We may be so caught up in the incredible work of robotics and AI that we may lose how we humanly approach medicine. Are we offloading medical care to the machine? Do we see patients with a singular medical object that needs attention, or do we consider the whole person? Given the many factors that need to be addressed does the medical community have time to address wholeness, never mind the holiness, of the individual? Medical personnel may feel increasingly pressured to meet the ever-increasing needs of patients that they end up depending more on AI. The simple fact that we must even be aware of this issue says much about the future directions of our society.

It is great to involve AI, but do we have boundaries or just ever-increasing expectations and needs? In 2013, Craig Detweiler wrote this great insightful reality stating that, “. . . Comedian Louis (Louis) C. K. jokes about our sense of entitlement regarding technology. He marvels that ‘everything is amazing right now and nobody is happy.’ C.K mocks those who get impatient when they have to wait a few seconds to get a cell phone signal from space!”

Our love affair with robots and AI will continue to grow. Expensive robots or AI programs do not require pension plans, days off, or medical attention. They rarely complain, but if they do, fixes are applied. We must acknowledge that the use of AI and robotics are changing how we think. We are being re-conditioned. Perhaps we do not need chaplains or spiritual care providers because we can use artificial robotic chaplains. Some experts are already considering the effects of such an agent. For example, if the artificial chaplain touches the patient’s arm, could leverage information on human modeling to know when, where, and with how much pressure to touch the patient.4 Robot chaplains do not become exhausted as humans do, but may lack empathy. Is this a step forward?

With the pressure of a high volume of patients, doctors already depend on algorithms to govern their time. Will AI soon be able to diagnose more effectively than humans? Can AI learn and read X-rays and MRIs better, cheaper, and faster than humans? The simple fact that these questions are posed indicates that we may already be moving more fully in that direction.

In an age of tight budgets, rising secularism, and fear of the extreme religious right, medical institutions may cut back on spiritual care. While “artificial chaplains can touch a patient’s arm,” do they connect with the patient? Patients want doctors and staff to cure their ills, but part of the human essence is that people want to share their stories. Patients want to share their fears, hopes, history, and future with other people. Patients want to relay these to professionals with skills to help them journey inward, to digest, and to contemplate the fullness of what is taking place. Patients want someone who can enter their space and walk with them for a short time, or as Kipling said, “nor lose the common touch.”

Medical staff frequently do not have time to help patients become more emotionally or spiritually alive because of pressing physical issues. While hospital staff have assigned duties, it is the spiritual care provider who has time to listen. These providers are there to hold hands, to hold souls, and to listen deeply. Amidst a variety of pressures, it behooves those in the medical community to pause and self-reflect. Does the Hippocratic Oath imply that doctors should try to be fully human, or alive so they can fully meet the needs of those in their care? Neuroscientist and author Andrew Newberg believes that wholeness is tied to holiness and holiness to wholeness.

Dr. Remen, author and clinical professor of family and community medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine, explains what we need to recapture when she wrote: “Sir William Osler is often misquoted as having said that objectivity is the single most important trait of the true physician. He spoke in Latin and the word which is usually translated as ‘objectivity’ is aequinimitas. Aequinimitas does not mean ‘objectivity,” it means mental stillness or inner peace. Inner peace is an important quality for anyone whose daily work puts them in contact with human suffering.  But this is not the outcome of distancing oneself from life, rather it is about knowing life so intimately that one has become able to trust and accept life so intimately that one has become able to trust and accept life whole, embracing its darkness in order to know its grace.”

While it is necessary to keep pushing for more advances in AI, we need to restore and maintain a balance with the human touch and mental stillness. We need to be fully in touch with ourselves as we strive to meet the needs of the whole patient. To quote from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s classic The Little Prince, “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” We need to hold onto humanism while advocating medical advances with AI.

One positive indicator is an ever-increasing number of medical schools offering students courses in spirituality. Instead of cutting back or eliminating spiritual care or chaplains, we should add to these departments to assist patients, and indeed all medical staff, in becoming deeper in tune with themselves. Patients and medical staff need to give themselves grace and self-healing. We all need to connect with Osler’s cry for mental stillness. Adam Miller writing in 2013 for the Canadian Medical Association Journal also addressed this need. He quoted an email from the internationally renowned psychiatrist, professor, author, and researcher Harold G. Koenig: “Currently, the only physicians who are assessing and addressing spiritual issues in clinical practice are devoutly religious physicians. Thus, addressing spiritual issues is physician-centered. This is the opposite of the way it should be. Health care should be patient-centered, not doctor-centered. Thus, the reason why spiritual issues should be assessed and addressed is because of their importance to patients, effects on medical decisions, and impact on health outcomes.”

