I have spent Thursday mornings with Mary since 2005. I talked about our visits in my 2018 TEDx Winnipeg talk. Mary gets a mention every time I speak to a group–even this week, she came up several times as I gave workshops to various groups. When I talk about how I learned to talk to …
Canada Day 2021
It has never been so complicated to come upon July 1, Canada Day, as this year. Celebrating “Canada Day 2021” brings complexity like never before to Canadians who are both simultaneously: grateful for all this country has given them, and are horrified at the emerging news reports of unmarked graves at the sites of residential …
The ones we finally mourn
This is the day my babies died. It is a day that stands out on the calendar. June 18th, 28 years ago was the worst day of my life. Hands down. No contest. Harder than the day my Former Husband told me he’d probably leave. More difficult than the day he told me was leaving—and …
A theology of vaccination
Dear Person who is vaccine hesitant, I wrote earlier in the week to start a conversation with you. Divisiveness about COVID-19, vaccinations etc. breeds disrespect and anger and relational ugliness. I wanted to make is a discussion over a cup of (virtual) tea. I’m aware that a large number of folks who are vaccine hesitant …
Dear Person who is Vaccine Hesitant
Dear Friend, If you and I were meeting together, we’d sit and have a cup of tea. We would exchange information. I love stories, and I would want to hear yours–about the frustrations and disappointments you’ve had over the last year, about some unexpected moments of joy, about your family–just generally, about how you came …
Hope for mental health
May is Mental Health Month. Seems like a good idea–to have a month focusing on mental health–when it is month 15 of a relentless pandemic that requires us to do the very thing that gives life to living–connection. Sometimes, it’s not important to change your mind or give you advice or push for you to …
Sixth Anniversary: Wood
Not all men have the inner strength to stand to the side to celebrate and support his wife as she might take center stage-Husband has been doing it for 6 years.
Social Justice: Exceeding Restrictions
When we do more than what is asked, we participate in the bold act of protecting those who are at risk.
Re-Courage-Ment
I heard this is the single greatest snowfall this year–the one that feel well into April–weeks after all the snow had melted. The buds were coming out. People were posting pictures of their crocuses. We were having suppers on the back deck. And the snow keeps falling. And blowing. And we all keep shaking our …
Friend-Books for grandbabies
Husband set up the beautiful and innovative bookshelf for books that my kids loved. Ready for the next generation to make friends with books!