The little electric stove in the corner of the room hums (and makes a disconcerting noise that has me wondering if it’s nearing the end of its lifespan) and Murphy, my constant companion, is tucked in his crate watching every move I make. A fading bunch of grocery store flowers is on the table next
Friday’s Fave Five – December 4
I'm hunting hard to find five things for Friday's Fave Five this difficult week when the days all ran together. Let's see . . . Conversation. A week ago, on her day off work, my daughter and I chatted on the phone for a couple of hours, took a break, and then chatted for a
Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?
I think there’s a song with this name. I couldn’t tell you for sure, and I certainly couldn’t hum few bars. But this phrase creeps into my mind again and again this year. When I wake in the morning, my first thoughts are anchoring, as I establish what day it is and what, if any,
And Now it is December
Now it is December. I think I should write something encouraging in these darkening days, but come up empty. I don’t want to wear a mask here, so I speak of the barrenness and trust I’m not alone in the wilderness. I don’t have three steps to find happiness, five ideas to streamline this season, seven
Morning Hope
In the sweet stillness of early morning I light a candle. There’s nothing special about a bit of white wax and a wick in a small glass container but as the flame flickers it casts a glow where I need one. Come . . . There’s nothing magical about it; it is the hope candle because
An Advent Prayer for Hope
Hope. It’s been a year of hope deferred. If I’m honest, it’s been longer, but this year has been something else. The world, caught up in uncertainty and a host of other things there’s no need to name, is weary. We all feel it to some degree and it’s getting heavy. Really heavy. You tell
Friday’s Fave Five – November 27
It’s been one of those weeks where the days all run together. New restrictions mean Gerry is at home unable to hike with his buddies and that’s hard for him. Me, I’m used to staying at home—it’s kind of my super power. But we’ve been intentional about going out for a short while every day
Something Fresh
Often, I take photographs looking out over the ridge where we live to the hills and clay cliffs across the valley. You’ve seen some of them here. Less frequently, I lift my lens toward the south because it’s just not as spectacular. And yet the view from there captivates me in a different way. Early
Bubbling
I can’t order proof copies of new unpublished books from Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) because of COVID and the fact that I’m in Canada which, of course, in the grand scheme is insignificant but in my little world is an annoyance. It also makes absolutely no sense. I need to get creative to do
This is the way of the kingdom . . .
I hear a whisper in a variety of voices over the course of many days—all with a similar message. And while there is a season for “big picture” thinking, so too is there a time to dial it in and focus on what’s right there in front of me. I think of times when I’ve
Fresh Start
It's Monday. The last one before we enter the season of Advent and I wake with a fresh intention to walk through this week different than I have in recent weeks. Some words spoken yesterday, by our pastor in the online church service and by our daughter in good conversation later, nudge me toward a