Those moments of joy in the midst of a broken world. Moments of transcendence. Moments when Heaven and Earth overlap.

With this week of Advent being 'Joy' week, and after yesterday's 'rantier than usual' post, I thought I'd be more joyful today.

I guess it’s time to explain myself. Some things have happened this year that make me think I should try to articulate why I sometimes use words that may be considered inappropriate for a Christian to use.

As I looked out my bedroom window, I instantly wondered about how my driveway would get shoveled, how to arrange for someone to clean off my van whenever it snows, when and how I'll put my snow tires on, and why I always seem to need to wait until after it snows before I make arrangements to sort all of that out.

I hate to confess that instead of my dominant emotion being joy, I’m mostly feeling stress. Stress that I don’t have gifts for those I give things to this time of year. Stress that I give the perfect gift. Stress that I don’t forget anything or anyone. Stress.

I was informed that some of the women coming into our building were being verbally harassed by some of the workers. They were being whistled at, sexual innuendos were being thrown at them, and they were being mistreated as though they were mere objects; less than human.

Last night we went to our daughter’s Christmas concert. As a musician, and as a bit of a grumpy critical guy in general, I didn’t have high expectations.

So last night I went Christmas caroling. That’s right. You heard me. Our whole family bundled up, drove to Parkdale, and went Christmas caroling.

But once we got to Woodbine, we saw a zillion cop cars and ambulances all surrounding the subway station. I then sadly stated that someone must have jumped, the traffic broke up, we drove home, and went about our days.

I went to the gym this morning. It's been a long time. I’ve not had the motivation to go. The truth is, I’ve been kind of depressed. I’ve been in a ‘why bother?’, ‘what’s the point?’ state of mind. I’ve felt that no matter how hard I try, this disease is kicking my ass. It’s winning.

Imagine a world where there was no more family breakdown.

The world is not at peace. We are addicted to violence. It’s depressing. I’m sad, even though I worship a God of supposed never-ending joy

Imagine a day when hope didn't come from; screens and texts and pics and status updates and number of 'likes',

Imagine a world where everyone could walk. Everyone could hear. See Taste Touch

Imagine a day when everyone had enough, an abundance of what they needed, no one was so greedy that they wanted more than they needed at the cost of leaving people behind. Just imagine.

Happy New Year! That’s right. Today is the first Sunday of Advent. For those of us who identify as Christians, today marks the beginning of our calendar year.

It’s Remembrance Day. On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of each year we stop everything we are doing and we remember. We even have a symbol, the poppy, which is meant to help us to remember.

I have a confession to make. My teenage daughter and I like to watch bad Christian TV and laugh at the ridiculous things that so often happen there.