For Advent, David and I chose four images of Jesus, found some of our photos to reflect the image and then each wrote a short piece on that image of Jesus.  We'll share one in each of the four weeks of Advent. Jesus, the Light of the World   Photo: Susan Lukey   La Sagrada Familia (Holy Family) Basilica, Barcelona, Spain    Rev. Susan: We paused in awe as we entered La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain. The colours were incredible.  How did the builders achieve such brilliance? Then we realized that it was the sunlight streaming through the stained glass that...

Why?  It’s the first question a toddler learns to ask, and once they learn that question, it never stops.  Why is the sky blue?  Why do I have to wear socks? Why do puppies bark? Their world has opened up and curiosity has sprung forth.  Why? Why? Why?  And if we dare to provide an answer, it will usually lead to another why question.    Why do I have to wear socks?   Because you need to keep your feet warm.    Why do I need to keep my feet warm?   Because it is cold outside.   Why is it...

Do I have to believe in God in order to come to church? That’s a good question, which leads to several more questions, but first a simple answer – No! You don’t have to believe in God in order to come to church.   There are many reasons that you alone, or with your family, might choose to come to church. You might come because you long for a community around. You might wish to be part of a group of people from many generations. You might come because you know people who are involved and want to spend time with...

Sometimes it is one big thing that hits us.  Sometimes it is numerous small things.  Out of it, we are left angry at life, angry at God, just plain angry.  We can feel the anger simmering underneath.  We may try to contain it and manage it.  At times, it may burst forth unwanted, at our children, our spouse, a friend or a store clerk.  Life isn’t fair – we want to cry.  This isn’t how I planned for things to go.  I’ve worked so hard and tried so hard but what’s the use.    The anger may be caused by current...

I put out the 1,000 things dare last week! How did you do? How far did you get alone, or with others, in naming 1,000 things for which you are grateful?   What I’ve learned is that naming that for which I’m thankful takes time. The second thing I learned is that it is easy to start dismissing things – the eraser on my pencil, is that worth being thankful for? Well of course it is. Imagine life without an eraser.   It took me about half an hour to put down the first 50 things on paper (though some people...

I dare you! I dare you to name 1,000 things you are thankful for this weekend. Make it a family and/or friends activity. Go for it. Often we say, “Oh, I have so much to be thankful for.” And we might name 2 or 5 or 10 things. But really we do have SO MUCH to be thankful for.   Gratitude is a counter-cultural practice in our society. I am so tired of hearing hate-filled messages directed at politicians and leaders of all sorts. I am so tired of hearing criticism of almost everything in our society. And, sadly, I find myself...

Self-care sounds good, but it doesn’t really give us the rest we need. After a long day of caring for others, the last thing I can do at home is take care of myself. Usually it ends up me sitting on the couch in the evening, feet up, watching home improvement shows or playing Angry Bird Match on my telephone. I call that crashing, not self-care. If I have a bit more energy left, I manage to spend some time reading, going for a walk, or maybe even doing some sewing, which are a bit better for my body, mind and...

“Live simply so that others may simply live.” ― Mahatma Gandhi   I was in my teens when I first heard that saying. I created a felt banner of it to hang on my bedroom wall as inspiration and wisdom. But I’ve learned through the years that it is not so easy to live. Living simply in a society powered by materialism is a challenge. The messaging and advertisements all say, “Want more; have more!”   I grew up in a family that embraced “re-use and recycle” long before those words became a catch phrase. My mom and dad both grew up...

One of the most essential things that Jesus commands us to do as followers of his Way is to love our enemies. In his time that would have included the Roman soldiers and the tax collectors who gathered the crippling Roman taxes, people who were really making life miserable for Jesus’ followers, friends, and family. Jesus also would have been speaking to bridging the natural human tribalism that draws boundaries between “us and them.”   In our society, a time when tribalism and divisiveness is as rampant as ever, people are too quickly named as enemies because they have different opinions...

I was six years old and it was my first day at school.  The photo captures me standing in front of my playhouse proudly holding my pink lunch-kit with a black poodle on the front.  This was long before backpacks became a standard part of the school outfit.  I’m smiling at the camera.   A precious moment.  And a moment captured on film each first day of school for my sister and I, a moment I repeated with my sons through their twelve years of public school.    These moments we capture in a photo, and other moments which are held...