My son Luke sent this “word of the day” after last week’s thought about FOMO. Infomania:  Defined as a. an obsessive need to constantly check emails, social media websites, online news etc. b. the effects of this obsession, especially a decline in the ability to concentrate.

I made my annual pilgrimage to Saint Facebook around my birthday to express gratitude for the assorted sardonic and celebratory greetings generated there. The postings I made then obligated me to see what the responses were – it was internally driven by a new psychological ailment called FOMO.(Fear of missing out)

The rhythmic crunch of my feet on the gravel road was my musical companion as I walked. One step followed another – a lot like life. We often walk alone, sometimes ahead as leaders and frequently alongside as friends and companions.

“Do you know why I know we didn’t install that switch plate?” asked our electrician. “Because all the screw slots aren’t all uniformly vertical.” A small statement of care in the work he does. After he left I reflected that he is a real gift from God - he comes, does good work and he is trustworthy. And leaves a quality mark in vertical slots.

Susan put my hockey stick in front of our house last Monday, joining thousands of other Canadians expressing our connection with the tragedy in Humboldt. Imagining ourselves in the situation of those in pain is a deep form of prayer. The verse today challenges us not to just shoot off verbal prayers – but prayers of deep compassion “as though you are there yourself”.