Just Wondering

Why do people hate? Why are we so distrustful of others. As a Canadian I was feeling quite smug about how rational we are, how tolerant and accepting. I cast a disdaining eye on the Trumpism of America. Then Quebec City. Hate and distrust are everywhere. We need to stand up to it and fight it.

It's been almost a year since my last post. What gives? I guess I have been concentrating more on my photoblog than this. Read today in the paper that 2014 was the hottest year on record. It is unnerving to think that we are accelerating this process by the way we live. Maybe if we spent more time caring about the environment than on pleasure and ourselves, we could slow down the warming. But then, how committed am I to this? And if I am lukewarm, why should I expect others to be better. The old, take-the-log-out-of-my-own-eye-before-pointing-out-the-speck-in-yours, thing.

Winter Thoughts

Winter has been colder and more snowy than usual this year. But as one who loves winter, I don't mind. We do live in Canada after all, the place of igloos and year-round snowshoeing. And hey, how come all those folks who complain about the cold, hunker down in air-conditioned houses all summer long?

The Poor Among Us

In this Sunday's text, Jesus mentions that we will always have the poor among us. That often has been used to ignore the poor, or to rationalize our lack of action. But what really catches my attention are the words, "among us." The poor aren't among us, as church people, are they? They are out there somewhere, but certainly not among us. We do a good job of keeping them at bay. I belong to a downtown church, surrounded by poverty. There is nary a poor person among us Sunday morning. I guess we have our work cut out for us.

Wants vs Needs

I “need” a new computer. Mine takes so long booting up that I can get the mail, make a cup of coffee, do a crossword and still see the hourglass. Now that is hyperbole. But, yes it is slow. But do I need a new computer or just want one? Anyhow, I was thinking this: would I be willing to give an equal amount of money to feed the hungry, further the work of some church, as I would to buy a computer? As far as that goes, I am a season ticket holder of the Oshawa Generals hockey club. I spend at least 100 hours a year at the rink. Would I be willing to give an equal amount of time at a local soup kitchen, or volunteering at some other organization? It is so easy to put my wants before others’ needs.

Lent Begins

So begins Lent, a time for reflection, service, fasting. Again I have my Lenten regimen mapped out. I have given up sweets/dessert for Lent for so many years that I no longer consider this a fast—it was at the beginning, but now it’s just something I do for Lent, like putting up lights for Christmas. I do and don’t do other things that I am not inclined to share. This year I am going to blog some of my thoughts during Lent. I don’t promise to post a blog every day (promises are made to be broken), but I will attempt to be regular. Comment if you feel so moved.

Wind

Today the wind is blowing. Our neighbour's tree has a branch that has begun to tear away from the trunk. With every gust of wind, I envision the branch ripping loose and crashing into the house. That is what I foresee; hopefully, it won't come to pass. Another thing that has already happened: the wind tore a downspout off the house. I have no ladder that will reach high enough to reattach it, so until I rent one or borrow one, we have no downspout. Forget, "Rain, rain, go away." Let's sing, "Wind, wind, go away." Here endth the lesson.