We are in the season of feasts—Passover and Easter. Isn’t it wonderful that God instituted landmark feasts—meals of special food filled with the ingredients, tastes, colours, and smells that bring spiritual realities to mind? As we’ve been reading through the Gospels at our supper table, I was moved a few weeks ago when we came… Continue reading A Lent Conversation – Week 6
Is God involved in the tiniest details of our lives? I think so. It was Laurel’s turn to start the conversation this week with a poem. When I hadn’t heard from her by last Tuesday, I emailed and asked if she had a poem for the week. It turned out she thought she had sent… Continue reading A Lent Conversation – Week 5
I can hardly believe we're already into week four of our Lent project. This week I sent Laurel the prompt--a painting I did, inspired by a photo I took on a summer holiday trip we made to Salt Spring Island some years ago. I love her psalm-like prayer poem in response. My painting and the… Continue reading A Lent Conversation – Week 4
The poem that Laurel sent me as an art prompt for Week 3 made me so happy. I love spring and one of its most compelling signs is the bird symphony and activity we hear and see on our daily walks on Nicomekl Trail, a footpath that follows the Nicomekl River. I love how Laurel… Continue reading A Lent Conversation – Week 3
This is the second instalment of a Lenten conversation between Laurel Archer, my poet friend, and me providing some art. This week I sent Laurel a painting as a prompt. She responded with a poem. The Hellebore plant was new to me when I moved to the coast (we didn’t have it in Saskatchewan, at… Continue reading A Lent Conversation – Week 2
Do you keep Lent? Lent is a church season—a time of sober introspection in preparation for Easter—that my faith tradition mentioned only in passing. But I do love the idea of a faith calendar where one remembers and honours each season of faith at a set time each year. In the spirit of discovering, appreciating,… Continue reading A Lent Conversation
The day after Labour Day (that would be today) always feels like an end and a beginning: summer vacation has officially ended, the new school year begins. New brings excitement and anticipation. But it can also hold dread, worry, and anxiety, especially for students and their parents. Two passages that have meant a lot to… Continue reading Promises for new beginnings #BibleJournaling
Last summer I accepted the position of Poetry Editor for FellowScript, the quarterly publication of Inscribe Christian Writers Fellowship. This post is updated from what was first published in August of last year with current theme information for upcoming issues. Inscribe members*—we’d love to publish your poems! Please submit your poems (traditional or free verse;… Continue reading Inscribers—FellowScript wants your poems!
It's here at last--the project that's been in the works for over a year! And just in time for Christmas too. Borrowed Gardens Authors: Bertoia, Jeannine; Fisher, Tracie; McNulty, Del; Nesdoly, Violet Publisher: SparrowSong Press (printed by First Choice Books), December, 2014, Paperback, 128 pages ISBN: 978-1-77084-501-5 About the Book (cover text) "A collection of… Continue reading Borrowed Gardens – new poetry anthology
2014 is off to a great start! Writing has changed a lot since I sold my first article in 1997. Then it was a solo business for me. I was in the middle of taking a writing course and submitted those first pieces to see if I actually had what it took. It was all… Continue reading And we’re off! (#ICWriters)
Violet Nesdoly 