The Pursuit of Salvation

Caleb and I sit by the window in McDonalds, looking out at those who use the safe injection site in downtown Victoria.  We haven’t connected for a few weeks so the conversation ranges over m...

Criteria for a Great Gift

Of the many Bibles I possess, one pocket-sized New Testament says, on the flyleaf, “from Grandpa Howard, Christmas 1955.” As a toddler, I can’t imagine a New Testament was my first choice for a g...

Angels We Have Heard on High

Hope is a big deal for me.  Two reasons. One is a son whose continues to battle opioid addiction and for whom this season does not seem to hold much light. Grandchildren are the other. Both ...

What Do I Want for Christmas?

What do you want for Christmas? When my age could be captured by a single digit, the question would take weeks to answer. The pages of the Christmas catalogues from Eaton’s and Sears would become...

The Life and Death Struggle to Belong

“I don’t feel like I belong.” It has taken me a long time to appreciate the power of that statement of Caleb’s. For many years, I downplayed the volcanic power of this cry because I confused...

The Quest to Belong (Caleb)

I grew up extremely curious but cautious.  I did not have very many places to really see or experience native culture, or at least First Nations culture on the prairies. A lot of the art and expe...

Conquering the Limits of Willpower

“Shake it off,” we tell our grandchildren when they fall. When the kids were of pre-school age the words of encouragement were “You’re doing it, you’re doing it”. Our exhortations mean to convey ...

People Back Home (Caleb)

Last week I was given the opportunity to express my needs to a group of elders, lawyers and a judge. I’m very thankful for that opportunity and am even more grateful for the feeling that my voice...