On the eve of the Thanksgiving long weekend, I was waiting in the early morning ferry line up in Snug Cove, making my usual way from Bowen Island to UBC when someone knocked on my car window. A little startled,…
The Bell: Election reflection
Tag: the bell
The Bell: How will your next meal reflect your values?
Over dinner with friends a few weeks ago, conversation got around to how we navigate through life-altering crossroads. One friend shared advice that intrigued me about making decisions based on our values, not our circumstances. In difficult moments, certain decisions…
The Bell: Thanksgiving is coming – and Thanksgiving is with us every day
Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving . . . Psalm 147:7 I don’t often have fast food, but on a whim I recently popped into an A&W near the UBC campus. As I sat waiting for my order I noticed…
The Bell: The delusion of self-sufficiency
Our friendship grew slowly, over many years. She lived in my neighbourhood with her partner, in a very large old house – twice the size of mine – located only a few doors down the street. You had to climb…
The Bell: Very little guide of mouth
In the song ‘Straight Street,’ J.W. Alexander and Jesse Whitaker say, “Well I used to live on Broadway, right next to the liar’s house, my number was self-righteousness and a very little guide of mouth.” This song is about conversion, a…
The Bell: On being held: children, anxiety and a sacred story tradition
It’s commonly assumed that the taking of a breath is the first thing we do outside of the womb. Research, however, indicates that on average it takes a full 10 seconds before a newborn takes their first gulp of air.1…
The Bell: Speaking truth in an age of rage
During my daily commute to Vancouver, I often tune in to news and talk shows to catch up on the topics that are top-of-mind that day. Lately, the issues raised revolve around inflation, politics and EV cars. Talk show hosts…
The Bell: In praise of settling
Commitment does limit choices, but those limits are good. When I was a teenager and in my early twenties, I was terrified of settling. To me, settling meant opting for something less than the best. It meant lowering my standards,…
The Bell: Act now – protect our children from sexual exploitation!
My ministry with homeless youth over the years has highlighted for me the need for our society to wake up to the dangers that our children are facing every day. My concern for their health has compelled me to advocate…
The Bell: Walking worthily, rediscovering the sacred on the streets
May there be no breach in the walls, no exile and no cry of distress in the streets. – Psalms 144:14 On a recent trip to Toronto I inadvertently miscued my GPS and found myself wandering around a part of…