Every ring of the parish office phone carries a story waiting to unfold. It may bring joyful news, an unexpected request, a pastoral crisis, or a conversation that changes someone’s day. With warmth, gentle humour, and a nod to Stephen Leacock, this reflection explores how an ordinary telephone becomes an instrument of grace, reminding us that ministry so often begins with the simple willingness to answer the next call.
Tag Archives: Spiritual Reflection
The Lost Art of the Name Tag: Comedic reflections on sticker tags, lanyards, and the Anglican fear of mingling
A simple name tag does far more than display a name—it quietly says, “You belong here.” With affectionate humour about sticker labels, lanyards, and the gentle Anglican hesitation to introduce ourselves to strangers, this reflection explores the sacred art of welcome, reminding us that hospitality often begins with the courage to learn, remember, and lovingly speak another person’s name.
Why Every Parish Has a Mysterious Drawer of Candles: An archaeological exploration of wax, wicks, and forgotten feast days
Every parish seems to possess a mysterious drawer filled with candles of every imaginable size, shape, and vintage—each with a story no one quite remembers. With gentle humour and affectionate curiosity, this reflection explores the hidden treasures of parish life, discovering that even forgotten candles bear witness to generations of faithful worship and the enduring light of Christ that continues to shine through the Church.
Confessions of a Rector’s To-Do List (Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Perpetual Post-It)
A rector’s to-do list has a remarkable way of growing faster than it shrinks, with fresh Post-it notes appearing almost as quickly as old ones disappear. With warmth and self-deprecating humour, this reflection explores the gentle tension between endless tasks and faithful ministry, discovering that God’s calling is measured not by a perfectly completed checklist, but by lives touched with grace along the way.
The Spirituality of Soup: A Theology of the Ladle (Because sometimes grace comes disguised as barley and root vegetables)
A pot of soup has a remarkable way of gathering people together. Ladle by ladle, it offers warmth, nourishment, conversation, and quiet reassurance that no one need leave the table hungry. With gentle humour and pastoral warmth, this reflection explores the spirituality of soup, discovering that God’s grace is often served in ordinary bowls, shared generously, and seasoned with love.
Thanksgiving for This Ministry: Thirty-One Years, a Few Grey Hairs, and a God Who Never Stops Surprising
Thirty-one years of ordained ministry are marked not only by milestones and memories, but by countless ordinary moments in which God’s faithfulness has quietly shone through. With gratitude, humility, and a touch of gentle humour, this reflection looks back on the journey so far, celebrating the God who has remained steadfast through every season and who continues to surprise, sustain, and call us onward.
Advent Candles and the Theology of Waiting (Without Losing Your Mind
Advent teaches us that waiting is not wasted time but holy time. As the candles are lit one by one, they remind us that hope grows patiently, even when we would rather rush ahead. With warmth and gentle humour, this reflection explores the spiritual discipline of waiting, discovering that God often does God’s deepest work in us while we are learning to trust the light that is still on its way.
Prayer When You’re Too Tired to Pray
There are days when even the simplest prayer feels beyond our strength. Yet God’s love is never dependent upon our eloquence or energy. This reflection explores the grace of praying through weariness, discovering that when our own words fail, the Spirit continues to hold us, intercede for us, and surround us with a love that never grows tired.
The Theology of Small Steps: Camino Lessons for Daily Life (Because not every pilgrimage requires a blister the size of Manitoba)
The Camino teaches that every great journey is completed one step at a time. Thankfully, most of our daily pilgrimages require less distance—and fewer blisters. With warmth, gentle humour, and wisdom gathered along the trail, this reflection explores how God shapes our lives through small, faithful steps, reminding us that lasting transformation is rarely dramatic but almost always wonderfully ordinary.
When Your Sermon Has a Mind of Its Own. A meditation on preaching, improvising, and trusting the Spirit when your notes betray you
Every preacher knows the moment when the carefully prepared manuscript suddenly seems to have its own ideas. Sometimes the notes no longer fit the moment, and the Spirit quietly invites us to trust more than our outline. With self-deprecating humour and pastoral honesty, this reflection explores the holy adventure of preaching, discovering that God’s most important word is often spoken when we are willing to listen as much as we speak.