When my husband was diagnosed with a recurrence of cancer, we received a packet of information from the cancer center. The large envelope included various forms, contact numbers, booklets on what to expect, nutritional information, and other resources for patients and their families. Among the papers, I also came across an offer of free parking … Continue reading The Hospitality of the Church Parking Lot
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
Until a few weeks ago, I had never heard of an "atmospheric river," but by now those of us who live in British Columbia have become all too familiar with the term. When one of those rivers in the sky released its torrent, we experienced such massive flooding and mudslides that my city and our … Continue reading Hope Is Drawing Near
When I wrote If You're Still Hesitating, Here are 10 Reasons to Get a COVID-19 Vaccine, a number of readers asked if I would be sharing that article here as well. Others shared it on Facebook, and some even emailed to let me know that they were sending it to friends. Clearly there was a … Continue reading Dear Vaccine, Can You Change the World?
After twenty-five years of pastoral ministry, I sensed a new wind of the Spirit blowing in my life, leading me to invest more deeply in my writing and speaking beyond the local congregation. I still loved the church and still loved pastoral ministry, but I also knew from the movement of the Spirit that it … Continue reading The Gift of Community
Lift Every Voice: Contemplative Writers of Color is a new book club launched this year by Abbey of the Arts. What a delight to learn that Four Gifts had been chosen as the feature title for May! And as a resource for the book club, I loved talking with the Abbey's Christine Valters Paintner and … Continue reading Lift Every Voice: Four Gifts
This week I received a free calendar in the mail along with this note: I've never once felt the need to urge you to throw away something I sent you. But this year, PLEASE, throw away your 2020 calendar. Let's do our part to put this year behind us. In many ways it's been a … Continue reading The Top 10 of 2020 from April Yamasaki
April Yamasaki 