While in a bulk food store recently, complying with social distancing rules, I was led around by an employee whose job was to scoop out items I wanted and bag them.
On the doorstep of what would become the COVID-19 crisis of spring 2020, a wise woman I encountered called me out on the distinction between hope and expectation.
Space is not a word I associated with love for most of my life. I grew up longing for the freedom of stretching further away from the intimacy of my family and small Saskatchewan town. I sat in the farmhouse window sill in my bedroom, staring up at the expansive, prairie sky of stars, full of wonder at all the space in the universe for all of us.
Domestic church
I believe the present focus on streaming Masses is the wrong way to go.
Medical experts worldwide are racing to create a COVID-19 vaccine. Of course, these efforts should be encouraged and well funded because normal life won’t return until an effective vaccine is developed and distributed around the world.
There is not a lot to commend living in a quarantined world.
I had promised myself that I wouldn’t write a COVID-19 column.
Often, we do not see the softer side of people’s nature as they put up a facade of toughness and independence. This is especially true on the streets where the law of the street is, “Don’t show weakness, don’t show compassion.”
Thomas Merton said that trees give glory to God just by being trees. I imagine the same holds true for birds.
One could almost hear the collective sigh of relief as governments across Canada announced the lifting of some restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Profound impact
I spent Grade 9 to 12 attending a small Anglican school in Toronto. Probably like many young people forced to attend church, I graduated with a disdain for organized religion.