A reflection from December 16, 2019 by John Rutter [Ken Gray] It is now ten years since the death of Sir David Wilcocks, organist, conductor, composer/arranger, and college administrator. One of my great pleasures as a student at the Royal College of Music from 1977-1979 was singing in the RCM chorus which Sir David conducted ... Continue Reading →
Anne Lamott on “All things new”
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 →
Inspiration for the New Year
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 →
A response to David Frum
First published by Dennis Windigo, December 29, 2025 David Frumโs publication this week โGood Intentions Gone Badโ in The Atlantic wants readers to believe that recognizing Indigenous land rights is an unfortunate mistake โ an ill-timed indulgence that threatens economic growth just when the country needs it most. He writes that the courts are โinventing... Continue Reading →
Talking to myself is OK โ At least thatโs what I say to myself
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 →
Within a hair
Another in a series by me. For other chapters see below โWhat clipper did I use last time? Number three, or number four?โ I had procrastinated long enough. Looking like a modern day Einstein, my hair scrambled madly off in all directions, a sort of Labradoodle look with a dry, scratchy beard attached. It was... Continue Reading →
Truth amongst the tinsel – Making sense of it all
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 →
Beyond gratefulness
"The inevitability of death is what makes us love life"--Dianne Rayson The Rt. Rev. Geoff Woodcroft is the 13th bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Ruperts Land in the Anglican Church of Canada having served from 2018-2025. Diagnosed with terminal cancer in October 2024 he went on immediate medical leave then considered palliative. He formally... Continue Reading →
Holding Onto Emmanuel
A message from the Sabeel community As we celebrate this Christmas season, we give thanks for your gifts of friendship and solidarity with the people of Palestine. Your support, prayers, and commitment to justice and peace sustain us and encourage our work every day. We especially honor those who are willing to take risks to... Continue Reading →
The Little Towns of Bethlehem
My favourite poetic Christmas tradition it to read this very Canadian piece written by John Terpstra, the Little Towns of Bethlehem. If God arrived in Christ in Bethlehem Christ arrives in the places and spaces of our nation, places familiar and unknown to us, though I am privileged to have lived in, or passed through... Continue Reading →