Monthly Archives: March 2015

I believe in the sun even when it does not shine

A few years ago I visited the site of the Dachau Concentration Camp – a place that was the scene of so much evil. There are now three chapels there, one Jewish, one Catholic and one Protestant – each of … Continue reading

Posted in Faith, God, God in us, God with us, Goodness, Hope, hope and love, Joy | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The eternal harmony

Sir Michael Costa, the celebrated conductor, during a rehearsal, stopped the music and said, ‘Where is the piccolo?’ It turned out that the piccolo player, thinking that his contribution would not be missed amid so much sound from dozens of … Continue reading

Posted in Giving, Life, Life's journey, Living Life, Making the most of what you've got, Self giving, Spiritual Insight | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Siren song

Vladimir, a resident of Berlin, has an unusual strategy for bringing peace to his marriage. He uses an old air raid siren to stun his wife into submission. ‘She never lets me get a word in,’ he told the police. … Continue reading

Posted in Communication, Companionship, Family, Living Life, love, marriage | Tagged | Leave a comment

When the worst that can happen becomes the best

When police in Germany went to arrest Maria Brunner for a stack of unpaid parking fines, all run up unbeknown to her by her unemployed husband using her car, they were surprised that she actually thanked them and waved to … Continue reading

Posted in Escape, Hope, Peace, Peaceful Sleep, Relief, Rest, Trials and testings, tribulation and trouble | Tagged | Leave a comment

No difference

A doctor in Missouri was driving between hospital calls one evening, exceeding the speed limit. Suddenly a police car appeared behind him, signalling for him to pull over. So the doctor picked up his stethoscope and held it up for … Continue reading

Posted in Forgiveness, Grace, Impartiality, Sin | Tagged | Leave a comment

The way God would paint our portrait

There’s a story of a homeless man sitting across the street from an artist’s studio. The artist saw him and thought he’d make an interesting portrait. So from a distance he painted this man – but not with downcast eyes … Continue reading

Posted in God, New Life, Salvation, Second chance, Seeing the best in people, Seeing the possibilities | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Together forever

A tragedy in 1959 is today the basis of a strange law in France. Following a major disaster President Charles de Gaulle passed a law that allowed a young woman to marry her fiancé who was one of those killed. … Continue reading

Posted in Heaven, love, marriage | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

God forgives and forgets

Some years ago, rumors spread that a certain Catholic woman was having visions of Jesus. Her archbishop was skeptical and said to her: ‘The next time you have a vision, I want you to ask Jesus to tell you the … Continue reading

Posted in Confession, Forgiveness, God, Self Deception, Sin | Leave a comment

When you get a glimpse of heaven

Lord Kenneth Clark, who created the famous TV series Civilization, said that once, while visiting a beautiful old church, he had an overwhelming religious experience. ‘My whole being,’ he said, ‘was irradiated by a kind of heavenly joy far more … Continue reading

Posted in Heaven, Joy, Rejecting God, Spiritual blessing | Tagged , | Leave a comment

When you get to the top, there’s nothing there

When Boris Becker was at the top of the tennis world he actually contemplated suicide. He said, ‘I had won Wimbledon twice – once as the youngest player to do so. I was rich. I had all the material possessions … Continue reading

Posted in Disappointed, emptiness, Faith, Futility, Life, Life's journey, Living Life, Meaninglessness, Success | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment