Two years later we had a very dry summer. About the only things that flourished were the Russian thistles. Then they would dry up, break off at ground level and blow across the prairie landscape. Often they would collect in great masses along fence lines, becoming fire hazards. Dad liked to collect them in a … Continue reading The Day I Had to Bully My Father
Stories from my life
Preface
Half a century ago a drunken young man announced to a couple of friends that one day he would be a Mennonite and wear a beard. His friends dismissed this as babbling inspired by the booze he had consumed. The young man himself was bewildered. The few Mennonites he had met, from his mother’s side … Continue reading Preface
An abiding church
As soon as we were married my wife and I set out on a search to find people who still believed and lived the faith once delivered to the saints. I firmly believed we would find that faith among the spiritual descendants of the Anabaptist & Mennonites of long ago. Time and again our search … Continue reading An abiding church
Looking for real Mennonites
All I learned about Mennonites while I was growing up was that my mother had been one and had left because the German language was more important than the faith and that my grandma, a dear sweet old lady, was one and wanted me to learn German so I could be a Christian. Perhaps there … Continue reading Looking for real Mennonites
Precious memories
My cousin Dennis was born September 9, 1937, the first of six children born to Art and Katherine Goodnough. His wife called last week to tell us that his children were planning a surprise birthday party for him for his 80th birthday, last Saturday. Could we come? I thought about it briefly, maybe half a … Continue reading Precious memories
Journeying on
We were having Vacation Bible School and for crafts we were doing a manger scene with Joseph, Mary and the baby Jesus. I started calling Mary’s husband Joe. I glimpsed a hint of a smile on Miss Parker’s face, just before Miss Napier let me know that I was not to be so flippant and … Continue reading Journeying on
Catechism Classes
(It has been five years since I first posted this. I thought it would be good to post it again to give some background before telling more of my spiritual journey.) About the only thing my parents had in common was a feeling that the church in which they had been raised had let them … Continue reading Catechism Classes
Smoke gets in your eyes . . .
and your sinuses, and your throat. The forest fires in British Columbia are still burning. The smoke has wafted in other directions for the past several weeks, but yesterday and today it is back in our country. There is a blue haze in the air, accompanied by a faint aroma of burning evergreens. Elderly people … Continue reading Smoke gets in your eyes . . .
The breaking point
Dad and I had never been close; fear of his impatience and anger made me keep a safe distance. As I grew up the gulf between us widened and neither of us knew how to bridge it. One Sunday in June of 1959 we were on our way home from church. I was driving, Mom … Continue reading The breaking point
Cat or dog: which is smarter?
I will confess my prejudice right off the bat – I think cats are smarter. I have met some well-trained dogs that gave every evidence of having a keen intelligence. Most dogs, though, if left to themselves, don't seem to have a lot of smarts. They chase cars, defecate on the lawn and have really … Continue reading Cat or dog: which is smarter?
