Grace, Grieving, & Gratitude (On Hurricane Matthew and the One Leper)
It’s a strange experience when a storm passes in life. If spared, we sigh with relief when we go out the front door after Hurricane Matthew’s winds die down, or come back into town from evacuating to see that the full brunt narrowly missed our town. After this storm...
Mango Surprise from the Sky
Bap! Sitting under a mango tree seems like a shade-blessed idea under the hot summer sun…until a mango falls! Fortunately, Honore took the hit on his leg not his head. A few minutes later he laughed and said now he was going to eat it, as revenge. Twice a year I love...
I Saw Jesus Lying on a Street Bench
I heard Jesus was lying on a bench out on the streets in downtown Hamilton, Ontario. People had called the police. So I wanted to go see him. I was in Hamilton for my first trip to launch my new book. These trips are always a gift, and I have many of them planned over...
Slow Kingdom Coming is great for discussion (plus some extras)!
My early experience with Slow Kingdom Coming is that it will be a great book for discussion. I’ve had the chance to do seminars of the book already with adult Sunday School classes, with mission committees, and with university students. Each time was a great...
Aftershocks and Fear
As we come to the 6th anniversary of Haiti’s earthquake, I’m reflecting on the many who lost their lives. The many whose lives were changed by who and what they lost. I’m also thinking of the courage of those who survived, including those we get to call colleagues and...
I’ll Miss You, Aunt Donna-Jean
My Aunt Donna-Jean died last week. She was a wonderful aunt. Quite what you would hope for in an aunt: she believed I was much smarter, braver, and handsomer than I actually am. And then over a lifetime I think her belief did actually help me become just a little...
New Book Next Year! Slow Kingdom Coming
Hi, friends. Quick note to state the obvious: I've been very quiet on here for the past, well, long time. I didn't stop writing though. I was working on a new book. The first draft is done and I'll be finishing revisions over the next couple of months. I'll have more...
Exploring the Extremes
I like exploring at extremes, whether it’s trying to push my own limits or understanding someone else’s. A few recent thoughts: In the spring I traveled to Bangkok to write about people living and working in slums around the world. I wrote a cover story...
Remember You Will Die (It Helps You to be Alive)
Just before the earthquake, Père, the grandfather of the Woshdlo family I first lived with in Haiti, pulled me aside to tell me about the latest project he was starting. As usual he was barefoot, in tattered slacks and a partly shredded button-down shirt that he wears...