New has its own charm. A whole process is wrapped up in the word new. New things come with demands—of time, money, attention, and expectation. New things are beautifully packaged, or in the case of a house, perhaps spruced up a bit so that it at least feels new. There are two Greek words for new. Neosrefers to something recent…
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282. Close enough to hear… and see.
It is the Feast of the Cross. A remarkable contradiction in the words we use marks the uniqueness above all else of the events surrounding the death of Jesus. A feast of death? We know of other festivals that celebrate death. In Mexico Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a well-known parade of people in…
281. The sin of fear
Fear is good. Fear warns and helps prevent foolish actions. The symptoms of fear are unmistakable and distinct —a hollow feeling in your stomach, a dry throat, and sweaty hands—those unmistakable signals your body involuntarily sends due to messages from your brain and eyes. Situations like heights and flying can cause fear, words can evoke fear, and…
280. Disgruntled and diseased
The whole world struggles with disease. Medical insurance, government funding for healthcare, and public health plans are high on political agendas. Often, the greatest fear is not death itself, but the suffering and illness before death. Then one hears of someone who passed away in their sleep or was suddenly struck down, and secretly hopes that this will…
279. There is a prophet
The value of a story can never be underestimated. So many of us are the product of words, spoken and written. Shelves full of books and the thoughts of others in sound are the colour and richness of our lives. Good memories of childhood often revolve around storytime—the good ones and the bad ones, the questions that arise…
278. The Scale of God
Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket,And are counted as the small dust on the scales;Look, He lifts up the isles as a very little thing. All nations before Him are as nothing, And they are counted by Him less than nothing and worthless. (Isaiah 40:15,17) The “affairs of the nations” that strike like a blow in the…
277. Pazienza, yes patience.
It is a virtue, right? It is one of the essentials for “right living, not so? The saying about patience that can endure so much comes from a poem by Dante (Paradiso Canto XXI – The Divine Comedy), written in the early 14th century. Without speaking Italian the words are almost comprehensible in the musical rhythm of his…
276. Did you listen well?
[Old year 2024 – welcoming 2025] The echo of Christmas is still fresh in our minds. Christmas decorations are everywhere. The nights are long and the days short and cold. We are all enjoying leftovers and relaxing after the big preparations for a Christmas gathering. What a joy it is to be able to come together! We clean up…
275. A word of burning coal
[Christmas 2024] On a dark night in a small village in the heart of the world, our world was fundamentally changed. Nothing of what had been would ever be the same again. The vast majority of humanity didn’t even take note of the moment when heaven touched earth and angelic song called shepherds from a field to…
275. A blazing trail of light
The first day of December 2024 is over. It has begun, as it does every year. A celebration in the Christian world that honors the essence of our existence. A celebration that includes everyone—no matter how broken or commercialized it might be—there are few parts of the world that are not adorned with gold, silver, and…
Pebbles of Perpetuity 