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Spirituality and the Sense of Smell

Spirituality and the Sense of Smell
Last Sunday afternoon, my family and I took a walk in a park along the Old Man River in Southern Alberta. The gusty west winds had done their job relieving the old Poplar trees of their leaves. The gusty wind was shifting, and swirling the fallen leaves on the ground. With each step, the crunch of…
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Confronting my Sacred Violence

Confronting my Sacred Violence
As I continue to wrestle with my own violence, and the violence of my tribe, I am aware how I (we) often whitewash our violence with a smile, a bible verse or rationalize our aggression in the name of God (or God causes) as if the end somehow justifies the means. Violence, even sacred violence…
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Loved into Love

Loved into Love
The daily lectionary reading for today included a passage from Galatians 5. It contrasts the works of selfishness (flesh) and that of love (the Spirit). I like the way that Eugene Peterson's The Message renders it: “It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time:…
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Posing: a Pastor’s Problem

Posing: a Pastor’s Problem
" I desire relationship, not your posing." - Timothy Warren It is happening all around us.  In fact, maybe you have felt it happening within you?  The shaking of what we thought we understood it was to be an authentic pastor or a minister.  You have been a faithful leader, worked hard and been what…
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Overcoming Negativity with Gratitude

Overcoming Negativity with Gratitude
Once upon an ancient time, there were two people wandering through the desert. They were two amongst many thousands of individuals. They were fleeing captivity of an oppressive King.  Called out of their captivity by God, they were a little confused and frightened, and hopeful for a better life. A homeland of their own. A promised…
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Investment Strategy

Investment Strategy
Once upon a time there was a rich investor, and she had a very successful portfolio of investments.    One day she determined that she would have to go on an extended business trip, and she called three of her managers to her office. She explained to them about the business trip and that she…
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Lost and Found

Lost and Found
Have been bumping into many folks recently (myself included) who are feeling really stretched. They have a lot going on in their life and feel overwhelmed and a little lost in the swirl of unknowing that life can often be. This poem speaks to me, and maybe to you too? Especially this line: "Stand still.…
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Being Uniquely You is its Best Reward

Consider These flowers do what they were made to do. To bloom, to bring beauty and colour in their own way - regardless of who is there to applaud them. So it is with us. Let us do what we are made to do - to bring forth the fragrant beauty and wonder that we…
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The Welcome of God

The Welcome of God
Can you think of a time when you were made to feel really welcome? Where the host(s) went out of their way to ensure that you felt comfortable and well served? What did that look like? How did that make you feel? What difference did this make for you? How about in a situation where…
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Outgrowing Our Best Stories

Outgrowing Our Best Stories
Whenever we talk about God, we are talking about mystery. Sometimes all our good thinking about God can domesticate God into a systematic, compartmentalized way of knowing and relating to God. While many of us would agree that God is much bigger than our biggest, best thoughts many of us live unwittingly as a hostage…
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