It’s my habit, during the last week of the year, to reflect and set intentions. To make a list of my top ten reads. To choose a word for the coming year. To tidy up files and create new ones. I’ve done some of these things. But mostly I’ve wandered and wondered and tried to put
Boxing Day
I’ve always enjoyed Boxing Day. It’s quiet and low key—a day of books, jigsaw puzzles, and leftovers. This year Boxing and Christmas Days look much the same, but still there is a sense of exhaling this morning. A hint of reflection and intention with a measure of rumination. There are things to do, but not yet.
Merry Christmas.
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I
Need a little Christmas?
It’s no secret: I’ve struggled this year, and in recent months the battle has almost overwhelmed. I wrote on my blog yesterday how I felt like I have failed Advent and someone who played a pivotal role in my messed up life decades ago, and who remains a dear friend of my heart, sent me
Unchanging
Today is Tuesday, December 22. We are days away from Christmas and a piece of me feels like I failed Advent. Hope. Peace. Joy. Love. Can I honestly say I’ve leaned in to these things as I intended? Have I lingered in the longing? Or has it been more of a stumbling tumbling season of grasping
Joy?
A question is posed in a Zoom room: what’s bringing you joy right now? I rack my brain to come up with something—anything—and, when called upon, manage a barely coherent (and, frankly, insincere) reply. The truth is that nothing is bringing me joy right now. I’ve said here before that I’m wrestling with depression. I’m
Joy
Once upon a time, around this time of year, we sat in the SeaTac airport sipping coffee and listening to Christmas carols played on a grand piano while we waited for our flight to take us to the happiest place on earth—grand baby land. Then we retired and returned to Canada and, around this time
A Refresher
We are often most in the dark when we are the most certain, and the most enlightened when we are the most confused. M. Scott Peck, The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth Scott Peck was not a man without fault, nor a stranger to trials. But nothing
Five Minute Friday – Beyond
I’m joining in with a group of writers for Five Minute Friday where we’re given a prompt (this week it’s BEYOND) and write for five minutes about it. It’s one of those words with subtle nuances in meaning, depending on whether it’s used as a preposition, adverb, or noun. This morning, I’m considering it in terms
A Weary World
My vision is blurred . I squint and tilt my head just so, but still struggle to see what I most want to focus on. What comes to mind most often are two words lifted from one of my favourite songs of the season. Words that have nothing to do with holly jolly or jingling
(Almost) Wordless Wednesday
I want to share a photo I took of the grocery store flowers last week but I can think of nothing to say this morning. Wait. It’s Wednesday. (Almost) Wordless Wednesday. Perfect. (P.S. There’s a new post up on my other blog.) (I’m being quiet now.)