"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18 The past two years, and in particular the past two weeks, have felt surreal. I've watched friends lose their homes and their livelihoods due to lockdowns and mandates. I've watched families ripped apart over health decisions. I've seen … Continue reading Where is God in the Chaos?
"Why doesn't God ever answer my prayers?" Her anguish rolls down her cheeks in large, salty droplets. I gather her shaking body into my arms and hold her close. It was a little thing that set off the flood of tears, but I know the question stems from something much bigger. Why, Lord? I've asked … Continue reading When Your Child Wrestles with Big Questions
When my neighbour got too old to garden, the nettle moved in. It came in from the alley, under the fence. It spread through rhizomes -- rootstalks that crept unseen beneath the soil. The rhizomes sprung tall and dense patches of weeds. My neighbour's beautiful gardens, the ones that brought her so much joy, were … Continue reading Bitter Roots
Today is Bell Lets Talk day here in Canada. Whatever your thoughts on that, I think we can all agree that putting our stories out there is risky. Others have done it and their courage changed my life. Now it's my turn to be brave. This is the short version of my story, but it's … Continue reading When Being a Fighter Means Asking for Help
How should a Christian dissent? Is there a right way and a wrong way? What role are we called to play?
The grey sky outside my window is etched with leafless branches. The ground below is muddied brown with rain. The unusual warmth today holds no hint of the wintry cold that's moving in tomorrow … or the return to regular scheduling. It's our last day of Christmas break. Routine is beckoning. The past few weeks … Continue reading A Promise for a New Year
They're not colourful this year, the leaves. More rusty and dull. And the darkness falls so early now. There'll be frost soon, the first of the season. Autumn is well underway. Our days have fallen into a pattern that barely gives us time to catch our breath. Classes, lessons, meetings, field trips, church, and in … Continue reading In the Noise
I sit by the shoreline, my hair teased by the same breeze that skitters across the surface of the lake. Far off, a large ship sails seemingly at the edge of the world. Just two days ago, the wind chill hovered at the freezing mark. Today, the girls roll up their pants to wade in … Continue reading Peace in Chaos
What do you do when things don't turn out the way you wished they would? When people you love are suffering. When you're holding your breath for a miracle, but the miracle doesn't come. What do you do with that? The Bible says, "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer" (Rom. 12:12). … Continue reading When Things Don’t Go As Planned
Embracing wonder. If I were to choose a phrase or theme for this year, this would be it. The wonder of learning. The wonder of living. The wonder of simply being together. In all the heaviness and nitty grittiness of life these days, there is loveliness to be found. Even if it's sometimes hard to … Continue reading Embracing Wonder
The Grace-Filled Life 