The relationship between hope and ashes

The relationship between hope and ashes

The world is a hot mess right now. I am not sure there is a better way to say that. Everything feels upside down and unbelievable. Pope Francis declared a jubilee year of hope; now he’s praying for a world praying for him in a hospital bed. And this week, in my...
Braving the depths of grief

Braving the depths of grief

Photo credit: Tom Cooledge Diefenbaker Lake is a deep section of the Saskatchewan River that cuts a T-shape through the south-central part of our province. In the summer, we swim and boat on this water, and we spend hours driving around it or waiting to be ferried...
The space and edges of freedom

The space and edges of freedom

January in Saskatchewan brings cold, clear days with hoar frost and ice crystals catching light in the air. I was driving with my son, teaching him about sun dogs, the refraction of light through ice that creates a halo around the sun, with two bright rainbows on...
Showing up to do the spiritual work

Showing up to do the spiritual work

Photo Credit: Lorraine Strain Over the summer, I wrestled my way through a nasty case of pneumonia. As a life-long asthmatic, I have lots of experience with lung infections and trouble. Into the fall, my lungs were still struggling. The acute crisis had passed, I...
The way that words give shape to my world…

The way that words give shape to my world…

I suppose it is not a surprise to say that a writer loves words. Thinks words are powerful and important. Spends minutes and hours thinking up just the right way to express feelings and ideas with words. I have written about the relationship between stories and seeing...
Tending the moments of our lives with care

Tending the moments of our lives with care

I went out to the garden boxes after 8 pm. I did not feel like going, but it was the only window I was going to have in the week for picking the beans. The plants were weighted down with the harvest. Small row by small row, I pulled the beans off one by one –...