Year: 2013

It was a dreary, windy, and cloudy day as some of us went for a long walk to "Gerry's Point". Gerry was one of the friends with whom we had gone camping on Manitoulin Island and who had passed away. One day a few years before, as he went … Read more

In the early fall, one thing that I always notice as I'm delivering the community newspaper on my route is the abundance of spider webs. It seems that the tiny creatures sense the onset of winter and prepare by working assiduously to … Read more

Recently, while dining out with my daughter, we overheard the people seated at the table across from us discussing the topic of religion. All seemed to agree that one religion is as good as the other and that certain behaviours that are … Read more

On my bedroom wall, I have a framed print of the famous scene painted by W. Holman Hunt of Jesus standing at the door knocking. It belonged to my grandmother, and it always hung beside her bed, which we shared when I would visit. As a … Read more

There's an old story told about a seamstress in nineteenth-century France who happened to be blind. One day, her church was trying to raise some money for a mission, and she handed over 20 francs. In those days, that was a lot of money, … Read more

I recently spent some time with my husband finishing a basement in an existing home for a job he was working on. From a bare concrete floor evolved a bathroom, two bedrooms, and a living room space. In a weekend, 475 square feet of … Read more

The sound of the rain began as a welcome, gentle trickle, bouncing off the maroon-coloured leaves of the bushes just outside of our porch. I sat protected from the rain, and watched as the rain rapidly grew into a ferocious downpour, … Read more

As the sun shines on God's creation, we are reminded of its beauty. The green tree leaves shimmering in the light and gently fluttering in the soft breezes are beautiful. Gazing on such a sight can lift our mood and bring us pleasure. But … Read more

As people leave their churches and organized religion, what do they put in its place? I am noticing an increasing emphasis on spiritual things today. Even a secular magazine like The Readers Digest has an article this month called "Til … Read more

We have a corn broom which I keep in the porch. It is extremely handy for sweeping the walk and floors. Unfortunately, the broom was left standing with its head down and its handle up against the wall on a regular basis, instead of the … Read more