Another in the series: “Stories from Somewhere” by Ken Gray Barricade — (from French barrique 'barrel') is any object or structure that creates a barrier or obstacle to control, block passage or force the flow of traffic in the desired direction. The day has finally arrived. After many weeks of planning, our small group of... Continue Reading →
Iran — What it’s like on the ground
s Photo supplied by anonymous author who remains anonymous for obvious reasons [Anonymous opinion first published in The Guardian] I was at work last Saturday when I heard the blast. Since that moment, the world has been turned on its head. The school called asking me to come and pick up my child. I rushed... Continue Reading →
Meet my friend, Ruth
To those of you who already know Ruth, what is wrong with this picture? To those of you who do not know her, you need to know that Ruth is typically NOT the one eating, but more likely the one preparing and setting out the food. She is an extroverted personality who loves to welcome,... Continue Reading →
Jazz, the Doctor of Democracy
Wynton Marsalis just stepped down as the managing and artistic director of Jazz at Lincoln Center, which he founded nearly 40 years ago. He shares his thoughts on the state of democracy in the US presently using the craft he knows so well, Jazz, to illustrate his points. TRANSCRIPT (Generated; check against delivery) [Wynton Marsalis]... Continue Reading →
Love, love, love . . . Canada?
Robert Reich on Substack - Mar 10, 2026 [Ken Gray] Robert Reich possibly exaggerates here. I know many unhappy camper Canadians, on both the right and left politically and relisiously. That said, he may have a valid point. See what you think. Why do Americans hate each other while Canadians love each other? Friends. A... Continue Reading →
The moral arc of reality — A timely Lenten reflection
From Ron Rolheiser March 9, 2026. Still a prairie boy at heart, Fr. Ron Rolheiser is one of the most prolific and respected Roman Catholic teachers and scholars alive today. Thomas Moore, the author of Care of the Soul, teaches that our most important spiritual task is to listen to the promptings of our own... Continue Reading →
On the stacking of firewood — AKA Adventures with Don
So you think stacking firewood is easy. You are right, but only if you know what you are doing. Depending on the tree species in your region — here, we have easy access to fir, alder, hemlock, and Western Red cedar — there are many things to consider before stacking, even before you venture into... Continue Reading →
Meet my friend Curt
During my recent trip to Victoria caught up with my longtime friend, Curt Bergen. Curt and I have known each other for most of our adult lives. We first met while organ students of Ed Norman in the 1970s in Victoria. We met at an organ concert at the downtown St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church though... Continue Reading →
God’s restorative justice is Love
READ ON CAC.ORG From Sunday, March 1, 2026 Father Richard Rohr emphasizes how God’s justice in the Bible is fundamentally loving and restorative rather than punitive. As we read the Bible, God does not change as much as our knowledge of God evolves. I certainly recognize there are many biblical passages that present God as... Continue Reading →
Who’s on first?
“Knock knock,” someone calls from outside my office door. “Who’s there?” I laugh.. “Actually, Minister, it’s not a joke, sadly. It’s Marie here. May I come in?” Marie oversees our little community cemetery. Our church is too small to maintain its own burial ground, so following funeral services we bury caskets and urns in the... Continue Reading →