Our life doesn’t have to be going great to experience joy. Even when things are going well, it is easy to take it all for granted. Whenever I am able to live with an awareness of God’s presence, even when things are bad, a can sense this joy. Most often, it is our response to… Continue reading 5 Practices – To Put a Spring in Your Step
Category: Relationships
Staying Open
I want to stay open to the stirrings of God’s Spirit more often this year. He is pursuing us daily but I so often miss those moments. This year, I want to be more tuned in. With all that science, can you tell me how light enters the soul?” Henry David Thoreau. Discovering God’s love is like… Continue reading Staying Open
Love That Won’t Tie You Up.
The wedding party of smartly dressed young men and colourful bridesmaids lined the front of the chapel as the bride glided slowly up the aisle to meet her husband-to-be. At the right time, I began to recite, “Dearly beloved we are gathered here today . . . . ” Within any wedding crowd there are… Continue reading Love That Won’t Tie You Up.
On Following Your Heart
If you could have whatever you want, what would it be? Do you really know what you want? In my experience, my desires are all jumbled up. Sometimes, my wants are all about me. Then, it’s about money or affection. At another time, I’m benevolent and want others to be free and fulfilled. The longing… Continue reading On Following Your Heart
Friendship, Servanthood and Love
Sometimes when I think of obedience, I’m reminded of those schools for training dogs. Their obedience is won with treats and repetition. Who hasn’t at sometime been told not to ask questions, but just do it? Maybe in the military such unquestioned obedience is a virtue, but in all other relationships, it leaves a person… Continue reading Friendship, Servanthood and Love
The Elusive Spirit
The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 3:8 Snow leopards are one of the world’s rarest, most elusive and little studied large animals. They are generally… Continue reading The Elusive Spirit
A Gentle Voice
They say most people would rather do the following than attend a family function with certain relatives: Be poked in the eye with a sharp stick (16%) Get a case of hemorrhoids (12%) Swallow a live bug (12%) Get audited by Revenue Canada (11%) Clean the toilet (9%) When it comes to conflict, silence or… Continue reading A Gentle Voice
Risk Valuing Others
“There can be no peacemaking or social work or anything else to improve our world unless we are convinced that the other is important.” Jean Vanier. One person who sees the value in another can alter that person’s life. I would like to be that person to someone just as I have needed someone like… Continue reading Risk Valuing Others
Jesus in Disguise
Being present with people in conversation and living in the moment, isn’t always something that comes natural, at least to me. Perhaps this woolgathering comes from insecurities or my short attention span. Being on the introverted side of the personality scale, I know I can be less interested in small talk and tune out unless… Continue reading Jesus in Disguise
The Interrupted Life
It has been said, “Life is in the interruptions.” Christmas also reminds us that God is in the interruptions. We spend so much of our lives on hold, it seems. Now we are waiting for Christmas holidays to start and then we’ll wait for the next paycheck to pay for them. We stand in… Continue reading The Interrupted Life