Learning and Teaching

Atheism

Rossetti makes the point somewhere, bitterly but with great truth, that the worst moment for the atheist is when he is really thankful and has nobody to thank. G.K. Chesterton

Spring fever

In books, spring always seems to come in a rush. Homesteaders on the prairies, or trappers in the northern bush, endure a long harsh winter, their food  and their firewood have almost run out and the snow is so deep they can't get out to replenish their supplies.. Then one day they notice something different … Continue reading Spring fever

When you and I were young, Maggie

I wandered today to the hill, Maggie, To watch the scene below, The creek and the creaking old mill, Maggie, As we used to, long ago. The green grove is gone from the hill, Maggie, Where first the daisies sprang, The creaking old mill is still, Maggie, Since you and I were young. And now … Continue reading When you and I were young, Maggie

Hasn’t learned the rules yet

Last Sunday as we were walking up the stairs afterSunday School, I took note of our youngest minister and his youngest daughter ahead of me. Heidi, two years and almost four months old, was walking up the stairs beside her dad, her right in his.  In her left hand was the strap for her dad's … Continue reading Hasn’t learned the rules yet

Seek peace, find happiness

And it did for one wild moment cross my mind that, perhaps those might not be the very best judges of the relation of religion to happiness who, by their own account, had neither one nor the other. -G. K. Chesterton

It’s all in the timing

There is a time in the life of every problem when it is big enough to see and small enough to solve. - Mike Leavitt

Family Day musings

Today is Family Day in my part of Canada. It is a holiday that was begun in one province several years ago and is slowly spreading across the country. Our dining room table was covered with jigsaw puzzle pieces this morning, from a 1,000 piece puzzle my wife started yesterday when we had company, an … Continue reading Family Day musings

My day so far

9:00    check weather - forecast of 10 -15 cm snow, winds 40 gusting to 60 km/h 9:30    wife leaves for city just as snow begins to fall 9:35    start work - day’s plan is to catch up on filing 9:45    cat #3 wants out - open door, watch as he assesses the situation and turns … Continue reading My day so far

Fur traders and Indians

The fur trade, in which millions of Canadian beaver gave their lives to provide felt top hats for European gentlemen, was the major impetus for the exploration and settlement of Canada.  The fur traders employed by the Hudson's Bay Company were of French and Scottish origin.  They fanned out across the country, establishing trading posts … Continue reading Fur traders and Indians