Yesterday morning, like many around the world, I joined the collective sigh of relief that 12 members of a Thai youth soccer team and their coach, together with those who had been with them over the past few days all got out of their underground ordeal in a cave in Thailand, alive and for the […]

I have always been fascinated with the power of words. A simple proverb can express a profound truth; a piece of poetry can inspire us or move us to tears; a good book can capture our imagination, making us feel part of another world; a well-chosen word of thanks or appreciation can lift the spirit. […]

As if there were not enough angst going on in this country to divide public opinion and set people on opposing sides, we are now in the midst of a massive controversy over the way children and young teenagers are being treated on arrival at the US Southern border with their parents seeking asylum. I […]

When my youngest daughter Fiona was growing up, she took up rowing in high school. She became very proficient and soon was selected to row in both the coxless ‘8’s’ and the ‘4’s.’ She preferred rowing as part of a team and not alone. She was a strong oarswoman and had the ‘bow’ seat or […]

One of the joys of technology is that I can spend time with my grandchildren even though they are in Devon in the UK. Both of them are now of an age where they are happy to talk to me and show me things they have done or made via the computer or smartphone screen. […]

Last week I shared a thought on how we sometimes overlook the place of the Ascension in the life of the Church. I suggested to do so was rendering the life of Jesus an incomplete story, much like a book that had the las pages missing. This week, we arrive at the final pages and […]

One of the advantages of the digital audiobook or E-reader is that they cannot have pages disappear on you. I am one of those people who still prefer to feel the book in my hand when I am reading. There is nothing more frustrating than reading a book only to find the last page or […]

How many times have you said the wrong thing at the wrong time and then wish the floor would open up and swallow you as you realize with embarrassment the mistake you have made. Listening again to the almost 20-minute monologue of Michelle Wolf at this year’s Washington Correspondents Dinner I found myself wondering how […]

Carolyn and I are almost at the end of our vacation which we both needed after the journey through Lent and the joys of Easter Sunday. The long flight, (22 hours) brought us first to Singapore for a few days then a further two and half hours in the air, and we arrived in Bangkok. […]

Lower taxes, cheaper gas prices, more investment in schools and education, better transport systems, higher pensions, stricter measures on crime, cleaner environment, more jobs….. We have heard it all before, haven’t we? The words trotted out by those running for elected office, whether President of the United States or some county, city, state or federal […]