Spoiler alert! This blog is co-written with my humans though the opinions expressed, and discoveries noted are entirely my own. My humans actually have a lot of time to co-write with me, as they are now both retired. Six months! Wow. When retired, the gaze of humans shifts, from that of the workplace where home... Continue Reading →
The King of Instruments: A recital for the present age
Wikimedia commons The limits of patriarchal language notwithstanding, the pipe organ really is the King of Instruments. In physical size, in sound variety and capacity, in visual impact, in impressive console arrays, the English Cathedral organ (with variants all around the world) is impressive and majestic. My two earliest childhood memories were the sound of... Continue Reading →
I Francis – A reflection on the Eve of St. Francis Day
S. Francis, in the shadow of the Andes, Lima Peru. Photo by the author Francis, we need you more than ever, right here, everywhere, through all time and right now. Through your physical presence centuries ago, you disturbed and challenged your Church, inviting those who paid attention to what was really happening, who remained faithful... Continue Reading →
Songs of Praise turns 60
In those places where they sing, well, they sing! And thank goodness they do, and that singing is finding its way back into the worship life of faith communities after pandemic restrictions. The result is not yet uniform throughout North America, though previously muted voices are finding vocal space once more. In churches music is... Continue Reading →
Get the picture?
The white plastic wrapped box was smaller though heavier than I expected. Life is full of surprises, sometimes delightfully so. Cycling over to the local postal outlet I was actually nervous to meet this new member of my photographic equipment family. Was it worth the money? Will it meet expectations? Will it really make a... Continue Reading →
The view from over sixty: Climate justice now, in Kamloops, and everywhere
What do we wantย ~ CLIMATE JUSTICE When do we want itย ~ NOW Such was the call and response chant which rang out this past Friday along a downtown Kamloops route hoping to catch the attention of local officials and anyone who would listen. Organized by the Valleyview Secondary Environmental Club participants spanned more than just... Continue Reading →
Somewhere, there are winners, and there are losers: a Post-election reflection
Well someone has to lose. At all levels, federal, provincial and municipal in Canada, elections are typically designed to identify one winner, and the rest, well, losers. We all hate that word, especially since Donald Trump made it the symbol of his life ontology and political strategy. In our first-past-the-post electoral system, and even in... Continue Reading →
Gone to the dogs? A new kind of politics
All I can say is I am glad I donโt need to greet strangers as dogs do. While on her daily promenades, our sweet and sassy Labradoodle, Juno spots potential playmates from quite a distance. Typically she crouches down, expecting surrounding plant growth to camouflage her quite visible self to the approaching dog. The two... Continue Reading →
Tolkein is dead
Well actually, JRR Tolkein has been dead for some time. He died on Sept 2, 1973, four years before I held in my hand copies of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. How little I knew how that particular literature would shape my future life. Prior to moving to London, England for musical... Continue Reading →
Amazon, iPhone and Harold Watkins-Shaw
Erol Ahmed, UNSPLASH I learned today that the latest iPhone will allow us to speak with each other via space satellite. There will no longer be dead zones anywhere on earth. The prophecy of Psalm 139 has therefore come true for our time: Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee... Continue Reading →