Today at the pool two people asked if Edward gives hugs. The first was a friend who's 101 year-old grandmother had just died. This guy is very passionate, and the kind of person for whom a 101 year-old's death would be a great tragedy. After a short conversation about his loss he asked if Edward gives hugs. Immediately Edward moved in and embraced him. Then my friend turned and gave me a hug as well—two guys in winter coats hugging at the front desk of the pool. I can do that

My Dad with his Dad Here's a link to an article I wrote for Christian Courier —about what feels like an existential struggle to leave the CRC church.

WHEN all-star catcher Alejandro Kirk hit his grand slam in the 2025 season-ending game yesterday, propelling his team toward an eventual AL East title, Toronto Blue Jays fans felt a very familiar glory—an echo of the euphoria of Joe Carter’s 1993 World Series winning homer and a re-living of the ecstasy that came with Jose Bautista’s 2015 three-run blast.     As a faith leader, I’ve always been intrigued by the vicarious power of these moments. I wonder if the glory that we f

In a previous post I referenced a panic filled night I endured 7 weeks ago. The night ended with a very hopeful response from God that...

"I am sending you to them, to open their eyes..." Jesus to the Apostle Paul (in Acts 26:17-18) When I read these words this morning my...

Yesterday morning, while shaving Edward, I had the thought that I should probably teach him how to do this on his own—with an electric...

When we checked into our holiday hotel room last week I asked if it was on a pet-free floor—Edward is a bit nervous around dogs and I'm a...

Last week a City of Calgary employee came up to Edward and I as we sat in the Killarney Pool hot tub and asked if we'd be willing to...

They say sport is a microcosm of life. This year’s Stanley Cup final makes this feel especially true. As the Edmonton Oilers work to find...

The deadly sin of greed seems to be collapsing in on itself right now. Under Donald Trump’s me-first, zero-sum, hyper-transactional...

As Edward’s caregiver I often think about death; especially when his mom is away for a couple of days (like she is right now) and it’s...

In a world that seems to be spinning out of control—where ‘up’ is ‘down’ and lies are normative, where corruption grows and neighbours...

Here's an excerpt from chapter 10 of the book I'm writing about the parable of my son Edward. While I'm always wary about sharing a first...

My book on Edward continues to come together in real time. This week, I finished up a chapter on conflict. Because Edward is non-verbal,...

“According to the Bible, Jesus has a great aptitude with physics, chemistry, and biology...” Here's a review I wrote for Christianity...

Over the past year I’ve been experimenting with church, trying to discern what a church-without-walls could look like. I tried hosting...

The Upside Down Church , Dennis Oppenheim, Calgary, Alberta When I was a boy, I struggled to fit into the faith of my Dutch immigrant...

Last night I attended an annual awards ceremony hosted by Edward’s day program, Chrysalis. For most of the night Edward was subdued,...

Here's an article I wrote for the Calgary Herald on how a Foldscope paper microscope helps us bring the spirit of advent into sharper...

Edward looked a bit shocked when he came up our walkway yesterday afternoon—an unsettled mix of exhaustion and pain. Stepping into the...