Consider this

                Peace is a word that is used a lot at this time of year.   We sing “Silent night” and talk about the coming “Prince of Peace”.    We give out cards that speak of peace on earth and we hope for a little peace and quiet during our time off.                   Why is it, then, that Christmas is one of the most stressful times of the year?   More to the point, why do so few of us live peaceful lives at any time of the year?   What can we do?   Here are a couple of thoughts to consider.                   First, we need to realize that peace is a gift that we can give to ourselves.   I know it sounds odd in our constantly outraged, social media fuelled world, but the fact is that you do not have to be upset about everything.   Not everything is crusade!   Getting upset, especially if you have no ability to make the s

                Sometimes, you get good reminders in the strangest places. This past Friday night, Sara and I attended the Estevan Arts Council’s Stars for Saskatchewan concert featuring Canadian singer, song writer Luke McMaster.   Though McMaster was raised in Brandon, Manitoba, he loves the sound of Motown and his latest project has him visiting, interviewing and recording with singers and song writers from that era.   As part of his show, he shared a video clip of his interview with Lamont Dozier who worked the “The Four Tops” and “The Supremes” among others.   If you have ever listened to this type of music, chances are you have heard a song written by him. At one point, McMaster asked Dozier, “How is it that you are still writing music?   You are seventy-seven years old and have been writing for sixty years.   How do you ke

                I have a confession to make:   I do not like the Christmas season!                 I hate shopping for presents, because I never know what to buy people.   I get tired of hearing the same old carols every year.   Surely, someone, somewhere, must have the ability to write a new song!   Most Christmas movies are so corny that I cannot stand them.   Taking holidays in December is a waste as it is usually so cold outside that you end up being stuck inside doing nothing for days on end.   It seems silly to put all the decorations up just to take them down again a month later.   All of this and more means that I have started more family fights over the Christmas holidays than at any other time of the year.   In the past, I was often less like Santa and more like the Grinch.                 This year, however, I have start