Letting go of a beloved job is hard
I never expected that leaving my position as a parliamentarian’s constituency assistant, which I’ve loved for over eleven years, would feel more like severing a limb than embracing freedom.
Their jobs aren’t easy, but thank God for hospitals and their staff
The ward’s halls are paved with anxiety, painted with sighs and patched over with prayer. COVID and other nasty body snatchers hover. But she stands at the nursing station, pen in hand, checking charts. She’s young. Calm. Pretty. And pretty weary. Three more hours till she can leave. Her littles …
Only love can keep us strong
I generally don’t like animated movies. But last Boxing Day, our three eldest granddaughters introduced me to Encanto, a new movie from Disney that pleasantly surprised me. “Would you watch it again?” one asked a few weeks later. “I would. And I did! Gampa and I watched it together.” She …
Don’t forget your spiritual harness
It’s hard staying in shape when one isn’t athletic, and their primary vocation requires sitting at a desk. That’s me. But I love walking, although this winter’s frigid temperatures often trap me inside. Our sheepdog, Cash, who took me for twice-daily walks until the great winter chill set in), abruptly …
Scott Loves Christian Music
“People love lists,” I heard my friend Scott Fitzsimmons say during a radio interview on Yorkton’s 98.5 The Rock FM. Jordan, his friend and colleague, wanted the station’s audience to hear about Scott’s newly established YouTube channel, “Scott loves Christian Music.” He won’t be ranking the albums and titles he …
The all occasion, perfect prayer
We prayed the Lord’s Prayer every school day, in my elementary public school classrooms. I still hear the voices of my classmates, heads bowed, hands folded. Holly Parker, always the class rebel, likely peeked and passed notes to Larry McKay. (Okay, I peeked at least once.) “Teach us to pray,” …
Vote with understanding and prayer
As I write, Canada is midway through a fractious federal election campaign. Many people feel Election 2021 could change our country forever. Yesterday I had a conversation that irritated me. With the election campaign well underway, this mature adult didn’t know if the election is provincial or federal. They couldn’t …
God always answers prayer
God always answers prayer. But the Lord of the universe is not our personal genie. Like any good parent, he responds as he wills, when he wills. People prayed for rain for most of Canada’s blistering, fire-ridden, drought-plagued summer. It didn’t come till mid-August. The evening that first broke the …
Still loving, 45 years in
To celebrate our 31st anniversary the Preacher handed me a card with an ape holding a bouquet of flowers on the front. The message read, “To my Darling Wife—I got you a card that’s just like me.” But the card seemed glued shut. I tried several times to open it. …
How great are you?
I wrote the paragraphs below thirteen years ago. The memory contained remains sweet. I met a dark-haired elf tonight. Loved him on sight. The enchanting child of God sat atop of his crossed legs in a miniature wheelchair, his hands stroking the air as though petting a kitten. His curious …