My copy of Linda Hoye's The Presence of Absence is studded with bookmarks so I can return to some of my favourite passages in her wonderful new book. I had to smile when she buys a new Moleskin notebook---then decides she needs a new desk to go with it! (87) I recognize myself both in … Continue reading Busy, Broken, and Being Beloved
Plan a play date, go for a walk through your favourite park, and take time to enjoy the beauty and wonder of God. - Christine Aroney-Sine, A Daily Dose of Awe This week I received a delightful surprise in my mail box: The Gift of Wonder: Creative Practices for Delighting in God by Christine Aroney-Sine (InterVarsity … Continue reading Enter to Win a Free Copy of The Gift of Wonder
Without community, writing can get lonely. So I'm part of a number of different communities both in real life and online, including the Godspace Community where we share a common concern for spirituality, sustainability, and social justice. I've published a few articles as part of Godspace, often share pieces written by other members of the … Continue reading A Daily Dose of Awe
Mental illness is not as obvious as a broken leg, but it's just as real. According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, one in five Canadians will experience a mental illness in their lifetime. Almost half of those who suffer from anxiety and/or depression have never sought medical attention. In one study, 84% of clergy … Continue reading One Way Your Church Can Stop Hiding Mental Illness
In a culture of excess, I understand that giving something up for Lent can feel freeing. To shed the excess and get back to basics, to let go of the unnecessary to focus on the essential, to "simplify, simplify, simplify" as in Thoreau's Walden makes good sense and good spiritual practice. I've observed Lent that … Continue reading Practicing Lent
On this Thanksgiving long weekend, I'm thankful for all of you wonderful readers. I'm always excited to hear from you and learn so much when any of you comment on a blog post, use my contact form, or speak to me in person. I first met reader Fjaere Harder Nussbaum when I led a retreat … Continue reading A Waitress, a Bent Table Fork, and a Sacred Pause
Last week, I was pleased to spend a few days at the beautiful Barnabas Family Ministries retreat centre on Keats Island. I loved the warm hospitality and accommodations in the Carriage House (on the left below), and the excellent farm-fresh meals served in the Lamplighter Cottage (on the right). It was the perfect setting to be on … Continue reading On Finding a Healthy Rhythm of Work and Rest
I was delighted to lead two seminars at this year's Mennonite Church Canada Assembly in Winnipeg. Cultivating Spiritual Practices was the title suggested to me by Assembly organizers, but the sessions might just as well have been called Deepening Your Walk with God, or Growing Your Relationship with Jesus, or Developing Spiritual Discipline. In this post, I share my seminar outline.
April Yamasaki 