To avoid burnout, exhaustion, and indifference, those in the medical community need to embrace themselves and embrace the future. AI cannot do that for our souls – at least not yet. Introspection is still exclusively human. Everyone needs introspection to retreat into themselves to be renewed. Besides coffee breaks, medical institutions should have an opportunity to step out of chaos to a special place where one can be healed and renewed. Everyone needs to enact on the words attributed to Sir Andrew Barton, “I am hurt but I am not slain. I’ll lay me down and bleed awhile, Then I’ll rise and fight again.”  By stepping out of medical and personal chaos and hurts, and into oneself, one can rise and be renewed.

Renewal can take many forms. In our external success-directed consumer-consumption, “me-ism” society, I wonder if we are losing the ability to travel inward. We need to take time to appreciate life’s journey. We need to embrace and heal our shadows, and the dark places inside. By reducing darkness within ourselves, we are open for light and healing to enter. In other words, to be able to heal others, one can also feel content about oneself. AI cannot do that for us. AI may soon be able to do every human task faster and with fewer mistakes. But AI cannot be our soul – at least not yet.

As John of the Cross in the 16th century noted, we must enter “the dark night of the soul,” to come to the light which means good health, and good spirits. As the 4th-century theologian Augustine of Hippo wrote, “Do not go outside yourself, but turn back within; truth dwells in the inner man; and if you find your nature given to frequent change, go beyond yourself. Move on, then, to that source where the light of reason itself receives the light.” While this was intended for Christianity, it is indeed a mantra for anyone in the medical community to follow – go in, be healed, and return to the cause of healing.

No AI was used to write or re-write this article. AI was used to help with grammatical errors. A human artificial intelligence expert, with medical knowledge, greatly added insights and proofreading to this piece.

The post Artificial Intelligence in the Medical Field from a Priestly Viewpoint – Pt. 2 appeared first on Dialogue.

 These reflections are offered as an invitation to individuals and parishes to renew our commitment to live generously, listen deeply, and respond faithfully to God’s call upon us throughout the seasons of waiting, celebration and revelation.

Sunday November 30, 2025: The First Sunday of Advent

A Reflection based on Matthew 24:36-44

As a new church year begins, Jesus reminds us to stay awake and alert. Stewardship is not a future task that we intend to get around to – it is a present calling. Let us take stock and answer what gifts of talent, time and treasure are we being encouraged to offer now and not later?

Sunday December 7, 2025: The Second Sunday of Advent

A Reflection based on Isaiah 11:1-10

“Saint” Isaiah paints a beautiful vision of understanding and peace rooted in the divine presence of God. How are we being called to cultivate these gifts – reverence, understanding, wisdom – as faithful stewards of God’s promise in the year ahead?

Sunday December 14, 2025: The Third Sunday of Advent

A Reflection based on Matthew 11:2-11

Jesus affirms John’s unique role in preparing the way. We too are entrusted with purpose. What is being affirmed within you this Season of Advent? Thank you for your faithful stewardship in 2025 and as we wait for 2026!

Sunday December 21, 2025: The Fourth Sunday of Advent

A Reflection based on Matthew 1:18-25

Joseph listens to the voice of God in a dream and changes course. Many of us have to do the same, and often several times. How are we remaining open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and find ourselves vulnerable and willing enough to reshape our plans?

Wednesday December 24 & Thursday December 25: Christmas Eve and Day

A Reflection on the Various Readings of the Day

We are counted among the beloved of God in the birth of Jesus. We know that this is a good and difficult time of year based on our circumstances and those of other people. Let us respond as best we can with generosity, hospitality and renewed commitment to make room for our being beloved, and for strangers, seekers, and the good news of Jesus’ birth.

Sunday December 28, 2025: The First Sunday after Christmas

A Reflection based on Matthew 2:13-23

Joseph leads his family into a hopeful and unknown future. Faithful stewardship sometimes means stepping out of “comfort zones” and into a renewed and courageous belief in God’s provision. As 2025 winds down and 2026 will soon begin, what are a few unfamiliar places to which we are being called, and are we willing to go?

Thursday January 1, 2026: The Naming of Jesus

A Reflection based on Numbers 6:22-27

God’s church is inspired by the Holy Spirit to name, know and experience Jesus, and do so with the prayer that the Lord will bless and keep us. What a gracious reminder as we begin a new year! Who are we called to bless and keep this year with healing actions and words of care and kindness?

Sunday January 4, 2026: The Epiphany of the Lord

A Reflection based on Matthew 2:1-12

The Magi seek the Christ child with devotion to the task and in anticipation of offering gifts. As 2026 begins, we are renewed in our devotion to seek, worship and serve. May the light of Christ guide us throughout this year toward love in action and generosity of spirit.

