InsightForLivingCanada

The Perfect Father

Annalisa Patenaude

When I was a child I thought my dad was perfect. He could do no wrong. I mimicked him and followed him from place to place. As a teenager, I still expected my dad to have all the answers and to be the perfect father. But I discovered he didn't and he wasn't.

Back then much of my identity was formed from my parents. I yearned for more quality time with my dad but he was often away for work. Although there was never a doubt in my mind he loved me, I resented him...

Testing Perfection

Robyn Roste

Now that I've been married for a couple years I think it's safe to say the toughest part for me is learning how to share.

I know how petty that sounds, but for me it has been an adjustment. Out in the world I'm OK with randomness and spontaneity and a little bit of chaos but in my space, in my place, I like things a certain way. And I like my stuff in certain places. And it's difficult to hide these quirks when you're married.

At the root I don't think it's any...

Learning How To Follow Through

Annalisa Patenaude

This was my attitude while working at a family clothing store. You can guess what my work ethic was like. I often dragged along half-heartedly tidying changing rooms, dusting shelves, and folding clothes. Struggling to see the value in it, the temptation to slack here and there was irresistible.

A few years later, I heard an eye-opening sermon at my church. The pastor spoke of Joseph who was sold into...

Stuck in the Pit

Laura Vanderwel

Snowboarding is one of my favourite activities. I don't deserve any cool points—I'm not what you'd call a diehard—but I hit the ski slopes a few times every winter and always fall on the couch in exhausted contentment at the end of the day. It's a rush to be able to carve around on something so huge and intimidating! I think God made the mountains for us to play on, and I feel so close to Him when I do just that!

But being on the mountain isn't always fun...

Saying "No" to Temptation by Saying "Yes" to Integrity

Robyn Roste

A few years ago I lived in an isolated community. I was transplanted there for work and as it was a quick transition I wasn't terribly organized. In the end I had to spend my own money for work and then submitted expense forms to the head office.

For the most part this went smoothly enough. I was able to keep track of my receipts and even separate my spending between personal and work. But one day I purchased something for work I had to take back. It was a fairly expensive...

Maybe All the World’s a Stage

Analea Styles

I was in grade four when I landed my first part in a play. It was only a small musical production with my elementary school but it could have been Broadway for all my excitement. In my 10-year-old mind, I was a star.

The night of our production, I proudly stood on stage and spoke my scant two lines with conviction and clarity. My (very literal) 20 seconds of fame were all I needed and I beamed under the accolades of my family. I relished the crowd's applause, knowing I...