Recent Columns
The Nature of Peace – 5 – Lost in translation
This the fifth of several excerpts from an address I gave in Hamilton, Canada in November 2014. Excerpt #1 is here and #2 is here and #3 is here and #4 is here. + If nothing else, when we cross borders we’ll be misunderstood. I remember once we had some Canadian visitors in Uganda and they needed […]
Read More The Nature of Peace – 4 – (and falling for goalies)
Here, or below, we’re continuing on the theme of The Nature of Peace, this the fourth of several excerpts from an address I gave in Hamilton, Canada in November 2014. Excerpt #1 is here and #2 is here and #3 is here. But first, about the kids. + Liz gets a phone call from a friend. […]
Read More The Nature of Peace – 4 – Understanding risk
Last week I was at a pool in Uganda doing my lanes. And most of the time when I swim in Uganda this particular pool is empty because Ugandans don’t swim. But this day there was a little girl there – she looked about 10 years old – and she was trying to learn to swim and she came up to me in the water and said, “Okay. I’ll climb on your back and you’ll swim and carry me and I’ll kick.”
Read More Cradle-to-grave without free choice
(The Hamilton Spectator - Saturday, January 24, 2015)
KAMPALA, UGANDA ✦ He goes by a false name so he’s not found and killed. I just met him. I’ll call him Ahmed in this, his story. He recently shared it around our dinner table.
Read More The Nature of Peace – 3 – You’re the good news
This leads to the real good news, which is you. You’re the good news. You’re the nature of peace, created in God’s image, just a lower than the angels. You’re doing all sorts of things to promote and cultivate peace. You’re working against this natural tendency for war. Congratulations again, nominees and winners.
And how are you doing this? Are you just gathering together to hold hands and sing Kumbaya? No, you’re imagining a better world. You’re picturing it. Einstein said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.”
Read More The Nature of Peace #3 (and BTW, Dad, I’m going to be a journalist!)
Here, or below, we’re continuing on the theme of The Nature of Peace, this the third of several excerpts from an address I gave in Hamilton, Canada in November 2014. Excerpt #1 is here and #2 is here. But first, this brief conversation: Dad: “And, guys, whenever you feel down about school, just remember, you only […]
Read More Baby Eliana arrived home today
Today was a big day for Baby Eliana and her family. Three months to the day after this Ugandan miracle child was born a preemie not much bigger than a pet mouse, she went home. Eliana was born at a staggering 25 weeks, 15 weeks early, on Oct. 21, 2014. After being taken off of oxygen […]
Read More Sometimes children should be seen and not heard
It was at the dinner table, Sunday evening, and the kids and Mom were telling me about the morning service where some brave Ugandan kid got up in front of hundreds of university students and adults too and boldly rhymed off a poem expressing his sincere wish that Ugandan parents would just listen to their […]
Read More The Nature of Peace – 2 – Don’t let your inner peace be stolen
Now there’s good news too and I want to get to the good news. But first, let me ask you a question. Generally speaking, very broadly now, in 2014 is the world a safe place? I’d like to see a show of hands. Who thinks we live in a safe world? And who thinks it’s not safe
Read More Don’t let your inner peace be stolen (The Nature of Peace – #2)
In November 2014 I returned from my African home to speak at the Hamilton Convention Centre on the theme of The Nature of Peace. This was on the invitation of the YMCA of Hamilton-Burlington-Brantford, which holds an annual Peace Medal Breakfast to honour the people of Hamilton region who work towards peace. Now, following the […]
Read More (Considering the Charlie Hebdo murders) The Nature of Peace – #1
In November 2014 I returned from my African home to speak at the Hamilton Convention Centre on the theme of The Nature of Peace. This was on the invitation of the YMCA of Hamilton-Burlington-Brantford, which holds an annual Peace Medal Breakfast to honour the people of Hamilton region who work towards peace. Now, following the […]
Read More Baby Eliana survives another surgery, moves off of oxygen
The note today came to me like this – “I am very humbled by all the people who have come to the rescue of this little angel. She has fought so hard to be alive. Thanks for helping her in this fight. Thank you all. And God bless you.” This from Wanyama Wangah, the father of […]
Read More New Year’s morning
It’s morning, the first of a new year, and the kids are sleeping in. I start in Jonathan’s room. I kneel at his bed and stroke his forehead and say “Hey little man,” and kiss him before he groggily comes to. And then I ask God to bless his day and the rest of his school holidays […]
Read More “All we are now are memories for our children.”
I saw a movie the other day with one of those lines that will last a lifetime — “All we are now are memories for our children.” And what better memory can any child have than of Christmas morning? It’s now a few minutes past midnight in Uganda. We’re into Dec. 25 eight hours before […]
Read More The paradox of Christmas
I recently wrote here about bringing the children some Turkish Delight back from a trip to Istanbul, where I stopped for some writing fodder while travelling from Canada back to our African home. Some other thoughts from this strategic part of the world, and on peace this Christmas season, are in this Hamilton Spectator column from […]
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