Sunday January 11, 2026: The Baptism of the Lord

A Reflection based on Matthew 3:13-17

“This is my Son, the Beloved…” echoes over the waters. May this affirmation shape our identity as faithful stewards, people who continue, persevere, repent, proclaim, seek, serve, strive, respect, sustain and renew. Our talent, time and treasure are available to us as we live into God’s mission to the world.

Sunday January 18, 2026: The Second Sunday after the Epiphany

A Reflection based on Psalm 40:1-12

“I love to do your will, O my God…” is a pretty good mission statement for faithful stewards. Enough said, at least for this week’s stewardship reflection!

Sunday January 25, 2026: The Third Sunday after the Epiphany

A Reflection based on Psalm 27:1,5-13

“The Lord is my light and salvation…” The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity begins today and all of us are entrusted with the gospel of light and salvation. What are a few ways that we collaborate across communities in the work of stewardship?

Sunday February 1, 2026: The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

A Reflection based on Micah 6:1-8

Justice, kindness, humility – Micah’s poetic and prophetic call echoes as the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity concludes for this year. What are a few ways that we collaborated across communities and covenant to take care of things?

Sunday February 8, 2026: The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany

A Reflection based on Isaiah 58:1-9a and Matthew 5:13-20

We are salt and light, and stewardship is the practical “living into” feeding, sheltering, clothing, and caring. How are we doing this year in bearing witness to compassion, justice, and evangelism? Thank you for doing so!

Sunday February 15, 2026: The Last Sunday after Epiphany

A Reflection based on Matthew 17:1-9

Who would not choose to stay on the holy and glorious mountain top? Jesus did not and by extension we too live in the valley of ordinary and difficult places. How are we doing this year between the mountain and valley, places of amazing grace and hard work?

The post Stewardship Reflections with The Ven. Wayne Varley appeared first on Dialogue.

Quite recently, my husband, Fred, and I decided to go to the Swiss Chalet on Dalton Avenue in Kingston for their festive special meal.  The parking there makes it easy for anyone using a walker or wheelchair. As Fred’s mobility isn’t good, he uses a four wheel walker to get around when we aren’t at home. On this particular day, however, the accessible button wasn’t working and I had difficulty getting the door open and negotiating with Fred to get inside. A man suddenly appeared on the other side, and deftly manoeuvred the whole operation for us. I presumed he worked at the restaurant and thanked him for his help. He waved away my appreciation and I then watched him go back to a table by the window, through which he had observed our difficulty. When the hostess came, she happened to seat us at an adjoining table and left us with menus. I had a couple more words with the man and his partner, and then we got on with ordering our meal.

Fred and I tucked into the delicious food and, at some point, I realized this couple had gone. No-one was more surprised than I, when our server announced that our meal was paid for by the two of them who wished us to have one on them. Apparently Fred reminded them of her grandfather, and she appreciated how affectionate we were to each other and happy to be out together. This made us both feel really special. We finished our food and it was then I decided to pass this gift onward. I asked our server to look around and find a table where she thought the people would appreciate the gesture as much as we had. She chose an elderly couple on the other side of the restaurant. We hope that they enjoyed the anonymous surprise gift as much as we had ours.

This act of kindness was a wake up call for me. As I write this I realize I am becoming much more observant than I used to be of those whose needs are below the normal radar. So this Advent and Christmas season I urge you to help those who are less fortunate. Every year we all get many charitable organizations asking for donations. There are many good causes, and getting a tax receipt is helpful.  But giving anonymously is also stepping up a notch. Last week I watched a young woman with a small whiny child in a grocery cart carefully figure out that she hadn’t enough to pay for some of the items she had chosen. She was near to tears, but left them to be returned. Many years ago I was that woman. The memory moved me enough that I quietly fished out a $20 and gave it to the cashier saying: “I think this belongs to the woman ahead of me. Perhaps she dropped it while attending to her child?” The cashier eyed me, nodded, and gave the money to the astonished woman who paid for her groceries with some left over. I saw a glimmer of relief and hope come onto her face, and that was the joy that brightened my day.

Every one of us has the opportunity to make a difference. Only God will know if you have succeeded. May God bless you all this Christmas and in the new year to come.

Thanks be to God!

Diana Duncan-Fletcher

dduncanfletcher2@gmail.com

The post The thoughts and attitudes of the heart appeared first on Dialogue.

In our 2021 Diocesan Synod in the resolution on climate change we committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 in our churches and in our personal lives to strive to reduce our carbon footprint.

As individuals we have control over emissions in four main sectors: our buildings, transportation, the food we eat and our consumption (clothing and other material goods). In each of these sectors there are a few basic choices for us to focus our efforts.

For our buildings the advent of the cold weather heat pump has been the quantum leap forward in reaching our goal of emission reduction.

