away. …
Riding high on his Harley, Dwayne had no reason to think about how his life would end or what would come after. Suddenly plastered against the side of a semi-cab, Dwayne had no time to think about how his life would end or what would come after. Weeks later, now …
“Even when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, you are with me,” we read in the beloved twenty-third Psalm. In these fear-heavy days, God still walks and talks with us. And when some of us sicken, and some die, he is there too. His presence is …
The surgeon waved my comments aside. “Your eyes are perfect. You could legally fly a plane.” “No, sir,” I responded. “I couldn’t.” I had tried to explain, during that post-op appointment following my cataract surgeries (both peepers, two weeks apart), that I was NOT happy with my new eyes. I’d …
I’m pounding the keyboard of my old Dell into the table right now. I spoke to a young friend earlier today. Yesterday was unseasonably warm for mid-winter. It seems that someone, taking advantage of the thaw, trespassed onto their family’s property and turned on an outside tap. All night long, …
