In a previous blog I described my frustrations moving through a busy Canadian Airport. Following that blog I discovered a great air travel story written by an adventurous colleague, the Rev. (Mother) Marian Lucas-Jefferies which I thought deserved a wider audience. Marian’s saga reminded me of my own 2002 adventure in the air which I... Continue Reading →
A few days prior to February 29, 2024 I want to think out loud about how I might use this quadrennial leap year gift. Once every four years, a day is added to compensate for approximations within the calculation of time, as earth continues its spatial and temporal riot through the cosmos. So help me... Continue Reading →
A guest blog from Marian Lucas-Jefferies Following my recent blog on airports and travel I thought, why not invite writers to tell their stories of air travel. I have my own (watch this space) but here is an interesting adventure, well described. Twenty-five years ago today, I walked onto a plane on a clear winter... Continue Reading →
Reprinted from Richard Rohr's Daily Meditations -- From the Center for Action and Contemplation -- Read online here This Daily Meditation explores the “seven stories” inspired by Brian McLaren and Gareth Higgins’s e-book The Seventh Story. Father Richard describes how the gospel offers us a new story: If we’re honest, culture forms us much more than... Continue Reading →
With apologies to John Cleese and his Meetings bloody Meetings Everyone agrees that air travel isn’t much fun these days. The lingering effects of COVID, complications arising from Boeing aircraft malfunctions, capped off by continuing security concerns all make travel--especially through large airports--complicated, tiring, and lengthy. Consider my recent trip through Toronto’s Pearson airport, arguably... Continue Reading →
This post has been corrected from an earlier version. Only in Canada you say? That used to refer to Red Rose Tea, whose Canadian brand touted a quality tea product, superior to the favoured English varieties, but only available in Canada. Well move over Red Rose Tea because you now have another exclusively Canadian contender,... Continue Reading →
Statue of a paparazzo by sculptor Radko Mačuha in Bratislava, Slovakia Vermin; the bottom-feeders of journalism; the worst version of photographic artists. My initial thoughts about paparazzi—those independent photographers who take pictures of high-profile people; such as actors, musicians, athletes, politicians, and other celebrities, including royals—was poor to say the least. I had just watched... Continue Reading →
Sixteen squares each occupied by a single word. At first glance, they are simply words, seemingly unrelated to each other. The challenge--in this popular New York Times e-game--is to group these sixteen words into four connected clusters. The clusters are grouped supposedly by difficulty. Much depends however on how aware I am of pop culture,... Continue Reading →
Rodney David Rhys Smith, 1945 – 2023A reflection by Ken Gray I told Rod many times, that when the time comes for his funeral —and if I am invited to officiate—that I get the last word! And so I did, as about seventy-five family and friends gathered at Sequoia Gardens in Victoria recently. They laughed,... Continue Reading →
In a previous blog I offered a review of Kim Stanley Robinson’s The Ministry for the Future: A Novel. Peppered throughout Robinson’s story are hundreds of aphorisms which have me pause for cause (or cause me to pause), to take notice, and reflect. I find these words to be variously powerful, insightful, pithy, analytical, emotional,... Continue Reading →
Take Note - Reflections on life, music, politics, retirement and more by Ken Gray 