Last fall, my parents went to a cranberry festival in the Muskoka district of central Ontario, Canada. Along with all the cranberry-related activities, they could purchase "fresh-from-the-farm" berries. They bought some for the whole family, and, since then, I have … Read more
A little nine-year-old, whom I shall call "Michelle", has been having a hard time since the tragedy of September 11th, 2001. Her dad's job takes him away from home most weeks, and he must travel by air. Although the family … Read more
I ruptured my right Achilles tendon playing in a game for the church softball team. After surgery to repair it, a blood clot formed in my leg while it was healing. As a result, my leg swells when it isn't … Read more
Back in the late 1980s, a friend had a pair of eyeglasses, which turned a rose colour when she went out into the sun. This, in turn, made everything she looked at the same colour. I tried on those "rose-coloured … Read more
Golf may well be, as Mark Twain described it, "a pleasant walk, spoiled". The last time I played, I was so pleased with myself, as my shot from the tee, on the ninth hole at Quail Meadows, appeared to land … Read more
Not too long after the terrorist attack at the World Trade Centre on September 11, 2001, I decided that it was time to return to my home church. It had been a long time since I had sat in a … Read more
I had finally resolved to pull out all the faded flowers, trim back the roses, and generally prepare the flowerbeds for the winter that lay ahead. It was a cold day, and my feet were freezing. I quietly chastised myself … Read more
My friend Henry was an old saint with a special touch for babes in Christ. One particular day stands out in my mind, when Henry, our pastor, and I were having a chat in the church foyer. Pastor asked Henry … Read more
As we study Jesus' words in the Parable of the Sower, and reflect on their meaning, we usually focus on our particular fertility. We recognize when we are like the path or rocky ground, or when we are choked out … Read more
In a recent English class, where we were learning reading and writing skills, we were exploring the meaning behind different words. Our instructor listed a variety of words, and we were asked to choose one word and come up with … Read more