“Oh God, You have rejected us and cast us off, Broken down our defenses, and scattered us. You have been angry – O restore us And turn Yourself to us again! You have made the land to quake and tremble, You have rent it open; Repair its breaches, for it shakes and totters. You have […]
Good Enough
This is not a self-esteem blog. This is not about flattery or inflating your ego. This is not even about you. It’s about your creative work. Most artists are perfectionists. They develop and hone their art. They practice it over and over, trying to get it right. Even when it is perfect, they are often […]
Savouring Chocolate
I’m a rationer when it comes to chocolate. I have always had a sweet tooth – since I was a kid – and I have always been able to ration my chocolate supplies. Some people like to binge on chocolate, but not me. I take a bite and I savour every moment. I find this […]
The Plague
We’ve had a particularly nasty strain of the flu doing the rounds in our household these past few weeks. As I head down the road toward recovery, reclaiming things like the ability to breathe through my nose and the power of speech, I am grateful to be free of the plague. This is, of course, […]
Surviving Procrastination
Most creative people have experienced procrastination at some time in their lives. Whether it be the allure of the washing up, the beckoning of social media or the temptation to engage in consumer-based activities (shopping), procrastination can become an art-form. What’s your favourite kind of procrastination? Mine is what I have come to call “real […]
By Design
A preacher once said to me, “If you are planted in the right environment, you will flourish.” He was speaking metaphorically, of course, comparing our lives with those of trees. The preacher suggested that different types of trees require different environments, different soils, different exposure to light and so on, in order to grow into […]
To Be Average
Sales of Surviving Singledom recently passed the 150 mark. (150 copies, not dollars.) I was so stoked I posted this fact on social media. Even though 150 does not sound like a lot when compared with bestsellers – and let’s face it, a book about singledom in a world full of marrieds and families is […]
God’s Problem
Recently I was talking with a friend about facing challenges in life. We were discussing how hard it can be to ask God for the things we need. My friend had a unique take on the matter. “If God has asked me to do something,” she stated matter-of-factly, “then He needs to provide the means […]
Stories of Singledom
I met Anna (not her real name) at a recent Koorong book signing. She was a girl in her twenties, single, walking up to me with her single girlfriend. Together, they told me they had been discussing the topic of singleness that very morning, as they were driving to Koorong. Anna seemed to be quite […]
No More Bitterness
When you write a song and play it for people you are supposed to do a little spiel beforehand where you talk about the meaning behind the song. It’s a bit of a “behind the scenes” approach to song exposition. Being a bit of a rule-follower myself, I now present the story behind No More […]