Just about every day the media presents new evidence of bullying, neglected and mistreated children, juvenile prostitution, verbal, physical and sexual abuse, youth gangs and all the other problems that seem to afflict the children and youth of our society. Cries of distress and outrage go up and there is a universal feeling that something … Continue reading Somebody ought to do something
love
A tale of two nations
How Children Have Taken Power is the title of a book recently published by Swedish psychiatrist David Eberhard. I am going by a story in a French language newspaper so the title is my English translation of the French translation of the Swedish title of the book. An English edition will be out later this … Continue reading A tale of two nations
Hockey pool church
Every morning, in offices across Canada, folks check how their fantasy hockey team is faring in the office hockey pool. It starts in the fall with individuals picking an imaginary team from the list of active NHL players. The aggregate scoring statistics of those players then determines the winner of the hockey pool. I have … Continue reading Hockey pool church
Twelve Foot Falls
We were driving through Wisconsin, on our way from Ontario to Saskatchewan and planning to stop at friends for supper and night. There was a little sign beside the road saying “Twelve Foot Falls” with an arrow indicating the direction. On a spur of the moment impulse I pulled off onto the side road. For … Continue reading Twelve Foot Falls
The way of peace
Forty-five years ago I was picking up my mail in a village post office when I heard two older men reminiscing about the war. Somehow the subject of Mennonites came up. “Mennonites!” one of them said angrily, “They should all be lined up against a wall and shot!” The other agreed. This was at a … Continue reading The way of peace
They’ll know we are Christians by our love
We are one in the Spirit We are one in the Lord . . . We will work with each other We will work side by side . . . And they’ll know we are Christians by our love. -Peter Scholtes, © 1966 F.E.L. Publications Ltd. For the young folk out there who might not … Continue reading They’ll know we are Christians by our love
Love means saying I’m sorry
Have you ever observed someone who, in the heat of the moment made a harsh, cutting remark, or even exploded in anger, then felt bad about it but could not bring himself or herself to apologize? I’m sure you have, unless your whole life has been spent alone on an island. I once knew a … Continue reading Love means saying I’m sorry
What do we have inside?
Ravi Zacharias, in one of his books, quotes an African proverb which says: "A man shows what he has inside by what spills out when he is bumped." Much as we might wish to avoid it, we are going to be bumped, by circumstances that we did not foresee and by people who do not … Continue reading What do we have inside?
God’s ground crew
About 35 years ago I read a magazine article about a famous (notorious?) Canadian rock musician. Near the end of the article, this musician was quoted as saying, “I love the Lord; but I don’t have much use for his ground crew.” That statement has stuck in my mind, perhaps because it seems that so … Continue reading God’s ground crew
WORDS
Every heart that throbs must know Fountains sweet and bitter; Either we may cause to flow, By the words we utter. Idle words may pierce the deep Of the gentlest spirit, - Waking sorrow from its sleep, Treading roughly near it. Words of love may lull to rest Care, or grief, or anguish, - Rousing … Continue reading WORDS
