​Today I was
stopped
in my tracks
by the sweet
earthy smell
of rotting leaves.
Heaven on earth!
A tree's offering
to the soil.
This scent tells
the curious truth:
death can be achingly,
exquisitely,
lovely.
Death is not
a final ending,
it is a transformation,
a continuum,
an outpouring
of love.
- Wendy Janzen

​Thoughts for heading into municipal elections.

How do we measure progress?
We’ve gone off track,
lost our way following
stats for economic growth,
quarterly profits,
housing starts,
and GDP.
Why not measure
a city’s success through counting
how many species of insects we have,
how many people are not hungry,
how many different birds children can name,
how many stars can be seen at night,
how many green spaces there are,
how easy public transit is to access,
and how healthy the waterways are…
Let’s exchange our lawn mowers
for native plant gardens.
Dim our insecurity lights.
Talk to our neigbours.
Park our cars.
Be happy with enough,
and no more.
Draw the circle wide.
Care for the least.
Measure compassion,
not consumption.

​- Wendy Janzen

A million thanks, Eternal One,
for all the gifts of life.
For each element, each life form,
that intersects with mine, 
I offer my deep gratitude.
For the sun, air, and clouds,
the tamaracks, maples, and willows,
thank you!
For the blue jays, crows, and geese,
the bunnies, squirrels, and fox, 
thank you!
For the moths, bees, and spiders,
the asters, sunflowers, and goldenrod,
thank you!
For the apples, squash, and carrots,
the grains, seeds, and nuts,
thank you!
For ponds, creeks, and rain,
the rocks, soil, and compost,
thank you!
For neighbours, friends, and strangers,
and all microscopic life I cannot see,
thank you!
For this community, ecosystem, home,
for this place of belonging and connection, 
and for a million other ways you
bless my life and all lives,
I am truly thankful to you, the
Ground of our being, 
Creator of all that was, 
and is, and ever shall be.
Amen.

- Wendy Janzen