Personal Pieces

Last night, when I heard the recent economic news of North America, I was reminded of this: “…Our economic beliefs have produced a culture that makes poverty, violence, ill health, and fragile economic systems seem inevitable.” (Page xiii) From the amazing book: “An Other Kingdom: Departing the Consumer Culture” by: Peter Block, Walter Brueggemann and John McKnight. https://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://t0.gstatic.com/images%3Fq%3Dtbn:ANd9GcRdlQ2tDF9jaY4LF82_hXTCiCyjvqJ2Dx5ZGeMhIbVhpUPDPORA&imgrefurl=http://books.google.com/books/about/An_Other_Kingdom.html%3Fid%3D9CCJCgAAQBAJ%26source%3Dkp_cover&h=900&w=600&tbnid=pHqPoTMvFgkP_M:&vet=1&tbnh=160&tbnw=106&docid=ODt4-KLr2r85lM&itg=1&usg=__VZg9fliXQJhrU9blD4bU_rQ6yh4=&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi18umL6uDRAhUX-2MKHV0iAVwQ_B0IZzAK

This morning, as i signed my name and today’s date on a form, I realized that in exactly ten months I will be turning 50… I have enjoyed and learned so much thus far, and I look forward to many more lessons and Joys. Here is a picture of me in Kindergarten, at Shamlian Tatikian. I am the very first student on the right hand side, in front of the piano. May Blessings of Growing Wise abound.

I am not sure when was the last time I was on the receiving end of things at a worship service – It has been a while. Today, a special day turned into an extra special one. Thanks to Facebook, I found out that Glenburnie United Church, near Kingston, was having a service of songs. No, it had nothing to do with hymns, but everything to do with songs – any, all, popular, secular (Those songs that are not sung in church). Songs that speak to us; songs that have obvious theological inclination, or in between the lines. As I … Read more

I found this thought in one of my e-mails that I have sent to myself on February 25, 2008 “Life might take you to a place that you never imagined. Don’t despair,  for where you are is where you are ought to be.” I found this picture taken on February 17, 2008 in Ste. Agathe, Quebec. Gary and I went there after leading Sunday morning worship celebration at Morin Heights United Church. It was perchance we found this dog sledding competition. A true gift to us; especially to Gary, the day after his 44th birthday – it was a Joy … Read more

A quiet day. Cleaning files. Gathering things around the house to donate. Preparing to face the new year more organized and calm. I wanted to have a cup of tea before bedtime. While heading to the kitchen I wondered, “Where is Maya?” But Maya is not around. She passed away on October 12, 2016 (Yom Kippur). I did not make anything out of it and did not say a thing, because we are dog sitting and wondered if having that little princess with us was making me think of Maya. But we had had this little princess with us since … Read more

What an AMAZING Gift to hear the students of my childhood school reciting one of my poems… Shamlian Tatigian Secondary School, thank you for giving me a Faith-filled foundation to grow upon and making my Christmas 2016 an extra special one… May Blessings of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love abound at this Christmas Time and ALWAYS. My Prayers are with you!   www.facebook.com/shamlian.tatigian/videos/630100447174326      

It was the early morning of Thursday, December 13, 1984, before I was up to get ready to go to school the phone rang. It would always ring at weird hours of the day due to the time difference between Lebanon and California. But this ring was different and it made me jump out of bed and say, “Dad” and tears started to flow down my cheeks. My sister was on the phone in her bedroom and a few minutes later I heard her crying. I went to see her and my feelings were right – our father had passed … Read more