As far as the police go, I want it known this Labour Day that I’m all for them. And not just because I’m afraid that they’ll put me in cuffs someday for taking the wrong photo at the wrong time. Me: “I’m just doing my job.” Officer: “Me too.”
Summer highlight? Witnessing a police takedown Read More »
Before I get to New Year’s resolutions, here’s Child #3, Hannah. The other day she was the conversation topic around the table. At my turn I shared what I appreciate about my girl, our girl, the birthday girl. I shared that, like a fun-loving otter, she gets me out of myself.
Resolution for 2025: Get to the beach, the beach, the beach Read More »
It was on the streets of Uganda with shoppers scurrying to beat the rain when the masked woman with the colourful umbrella passed me, or I passed her, a moment, like 10 million others, that would already be forgotten if not for my handy phone camera. Later, in Kampala, reading a recent
What “living with it” looks like Read More »
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. Following is
The Nature of Peace – Complete address Read More »
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
The Nature of Peace – 5 – Lost in translation Read More »
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.”
The Nature of Peace – 3 – You’re the good news Read More »
(The New Vision – Monday, January 14, 2013)
KAMPALA, UGANDA ✦ There are six of us around the table. We’re disturbed and talking about how to help. The place where we work and live and have friendships and worship with others is under attack.
Through 2012, this place, an educational institution, became, as one Ugandan said, “a den of thieves.” Then the new year had barely arrived when a campus home was broken into and robbed while its Ugandan family slept.
We’ll always pay for our actions Read More »
The official charge is ignoring orders of a public official. But the real problem is words. Just words.
You know, words can be enough. Too much, even, when they say this and that; when they’re relevant and lacerating; when they’re passed to others and speak more than anyone even realizes; when they speak truth that isn’t just truth to be understood, but that deeper truth that causes a lump in your throat because you know someone has experienced it with some amount of pain.
Where words, mere words, mean trouble Read More »
