A New Year's Day reflection by Anne Lamott [Anne Lamott] I will flinch a bit today whenever someone exhorts me to have a happy new year. It might be the word โhappy,โ which is so giddy and clown-shoe slappy, in combination with my walking personality disorder. Itโs also that the emphasis will be on Hap,... Continue Reading →
On New Years Day I typically share W. H. Audenโs poem New Year Letter, a truly imaginative and insightful piece I commend to you once again. This year however, I want to share something different, a sort of what I got for Christmas this year kind of report. I have almost finished "Joyride: A Memoir"... Continue Reading →
Based on Talking to yourself when youโre alone: Psychology shows it often reveals powerful traits and exceptional abilities - By Redac / 29 December 2025 โHey Kathie, I saw Ken walking down to the post office the other day.โ โReally. So tell me, was he talking to himself?โ โFunny you should mention that; he was,... Continue Reading →
Originally published by the New York Times as The Kingdom of God Is Ruled by the Humblest of Men, an essay by Peter Wehner While long for a blog post, I commend to readers Peter Wehner's exploration of the significance of Jesus' incarnation as a babe at the biblical Bethlehem. We typically hear such explanations... Continue Reading →
โTyranny, like hell, is not easily conqueredโ HEATHER COX RICHARDSON - December 18, 2025 NOTE: Exclusive language retained โThese are the times that try menโs souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and... Continue Reading →
The Anglican MP and Green Party leader connects Sarah Mullallyโs ascent to the power of a progressive Christian Left by Elizabeth May in Broadview Magazine - Dec. 2, 2025 The election of the first woman to serve as the Archbishop of Canterbury, heading the global community of Anglicans, is a historic event. Bishop of London... Continue Reading →
Two South Okanagan churches, St. Saviour in Penticton, and St. Stephen in Summerland recently helped the Rev. Canon Roger Cooper celebrate 40 years of ordained Anglican ministry. Asked if he had any wisdom to impart to younger ordinands, Roger suggested that โafter 40 yrs of ordained ministry, you need a sense of humor, and a... Continue Reading →
A number of student organists in Victoria during the mid-1970s worked for local organ builder, Hugo Spilker. We loved playing the organ โ I speak here of large instruments placed in downtown churches, many comprising four manuals and a pedal division โ These were not small electronic substitutes which proliferate where I live today in... Continue Reading →
From This Day in Historyโs Post Gary Burghoff stood on the M*A*S*H (henceforth MAS*H) set in October 1979, holding a teddy bear that had become as famous as he was, and told the producers he was done. Not for more money. Not for better storylines. He was leaving because playing Radar O'Reillyโthe role that made... Continue Reading →
Pianist-composer Fazฤฑl Say premieres his 'Mother Earth' Piano Concerto with the Philharmonic Orchestra this weekend Days before itโs London premiere, Turkish pianist-composer Fazฤฑl Say talks about his powerful Piano Concerto 'Mother Earth' - a work inspired by the climate crisis and the urgent need to protect our planet. The work premieres Sunday 30 November with... Continue Reading →
Take Note - Reflections on life, music, politics, retirement and more by Ken Gray 