Society’s expectations of men have changed dramatically over the last twenty years. Nonetheless, every child still needs to experience the healthy love, guidance, and example of a father or a father figure. I remember my father’s garden. He took immense satisfaction from tending his large, flourishing garden. By the time I was a teenager, I realized that his greatest joy in gardening came not from growing or eating the produce, but from giving it away. He delighted in sharing

This year, it feels as if spring has been a long time coming. We shivered in our winter coats through March and well into April. When the warm days finally arrived, Mother Nature caught up quickly. One day, the trees were in bud. The next day, fresh green leaves greeted us as we walked by. In my backyard, my dying tree came to life. Once again, it is resplendent in its spring finery. For sure, one more thick branch is bare. It did not make it through the winter, but that last

We have just celebrated Mothers’ Day. In our family, we now have four living generations. This spring, we are blessed with a new Mom. Joana is pregnant, due in July, bringing a fifth great-grandchild into our family. Like my other four great-grandchildren, this child has been surrounded by love since conception. Joana knows that being born in Canada into a middle-class family, supported through a professional education, means she can give her child, like my other four great-g

I’ve been reading Sarah Speed’s beautiful poems in the Sanctified Arts Lent/Easter Leaflet I received at Bridgenorth United Church. Poetry is not my strength, but occasionally I give it a try. This Easter poem was inspired by God, Sarah, and my great-grandson Riley. Plastic Box A plastic box. A yellow lid. I know the chaos, that hides inside. Eyes, legs, a jumble of pieces. There is no hope. I won’t even try. He’s only six. This child I love. He lifts the lid. He stares a w

Today is commonly called Good Friday. What does the “Good” in Good Friday really mean? Sacrifice? Love? Today’s reflection explores a different way of understanding Good Friday, not as payment, but as connection. The Goodness of Good Friday The Christian Church calls today “Good Friday.” The word “Good” comes from an old English term meaning “Holy.” There are two ways of understanding “Holy Friday”—the Friday before Easter. Some Christians see it as a “Holy” day to give thank

Why Tell Stories Over the years, my readers have often asked, “Why do you write books? Why do you tell stories?” Our Bible tells us that Jesus’ disciples asked him the same question after he told the story of the farmer planting seed (Matthew 13:1–9, The Message). “Why do you tell stories, Jesus?” He answered, “I tell stories to create readiness, to nudge people toward creative insight. In their present state, they can stare till doomsday and not see it, listen till they’re b

Self-Publishing Tips Beware of publishing companies that require thousands of dollars upfront. Self-publishing does require some financial investment. Over the next few weeks, I will deal with the essential costs to self-publishing your book. A Professional Editor - Expensive? Yes! Essential? Yes! You want your book to be the best it can be. We all start with a raw manuscript. Creating that manuscript is fun. I love the feeling of flying on God’s Spirit that comes as my finge