Squinch

Here's a great quote from writer of the spiritual life, Richard Foster: "Joy, not grit, is the hallmark of holy obedience. We need to be light-hearted in what we do to avoid taking ourselves too seriously. It is a cheerful revolt against self and pride." Not much time to write - I'm off to the Calgary Folk… Continue reading A cheerful revolt →

I just saw an interesting video on why your workplace is probably the worst place to actually get any work done - because it's structured for interruptions.  Phone calls, emails, co-workers stopping by and meetings continually interrupt the day so you end up not getting much accomplished, but more so, never enter a place of sustained attention… Continue reading The experience of flow = joy →

Do you have a favourite kitschy delight, a guilty pleasure that you don’t own up to very quickly? Saturday I went with Owen and Lily to one of mine, the Calgary Stampede.  The “greatest outdoor show on earth” has genuine cowboy roots and the rodeo is as gritty as you get.  But the rest of the… Continue reading Kitschy delights →

“The heart has reasons that reason cannot know.”  Blaise Pascal I love a cogent argument, I’m persuaded by a beautiful line of reasoning, but I know, as poet Denise Levertov writes, that reason was meant “for use a pinch at a time, a condiment.” One of the fallacies melancholy tricks us with is the need… Continue reading Why aren’t you more joyful? →

Gilbert Keith Chesterton was a wise and merry soul.  Listen to this wisdom from him on joy: "The test of all happiness is gratitude ... Children are grateful when Santa Claus puts in their stockings gifts of toys or sweets. Could I not be grateful to Santa Claus when he put in my stockings the… Continue reading The wisdom of a merry soul →

Like most others, I have two voices going on in my life.  There’s my inside voice, that dialogue carrying on inside the privacy of my mind – generally snarkier, more socially inappropriate, politically incorrect and probably a little profane. And then there’s the outside voice, the more edited, public version of my thoughts - that’s… Continue reading Was that my outside voice? →

I love The Lord of the Rings trilogy, a compelling story and brilliant piece of literature.  My wise wife has often talked about the difference between reading the books and watching the movies is the absence of feasting in the film version.  Throughout the books are many examples of joy-filled feasts (which you want so… Continue reading Enjoy →

I was camping with the family in Banff this weekend.  No shortage of joy there - first of all, there's not much that can beat Banff pretty much any day.  I love being surrounded by the mountains, encountering various wildlife (we saw deer, elk, and a moose), enjoying the town, hiking, and then simply to… Continue reading Fireworks of the heart →