I'm often asked how I come up with ideas for these weekly offerings; rather, how I've done it for more than a decade.
As a writer I am always on the lookout for ideas. (I also do a lot of praying for thoughts - some weeks more than others.) Still, there's no guarantee that inspiration comes easily as I sit down at my computer to transform ideas into keystrokes. Some weeks I twiddle a lot of proverbial thumbs, other weeks I struggle to distil an abundance of material into three hundred and five words. Today I am blessed with the challenge of abundance.
First there was the week spent working in Calgary while enjoying the hospitality of long-time and much-loved friends. Then, there was the honour of interviewing young men and women who have devoted their lives to serving God by serving others in communities around the world. Finally, there was the unexpected pleasure of meeting a stranger while riding the ferry on the last leg of my journey home. Her name is Margaret.
Part of a group of "touring" seniors, she joined me at a table in the ship's cafeteria. Throughout the course of our ninety minute journey we traded stories and mutual lessons we'd learned through differing circumstances. Through thick and thin, we agreed, it's vital to remain faithful to our word and to believe that God is faithful to His. Those ideals were mutual, our talents quite different. While Margaret expressed her admiration for my ability to write, my jaw dropped in amazement as a poppy blossomed at the tip of her pen. I treasure the gift of her card; this article is my thanks to her. (Hope the trip went well!)
"But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ" Ephesians 4:7
