Brokenness and Beauty
Kintsugi (or kintsukuroi) is a Japanese practice and refers to the repair of broken pottery. In this particular practice, a broken piece of pottery is […]
Authorrolanddevries
Loving Rob Ford
I confess that I am not a Torontonian. Rather, after more than fourteen years living in Montreal I’m almost at the point where I could […]
Nail Polish and Parenting – Muddling Through
At the best of times, raising kids is a complicated business. In any given situation, multiple factors are at play: our own personalities, our children’s […]
Celebrate doubt! A new call to worship?
It appears that “doubt is the new black.” That uncertainty is “in.” This is so particularly in Christian circles. This sentiment is everywhere on […]
Taking my shirt off in protest?
Ok – that’s not about to happen – on top of which, no one wants it to happen! But based on events of this past […]
Setting her free for self-love. Exhibiting self-control.
In the sixth chapter of my book, Becoming Two in Love, there are three first-person narrative/poetic pieces in which I attempt to give more personal […]
Managing the church – 6 problems with church growth.
Carey Nieuwhof, pastor of Connexus Community Church in Barrie, has written a blog post on 8 reasons most churches never break the 200 attendance mark. […]
A pastoral prayer for Syria
God of all compassion, in the name of your beloved Son Jesus we lift our prayer to you this day for Syria. As we approach […]
Of Hijabs and Quebec
What am I supposed to feel when I stand across from a government employee at the SAAQ (the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec)? This […]
Excess and Simplicity – finding beauty in the darker corners
Today I went down with Becky and the kids to take in the Chihuly exhibit at the Musée des beaux-arts. It is a good-sized, though […]
skirmishing over good sex
Skirmishes about good sex (bad sex?) are breaking out all over the place. With her recent, widely read and distributed post, Rachel Pietka has set the […]
What holds people together? (Urban Art 003)
So we’re back to the theme of urban art within NDG. In this neighbourhood (socially and politically approved) urban art has been a spreading phenomenon. […]
A tale of two crucifixions
Just how much vitality should there be in a crucified Jesus? It is peculiar question, no doubt. But it is a question that arises when […]
Night Running (a new poem)
NIGHT RUNNING Rhythmic stride and drumming feet as dark descends on west-end street; cicadas drone through August night, humid air stays fullest flight. Windows cranked […]
Anxiety (new poem)
Anxiety An old acquaintance appears with- out invitation, under the radar, fastening invisible hands on heart and throat – salvo in ongoing war. Disorienting deja-vu […]
Monday Sabbath (a new poem)
Monday Sabbath The preacher lives a Monday Sabbath as the world rushes to the quotidian; the city-bus groan, office politics, classroom chaos, breakfast to go. […]
A new poem: Blossoms
Blossoms Short-lived on stem and branch, like honey on the tongue or lover’s hand on neck and cheek – almost absent in presence, longing even […]
Reaching for an identity (Urban Art #002)
I was at a recent meeting of the Borough Council for my neighbourhood of Côte-des-neiges/Notre-dame-de-Grâce, at which the council approved a new mural for a […]
Away from the Centre – Walking the Labyrinth
Last week I spent four days at the Crieff Hills Conference Centre, near Guelph, Ontario. I was there for the Guidance Conference of The Presbyterian […]
From Islam to Jesus
The name Lamin Sanneh is hardly a household one for most Canadian Presbyterians, but he is someone worth getting to know. His autobiography is a compelling read, simply in terms of the unlikely and remarkable trajectory of his life.