Light up the darkness

Image by Pexels from Pixabay There is a mystical teaching among Hasidic Jews that the world is sustained by 36 righteous men. These men are unknown to each other, indeed most of them do not know their own role. Their number has been maintained for many generations, but if ever one of them would die and not be … Continue reading Light up the darkness

Remedy for election fever

There is an election in Canada today; I will not vote. I am a citizen, I am qualified to vote, but I am also a citizen of the Kingdom of God and that citizenship is much more precious to me. There has been a lot of anger, a lot of divisive emotions stirred by this … Continue reading Remedy for election fever

Love is for giving

Love is the first-mentioned characteristic of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. It is given to us freely and abundantly, as long as we keep on giving it away, freely and abundantly. But if we feel that smiles, thank you’s and kind words are too precious to be squandered unless we receive them first from … Continue reading Love is for giving

How to be happy

Forget about yourself. You will never obtain all the things you think are necessary for your happiness. If you could, they wouldn’t be enough anyway. Think about others. Do some small thing every day that will boost someone else’s happiness. Start at home ­- but don’t stop there. Most of the good things you can … Continue reading How to be happy

Having fun is not the purpose of our life.

          Happiness is often confused with having fun. But ask yourself, isn't the root of your desire for fun a wish to have your attention diverted from your problems, at least for a moment? To feel a constant need for amusement, entertainment, or recreation is self-defeating and even self-destructive. If our … Continue reading Having fun is not the purpose of our life.

The Wise Old Mother Cat

On this International Day of the Cat, it seems an opportune time to clear up some misconceptions about the relationship between cats and humans. From the human standpoint the relationship seems frustrating. We can’t train our cat to do anything, she won’t even come when we call. From the cat’s standpoint, the relationship is working … Continue reading The Wise Old Mother Cat

Reality

This is my Father’s world. I did not ask to be here. I cannot choose to be in another world. This is it and I may as well make the best of it.  I am made in my Father’s image. Even though I am earthly, like the animals, with all the capacity for savagery that … Continue reading Reality

Memories of Panda

Panda was our number one furry friend for over 15 years. We got her from a street cat rescue program when she was about six months old. She was part of a litter of long haired black cats found in an abandoned car in a back alley. She grew into a magnificent Maine Coon cat … Continue reading Memories of Panda

In memory of Julia

Julia was 18 years old when I was born. We were cousins, but she seemed more like an aunt to me. She started teaching in a one room country school in the fall of that year, taught for two years, then married Ed. Their first child, Doreen, was born a year later. Ed & Julia … Continue reading In memory of Julia

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