She doesn't want to do her creative writing assignment. "It's too hard!" she says. "I don't want to go for a walk and write down what I see and hear and feel." "Come walking with me?" I offer. "We can do it together." We find ourselves crunching along a trail on a sunny Thursday morning. … Continue reading Words
Category: Inspirational
Space for the Savior
Sunlight filters through the curtain. Though weak and wintry, the light is a welcome rarity this time of year. The clock shows the lateness of the morning, yet the house is quiet. Restful. We have no obligations this morning. Nothing pressing on our time. It's beautiful having space to breathe. Over the break, we've taken … Continue reading Space for the Savior
A Mother’s Love
Everyone was out except the two of us. I was sipping tea and reading. She was writing a journal entry on her computer. I glanced up from my corner of the couch, and I could see the title big and bold: "My Family." "May I read it?" She ducked her head shyly. "It's kind of … Continue reading A Mother’s Love
Sanctuary
One of my favourite places to go birdwatching is a park nestled among steel mills and scrapyards. Nearby, the highway roars past, often carrying bumper-to-bumper traffic. This is the grittiest part of the city, with air that hangs heavy with the stench of pollution. In previous years, the creek running through this park made the … Continue reading Sanctuary
Where is God in the Chaos?
"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?
Bitter Roots
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
When Being a Fighter Means Asking for Help
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
Thoughts on Christian Dissidence
How should a Christian dissent? Is there a right way and a wrong way? What role are we called to play?
Tea with Jael: Just an Ordinary Girl
I've spent a few days studying Judges 4 and 5. It's the story of Deborah, the only female among the twelve judges listed in the book. It's the story of Barak, the Israelite man who was too afraid to go to war against the king of Canaan's army unless Deborah came with him. And it's … Continue reading Tea with Jael: Just an Ordinary Girl
Tea With Ehud: God Made You Weird on Purpose
I'm sipping tea from the beautiful glass mug that my four-year old gave me for Christmas. Chai spice, because it's my favourite. The worn study Bible that lies open on the bed beside me used to belong to my mother. I tried to get another Bible a couple of years ago, but the pages were … Continue reading Tea With Ehud: God Made You Weird on Purpose