Guest Writer
Bridges and Barriers
by Harmony McMillan “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other”. -Mother Teresa A couple of years ago, I worked with a group of Grade 8 students on a project called “Craft Reconciliation”. The nation-wide challenge was to use Minecraft to create a city that represented our vision for reconciliation in Canada. Along the way, schools were invited to share in conversations about “what reconciliation looks like” in their local contexts. Our classroom, made up of primarily First Nations students, partnered with a classroom in Newfoundland,…
Read MoreReconciliation is an Open Door
By Beckey Franke Reconciliation is a blessing, even though it can be a difficult process in most situations. This reconciliation word takes me back to when I was a child and had to tell my parents when I did something bad. I worried about their reaction and what kind of fight would ensue and then worried about the pending punishment. As I grew older and became a parent, I remember how proud I was of my children when they came to me to reconcile in truth and honesty. It didn’t happen as much as I would have liked it…
Read MoreThe In-Between
By Mira Krahn It’s only the beginning of the school year, and I’m already starting to think of Christmas holidays. Not that I’m ready for a break already; I want to plan ahead. I’m going to enjoy my almost-two-weeks off. I mean, who doesn’t love Christmas? Well, actually, I don’t. I like Christmas, but what I really love is Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve has always been my favourite day of winter. When I was small, my sister and I were each allowed to open one gift the night before Christmas—the first gift of the holiday. That only whet our…
Read MoreAnticipation
By Nancy Taylor All of our lives, we live in anticipation. We wake up in the morning and listen to the weather, so we can dress in anticipation. We spend spring anticipating summer, summer anticipating September and return to school, and fall anticipating winter and Christmas. The Merriam Webster dictionary defines anticipation as “a prior action that takes into account or forestalls a later action”, but in general, we think of anticipation as pleasurable. Another definition of anticipation is “the act of looking forward, especially: pleasurable expectation” (Merriam Webster, n.d.). While we anticipate things both happy…
Read MoreFinish Line
By Joyce Armstrong I have never been athletic. All through high school, I was the one picked last, who sat out, or didn’t make the team. I have also been known to make comments like “why couldn’t I be built like a gazelle instead of a hippopotamus?”. A few years ago, I decided that I should start running. No, I still wasn’t athletic, nor was I suddenly gazelle-like, but even the hippopotamus runs on occasion. I could challenge myself and set a goal and at least get in better shape. I set a goal of running 5K without…
Read MoreA New Way to See
By Arlene Manson It is 9 o’clock on a Monday night. This article- that I am only starting to write now- is due by midnight. In my mind, in my new beginning, I am going to be that person who always gets things done early. In my earthly reality, I am a procrastinator and I get things done, but always at the last minute. When I think of beginnings, I think of starting or trying new things. One new beginning that I had this year was traveling for mission work. This past winter, during February, while Canadians were…
Read MoreNew Beginnings
By Loreen Husband Sunrise or sunset? If you’re looking at a photo it can be quite difficult to decide which one the photo features unless you were there when it was taken. In a recent edition of the Dauphin Church bulletin, Tim Pippus said in his weekly article; “People spend a lot of time thinking about new beginnings. We often obsess about how we feel right now. Yet, we make the best decisions when we think, ‘Regardless of where I am now or what I am going through, how do I want this story to end?’”. I will admit…
Read MoreYou Need Rest, My Child
By Charlotte Kowalson CRACK!! Oh! Such pain! “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m…” “I know,” I replied softly, “Now let’s do our activity!” Oh man, this really hurts! Why does this hurt so much? Just keep doing group time with the kids! This will all go away! Nope, not going away! Maybe I need an ice pack! Well, the ice pack is helping, but man this headache is spreading fast, all the way around my head. I need to let my boss know. Boss is busy right now. Okay, boss is less busy – let her know. Why is it so…
Read MoreWhen God Blinks
By Gayle Garneau When God blinks… My heart skips a beat. Panic soon follows. Is this the end? Am I alone? Abandoned? Without hope? Has He closed His eyes to me forever? Will He ever look on me again? What did I do wrong? Will I ever be good enough? Can I earn back His love? Why won’t He turn my way? When God blinks… “Don’t fret my child. I didn’t turn my back on you. I am always right here by your side. It was only momentarily that I looked away. A tear…
Read MoreCourage
By Bonnie Baxter Courage I find courage inspirational, particularly when I see it in others. Sometimes it is found in the big things. We find it wrapped in grace as we fumble through. I think of times I’ve seen courage: my friends helping their young daughter through challenging years with cancer. my brother persevering through his heart transplant, and a family donating a heart to give him new life. three dear mamas all saying goodbye to newborn boys…and many others who have kept on living, really living, when a child they loved was gone. dearly loved older people walking forward…
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