Whatever is happening in your life right now, my prayer for you is for breath, perspective and joy: that you can take in great lungfuls of fresh air as needed, sparking some amazement for how that fuels us and also eases tense minds; That you might slip outside the edges of all the rules into…
TO TRADESPEOPLE You are the backbone of our economy. To our electricians, painters, carpenters, plumbers, pipefitters, welders, heavy equipment operators and technicians, automotive service technicians, motorcycle mechanics, tool & die makers, millwrights, metal fabricators, landscape horticulturalists, cooks, hairstylists; to any CC readers engaged in the skilled trades as a means to earn a living. Fortunately,…
Father, comfort and sustain our health care workers in these horrendous days. Protect them and their families and friends from the worldwide pandemic. Give them courage and hope. When they are overwhelmed and exhausted, give them respite and rest. In a profession where the standards are so high, help them forgive themselves when the workload…
The human voice is a powerful instrument. Through speaking, singing, whispering and shouting, our voices express much of the human experience. Our voices are also basic to our sharing meaningfully with others. Through verbal communication we express a range of emotions and experiences: anger, desire, sympathy, fear and amusement, among others. I became particularly attuned…
Every day you come to my office (we stopped making home visits last April) to tell me your stories. You want someone to listen to your hopeful stories. Each one demonstrates that God is looking after us. Yesterday, today, forever! Our God is for us! After burying a parent or a spouse, you tell me…
The North African bishop Augustine of Hippo famously said that hope has “two beautiful daughters; their names are Anger and Courage. Anger at the way things are, and Courage to see that they do not remain as they are.” The last year was extraordinarily difficult for many, and the temptation to lose hope is real….
For families with school-aged children and for those involved in education, the terms school closure, remote learning, Google Classroom and Zoom likely increase your blood pressure and accelerate your heart rate. In the 62-year history of the school where I work, 2020 marked the first time when students were not permitted to come to school:…
To students May you know that the effort you make in classes and your community are like stones thrown into a pond that ripple and have effects you won’t see at first. May you know that you have lived through things that can help you. May you remember what you know about love, yourself and…
In a recent column (“Anti-Vax Reversal?,” June 8), I ended with the hope that a vaccine for COVID-19 might be developed quickly. Scientists are working on many possible vaccines in an amazing time frame. Our government has partnered with multiple companies to make a vaccine available for Canadians, and the Americans have implemented “Operation Warp…
Lord, in case You haven’t noticed, things are falling apart down here. Of course, I know You’re omniscient, so I realize that You are aware, but I wonder if You’re really paying attention, Lord. This corona virus is plaguing the entire globe, and especially ravaging the poor, vulnerable and minorities, who for so long have already been suffering so much pain and injustice.
In his boldly-titled blog post “Beauty will Save the World,” Dr. Curt Thompson urges readers to find and create beauty in art and the natural world even, and especially, during the stress of a global pandemic. He argues that noticing and creating beauty brings us into the present moment.
To follow my previous column (CC May 11), our family has appreciated having a community nurse return to our home for weekly hours. I am thankful for the help with medications, pain management and extra time over the dinner hour. Though a sense of familiarity in routine has returned, I cannot ignore the persistent feelings of discontentment. Rachel and Janneke cannot verbalize this to me, but they are missing the informal connections with classmates.
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