“I don't know why we are here, but I'm pretty sure that it is not in order to enjoy ourselves.” ― Ludwig Wittgenstein A bleak, hard and cold view of life. Wittgenstein, a native of Austria who spent much of his life in England, is regarded as one of the greatest thinkers of the 20th … Continue reading JOY
Whimsy
Snow
Snow – snow – fast falling snow! Snow on the house-tops – snow in the street – Snow overhead, and snow under feet – Snow in the country – snow in the town, Silently, silently sinking down; Everywhere, everywhere fast falling snow, Dazzling the eyes with its crystalline glow! Snow, snow – beautiful snow! Hear … Continue reading Snow
Who am I?
It was in a little church near St Marys, Ontario, that my wife and I were baptized and became members of the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite. After the service, the minister who had baptized us advised us to “Just be yourselves.” That was a very kind and generous welcome, but I didn’t know … Continue reading Who am I?
Ten beautiful things about winter in Saskatchewan
1. Sparkling landscapes. The timing is unpredictable, but every once in a while every tree, bush and weed is turned into a dazzling crystalline structure by hoar frost. 2. The purity of the snow. All that is ugly is buried under a white blanket. 3. The absence of flies, ants and beetles. They will return … Continue reading Ten beautiful things about winter in Saskatchewan
Truth is tough
Truth is tough. It will not break like a bubble at a touch; nay, you may kick it around all day like a football, and it will be round and full at evening. -Oliver Wendell Holmes
Self-made flower
(This is my first attempt to create an image using Libre Office Draw.) Years ago I was struck by a cartoon in le Bulletin des Agriculteurs, a French language farm paper. It showed a neat row of flowers in bloom, all standing up straight with perfectly shaped petals. Except for one. It looked rather limp … Continue reading Self-made flower
Loss of power
A few days ago, I reorganized our home office. When I turned my wife's desk a quarter turn, all the wires that were hidden behind it were now a mess in the open air. Not as bad as the illustration above, but seriously unsightly and possibly dangerous. I went about to put a little order … Continue reading Loss of power
Do “All Things” Really Work For Good?
Your post brought to my mind a memory from years ago. A brother and I were superintendents for Vacation Bible School. As we were choosing choruses for the children to sing, the brother pointed to the words following and said: "If these children remember nothing else from this week but the words of this chorus, … Continue reading Do “All Things” Really Work For Good?
Uncivil societies
Today the supreme court of Pakistan acquitted Asia Bibi of all the charges against her. Mrs. Bibi, who is Roman Catholic, was found guilty of blasphemy in 2010 and condemned to death. The incident allegedly took place during a dispute with several Muslims over a glass of water. Radical Islamist leaders in Pakistan consider this … Continue reading Uncivil societies
How can killing make the world better?
It's in all the news media today. A man in Pittsburgh believed the world would be a better place without Jews and this morning he did his part to make it happen. This seems to be a time-honoured tradition; if you can't handle your own problems then blame them on somebody else and try to … Continue reading How can killing make the world better?
Flatlander Faith 