ponderings on life and faith
One of the benefits of this time of seclusion and separation has been an opportunity to rediscover some of the simpler joys in my life. One of those is music. I am sure I am not alone in saying that music has the ability to mystically transport us to places of the spirit. For each person, the […]
For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have come to believe that I came from God. (John 16.27) There is a profound message for you and me in today’s scripture. It is the core truth of our faith, and it is this, simply this …… the Father loves me. It’s the kind of […]
Well, we made it to Friday and I promised to bring the points raised this week to some form of conclusion. I really should be careful about what I promise! So, what can this weeks pandemerings say to us as we struggle to cope with the stresses of living in this pandemic? I saw three common […]
According to the rhyme, Thursday’s child has far to go. Or perhaps, far to “boldly go, where no one has gone before” ….. yes, you guessed it. Today’s pandemering is based Star Trek – in particular the 1982 movie “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.” I chose this movie because of one particular piece of dialogue […]
Ok. I guess this is movie week in the pandemerings blog. Today, the movie is “Cast Away”. Tom Hanks plays Chuck – the archetypal go-getter who does everything conceivable to stay in control of his life. Stranded on a beautiful deserted island, he sees the place as a prison, not a paradise. Over time, he adjusts and […]
I start each week not always knowing where these pandemerings will take me. Since Monday was a movie, let me share something from another movie that touched me. Could this perhaps be movie week at deaconGary.net? That movie is “The Bucket List” , and there is a scene in it where Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson, both […]
Today is a Holiday Monday. In the past, that used to mean something, but during our “time apart”, this Monday feels just like any other Monday …. another “Groundhog Day” in the midst of “Groundhog Weeks”. Which got me to pondering the movie Groundhog Day for a few moments. I think that the foundational message from the film is […]
Jesus said to his disciples, “If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world—therefore the world hates you. […]
Saturday mornings I preside at a Communion Service, live streamed from St. John Chrysostom Parish in Newmarket. You can find a copy of my homily at those services in the Homilies section of my website. Please feel free to watch the service Saturday mornings at 9am … you can watch the livestream HERE Sunday Masses are also […]
I guess it goes without saying as we reflected on the “lights at the end of our tunnels” this week, that Mr. Rogers was one for me. And, as I have journeyed through life, there are a number of people who have helped me and inspired me during my tunnel experiences. I am sure that if I […]
Back in the 1980’s, our family room looked more like a pre-school, with books and activities and toys to meet the needs of a family with five growing children. Having time to play together, learn, enjoy and feel loved and welcomed was a big part of our way of raising children. Our house had only one […]
A few years back I was facing a fairly major surgery. Preparing for it gave me time to reflect – and having been around some six decades, there was no shortage of things to ponder. While the time was stressful, it was also a time of some profound insights…. ones that came from having spent […]
There is an old joke that goes …. when you see the light at the end of the tunnel, make sure it isn’t a train coming the other way! Written by a pessimist comedian I assume. But, it begs the question of whether I see a light drawing me toward the end of this time of transition, […]
As we edge closer and closer to Pentecost, we are seeing Ontario do some careful opening up of businesses to allow more movement by people. Hopefully soon we will be able to expand our “bubbles of safe connection” to include other family members not living with us. It will be a while yet before we […]
One of the benefits of having somewhat more time and somewhat less tasks has been to explore my paleomammalian cortex …. that’s how engineering types talk about the emotional centres of the brain. For me, this means looking at pictures and entering into the scene. It means moving away from meditative prayer and into contemplative […]
I have been reading a book titled “The Day The World Came To Town” by Jim Defede. It tells the stories of the people diverted to Gander Newfoundland on 9/11. Spoiler alert – many of the stories will cause either a good belly laugh, or tears. And this is exactly as it should be, given […]
I must remember to tell you, Mila When you are older and searchingTo understand the worldOr maybe just yourself. Of those shared morning moments When you and ISnuggled safe in sleeper and sweatsuitsat together and pondered lifeA quarantined queen and an wizened old king. You, sleeping soundly in my armsSometimes squealing, sometimes stretching,Sucking voraciously on your sootherFor […]
It appears that one of the media themes this month revolves around our ability to create a new “normal” ….. there is a tacit understanding that we will not return to the “way things were” and hence we have an ability to really influence the “way things will be”. So how does one create a […]
I came across a poem recently by Wendel Berry called “The Peace of Wild Things”. It goes ….. When despair for the world grows in me and I wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be, I go and lie down where the […]
The apostle Philip (not the Deacon Philip, who we heard about a week or so back) shows up a lot in the Gospel of John. In one of Philip’s appearances in the Gospel, he says to Jesus …. ‘Just show us the Father!’–– And Jesus’ response? Phil, Phil, Phil. Have I been with you all […]
