Whatever He Says

By Belinda I'd been working hard all week trying do better at slowing down and focusing. Although it sounds like an oxymoron, I realize that my Blackberry conditioned hair trigger response to incoming stimuli  is counterproductive in terms of efficiency. I have to learn to calm my brain and focus on the task at hand in order to get beyond the immediate influx.  So at lunchtime on Friday when I had a couple of errands to run--a trip to the post office, and to the florist to order some flowers for a sick colleague, I  thought it efficient to type out the name, address and phone number, as well as the encouraging message to accompany the flowers, with the names of our each of our team. It was printed out in large font to make it easy for the person placing the order . It was invigorating to step out into the fresh fall air and bright sunshine. The small town of Bradford was bustling with traffic and busy shoppers getting ready for the Thanksgiving weekend....

By Belinda There was a winter storm on the way and on the morning radio show there was a segment on safe winter driving. A driving instructor mentioned that he teaches his students to always maintain space between themselves and the cars around them. He called this, “Living Room." That Living Room was the space between safety and catastrophe; a buffer zone. We live in a world that pressures us to use every minute, cram activity into every space. Fill every void in conversation with words. We need a buffer zone; a Living Room. One day, Susan was over at my place and we just sat quietly side by side in wing backed arm chairs. Usually we have no end of things to talk about, but on this occasion a peaceful silence descended like snow on a winter's night. I must have worried a bit that I was boring her out of her mind, because she later wrote this: You don't have to feel any pressure at all to fill in those quiet spots. Do you know what it...

By Belinda I passed these signs on a walk last week. The one on the ground says, "Maximum 50 Begins." It looks as though someone uprooted it and planted the new sign beside it saying, "Maximum 40." When I posted it on my photo blog last week and asked for ideas for captions, a blog friend suggested, "Slowing down." It seemed a perfect caption and analogy for my current goal in life! Yesterday I had a vacation day at home and mid morning, after putting on some laundry and putting away the dishes from cell group the night before, I found a portion of leftover apple crumble in the fridge, warmed it up in the microwave, poured a steaming cup of black coffee and took them both into the next room where I planned to read, reflect and pray for a while. There had been a snow fall during the night and the light of the sun shining dazzlingly in a clear blue sky, reflected from the snow into the room so brightly that I adjusted the horizontal blinds to a more gentle ...

Matthew 25:40 (New International Version) 40 "The King will reply , 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Does Jesus, then, have a "least of these?" I don't think so, and we shouldn't, but we do, and that is what I think he meant. I think that he wants us to open our eyes and see, that unless we see him in every soul, and especially those we are tempted to see and treat as "the least," we really have no part with him, for he also says, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' ( vs.45) It is so easy be detached about the message of Jesus; to admire it and talk about how society should change, but he has a way of bringing the message home, and making it very personal. He asks me to change. He did it again this morning--showed me the gap between my talk and my walk. And I am grateful. I want to see, but am often bl...

We slipped in quietly and I saw her eyes search the small crowd for her piano instructor. My oldest daughter is much like a young filly, tall and lean and a bit skittish when she has to perform. A few young musicians clutched their books or music sheets, the younger ones with their parents and the older ones sat alone or stood waiting further instruction. The host wore a black tuxedo. As the host welcomed guests to The Gibson Centre, he explained that this recital was put on by the New Tecumseth Arts Council for the purpose of showcasing the grand piano. Ten music students were invited to perform, and piano instructors of the county as well as various guests from the community gathered to hear the deep tones, delicate melodies, and the beauty that can only be garnered from a grand piano. The host went on to explain that most students learn and practise on upright pianos or keyboards and only experience playing a grand at festivals, exams, and occasional recitals. Playing a ...