In How to Read the Bible and Love It, I share ten ways of staying engaged with Scripture. Today I'm taking my own advice with variation #1 - try a different translation. Ever since its publication last year, I've been wanting to read the First Nations Version: An Indigenous Translation of the New Testament by … Continue reading Becoming a True Human Being: First Nations Version
During these last months of remembering, mourning, and finding a new way forward, I have found some comfort in responding personally to each message and each kindness. I've been pacing myself with this, and I'm not nearly done yet, so I also wanted to say a huge THANK YOU here to all those who have: … Continue reading On Finding a New Way Forward
Years ago when my father died suddenly of a heart attack, his loss was unexpected and enormous, and I felt as if my entire world had shifted on its axis. I remember wondering, how can everyone and everything else go on as normal? How could the sky still be clear and cloudless? How could students … Continue reading In Deep Grief and Deep Gratitude
On Saturday, February 19, 2022, my husband had been in the hospital for three weeks dealing with complications from his cancer, but he was feeling better and asked for some wonton soup. "Great idea," said his doctor. "Wonderful," said his dietician. So I brought my husband the wonton soup he asked for, and spooned some … Continue reading Safely Home With God
Ten days ago, I had to call an ambulance for my husband. All week he had been struggling with what we thought was a bad reaction to his chemo. All week the nurse help line at the Cancer Care Centre advised us to keep following the protocol we had been given and continue to monitor … Continue reading Please God, Bring Him Safely Home to Me
This week my too-much-to-do list includes connecting with my publisher about my next book, confirming the text and title for my next sermon, starting my class prep for Sabbath: A Life-Long, Life-Giving Rhythm, tending to my social media and the Facebook pages for my church and writers' guild, picking up my husband's medications from the … Continue reading Too Much to Do? Choose the Better Part
For 2021, my word of the year was "healing." I prayed for healing for my husband, healing for myself, healing for all those suffering from illness, injustice, and other trauma, healing for creation labouring in this time of global warming and climate change. In this last year, I've learned a lot about healing as an … Continue reading Three Lessons in Healing
One year a friend sent me a Christmas card that showed a cartoon cricket playing a violin and humming the notes that danced over its head. Then on the inside, the card said: "Hum bug! Merry Christmas!" I'm feeling a bit "hum bug" myself this year. Yes I know 'tis the season to be jolly, … Continue reading A Refuge Still Remaining
April Yamasaki 