Many times in the gospels we see Jesus’ disciples struggling to keep up or getting things the wrong way round. This might be somewhat encouraging for anyone trying to follow Jesus today – a welcomed reminder that following Jesus isn’t always as easy as you might think. In Jesus we meet a new kind of person, someoneRead more
Hope is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul, And sings the tune without the words, And never stops at all (Emily Dickinson) Whenever I preside over a funeral or memorial, joining with and serving people in grief, there’s often talk about the last experience shared with the loved one being mourned. WeRead more
The LORD is my light and my salvation – so why should I be afraid? The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? (Psalm 27.1) At about age five I saw a film that shook me to my core. Harry and the Hendersons was a story about a familyRead more
Every year the long awaited Christmas season arrives and, try as I might to let it linger, it does seem to dissipate rather quickly leaving something of a dull ache behind. Perhaps this feeling is telling of how we approach Christmas in the first place, as it can so often end up buried in hurryRead more
My earliest memory is of travelling on a plane. Airline regulations have changed since I was a child but back then, rather than buckling children up the entire flight, adults would simply put a blanket on the floor and lay small children under their feet to sleep. One would hope, as anyone who’s traveled with childrenRead more
“And in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honour at feasts, who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make longRead more
It’s a little over a month until Christmas. With each passing day we become increasingly aware of all that’s about to hit us. Papers are due, work parties pile up, school play rehearsals loom. Then there’s all the gifting, cooking and family gatherings to consider as we get closer to the big day. Some of this isRead more
The quiet loves the cold It follows where she wanders. And in their union Sound and touch conceive the mist Outgrowing both, another sense As sight is added to the clan. Last of all the snow arrives By night, heavyweight and silent And all we thought we knew looks new. The Fort is as quietRead more
St. John has rather affectionate and accurate titles for his listeners in the letter we first credit him. “Little children” is found amongst John’s addresses along with “brothers and sisters” and “beloved”. These terms convey a certain fond and compassionate sentiment, even in the midst of John’s stout teaching. The letter is full of robustRead more
In a suburban backyard a boy plays in a plastic pool along with his younger brother while mother looks on. They splash and scream and run around the yard, darting in and out of the water. By noon the pool is three parts water, one part grass. Summer is here and they’re having the timeRead more