So long as we imagine it is we who have to look for God, we must often lose heart. But it is the other way about - he is looking for us. Simon Tugwell, Prayer Isn't this the heartening hope, the deep gladness of Advent? It's not up to us; this salvation business doesn't depend… Continue reading Sought After
Today begins the Christian season of Advent and here are a few words of introduction to Advent from my book Seeking God's Face: Advent (from the Latin adventus, meaning “coming” or “arrival”) is the four-week season of preparation for the coming of Jesus at Christmas. A good celebration requires proper preparation for us to fully… Continue reading Ready my heart
When many little people in many little places do many little things, then the whole world changes, but sometimes not fast enough for me. Michael Franti We can do small things with great love. Mother Theresa I have a gift for you, one I hope you’ll gratefully receive. I want to give you a sleepless… Continue reading I dare you to do something little
It's Monday, a devil day for pastors. After a busy Sunday of putting yourself out there, discouragement can settle in and grumbling growls in your soul. I call them "Maple Mondays" because they can be moments I rue the day I didn't follow my dad and brothers into the family company (it's called Maple-Reinders). If you're… Continue reading Keep going
I walked home the other night, in the daylight-savings-time early evening darkness, with sidewalks still strewn with leaves. I felt like a little kid swishing through boot-deep mounds, the lovely sound of all that thrashing and rustling, the lingering pleasure of a lasting autumn.
Eugene Peterson tells of a time he was staying at a monastery and being shown around the grounds when he noticed an open grave. He asked his host if one of the brothers died recently. The monk giving him the tour casually responded: "No. That's for the next one of us." The open grave served… Continue reading My musical memento mori
While Toronto has an assortment of very fine galleries and a bevy of smaller galleries, I'm convinced the whole city is a gallery. And I don't simply mean the architecture, the built form of the city or the design of the urban landscape (which is a beautiful thing on its own). I mean, quite literally,… Continue reading Friday photos – the city is a gallery
Cue up Vivaldi (the "Danza Pastorale," aka, Concerto No. 3 in F major, or more commonly known as "Autumn") and the Four Seasons. It's fall and where I'm living there's a slow explosion of colour (unlike the variation on dun that I've gotten used to the past years). Interesting to… Continue reading Friday photos
Nothing is more practical than finding God, that is, falling in love in a quite absolute final way. What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything. It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning, what you will do with your mornings, how you will spend… Continue reading What do you love?
Human suffering is the great gadfly for every philosophy, worldview, religion and person. How each responds to the problem of suffering is emblematic of its spiritual depth and humanity. Whenever suffering intrudes into our lives, a very personal question quickly surfaces - “why me?” Why is the universe picking on me, hand delivering this misery? … Continue reading The flip side of “why me?”
Squinch 