It can be cold outside, with the temperature at zero or 20 below zero, with the wind blowing snow around our face. When we pass by the outdoor heat pump compressor unit, we hear a gentle hum from the fan as it exhausts air. And if we pause, we might notice the temperature of the exhausted air is colder than the outdoor air. But when we go inside the cozy warmth of the indoor temperature will embrace us as heated air is blasting from the registers. The cold climate heat pump is able to extract heat from that cold outside air and move it inside. The amount of heat moved can be 3 to 4 times more than the equivalent energy used by the heat pump motors.

The heat pump has become an affordable proven technology for helping us to meet the challenge of reducing our climate footprint of buildings. Many people in our diocese will be heating their homes this winter using only the heat pump for the entire winter.

Some churches in our diocese have hot water heating systems and require a boiler. Heat pumps are available that will heat water to a high temperature to replace a fossil fuel boiler. However, cold weather heat pumps that replace boilers are an emerging technology and are usually not readily available by local installers. They use staged or cascading compressors using more than one refrigerant to bring water to higher temperatures (180 or 190 degrees) necessary for radiant heating at a competitive cost. Read about high temperature heat pumps here: https://www.hitachiaircon.com/uk/magazine/discover-high-temperature-heat-pumps-advanced-heating-solutions.

Another advantage of the heat pump is that it can be used as an air conditioner. With a heat pump our churches can provide cooling centres for our communities, providing comfort and relief during heat waves. They would also make our churches more attractive for use by the community.

Some will argue that heat pumps don’t reduce emissions where the electricity is produced with fossil fuels. This is not just misleading but is completely false when the 3 to 4 times efficiency of the heat pump at extracting heat is factored in.

The heat provided by a heat pump is gentle and continuous. The humidity is healthy, unlike the dryness of wood heat and the high humidity of gas. From indoors they are almost silent, and outside there is just a soft humming sound. In the summer they are much quieter than window air conditioners.

Because there is no combustion, there is no risk of fire, and no smoke or fumes created, so heat pumps are the safest option. They definitely save on heating and cooling bills.

Heat pumps can help us meet our diocesan objective of 50% reduction in carbon emissions for our buildings by 2030. This reduction is also within Canada’s Climate Action Plan of 40% reduction for buildings by 2030.

Please get in touch with us if you would like more information, or perhaps we could help you plan a heat pump information session. Also let us know if your parish already has a heat pump. We would love to feature it on our Facebook page or on our website.

Email: greengroup@ontario.anglican.ca.

The post Heat pumps now an affordable proven technology appeared first on Dialogue.

Micah 5.2

Years ago, in a high school classroom, I was introduced to the works of Northrup Frye and Margaret Atwood. Most people know Margaret Atwood as the Canadian writer who has most recently captured our imagination through the adaptation of her “Handmaids Tale”. In many ways, Atwood was building on the work of Frye, who was an English professor but also an ordained minister. Together they had a tremendous part in identifying some of the features of the mind of those who had been colonized. Fry named it the “garrison mentality” and Atwood went that much further in her work “Survival” to name some deep Canadian attitudes that spring from colonization; chief among these is the sense that “head office is always elsewhere”.

This deep sense of alienation from the center, surrounded by a hostile geography is one which the ancient people of Bethlehem also shared. They were considered part of the “little clans” of Judah – it is written right there in the scripture – not particularly important and well off the beaten path but from them would come the one who was to rule Israel. To skip just a few more verses ahead to verses 4 and 5, Micah reminds us that “…he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth; and he shall be the one of peace.”

This topsy-turvy kingdom which Jesus proclaimed reminds the people from the little clan that they will supply the mighty shepherd. The insignificant of the world will move the kingdoms and empires of the world. The unlovely will be made loveable and the broken shall lead the broken to the place of healing and restoration. Even death will die—an irony which the topsy-turvy kingdom sings and exults over.

The proclamation of the prophet Isaiah, that the deaf hear, the lame walk, the dead are raised and the poor have the good news preached to them is being brought to life in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. As people of this land, it might be easy to think that the coming of the kingdom is something that is happening somewhere else; that “head office is somewhere else”.

The way of life Jesus makes possible for us is for everyone. There is no “head office” but rather the call to hear the angel’s message of peace among all people is for us, here, on this land. We need not wait for someone to come and tell us that we can begin the work of discipleship. Instead we are surrounded by the need, the broken lives and the desperation of the people who are waiting to hear the words of good news which Jesus spoke so long ago.

As you celebrate the birth of Jesus this year, reach out to those around you, the lost and hungry, and offer them some of the cup of joy that we have found in our communion with the Lord. Let your hearts and doors be open as we show people in our lives that the message of Christmas is for us, right here, right now, and that it can transform the pain, suffering and grief that might otherwise define us. Instead, we are offered the birth of a small child. This has made all the difference to us, who are some of the “little clans” of our land.

Happy Christmas!

The post The ‘Little Clans’ of our Land appeared first on Dialogue.