"It will be strange to hear songs in our language", said my young Ukrainian neighbor Tatyana last night. We were going to a benefit concert to hear an indie-rock band "Odyn v kanoe" (One in a canoe) from Lvyv, Ukraine. I had been introduced to their music by one of my new Ukrainian friends and…Read more One in a canoe and longing for return home
Music
Making this soul sing
Honestly, I should clean my desktop. Too many unused apps and files but one of these documents I keep in front of my eyes on purpose. An unused Ryanair voucher from an originally booked flight from Riga to Dublin last April. I was invited to a wedding, a real Irish wedding at a beautiful country…Read more Making this soul sing
The lessons of humble courage from my long-time hero
How to respond when people make statements about the Church being full of hypocrites? My favorite answer was given by Shane Claiborne, a hero of mine, who said: "No, the Church is not full of hypocrites. Not yet! There is room for more!" It makes me laugh out loud but also touches something deeper and…Read more The lessons of humble courage from my long-time hero
Funeral like no other making love great again
One Lord. One Faith. One Baptism. I could not get my eyes off this pulpit. And could not turn off my TV for hours even though it was getting late (or early morning) here in Latvia. I had just been changing the channels to watch some news and found that CNN was showing Aretha Franklin's…Read more Funeral like no other making love great again
Most difficult peace with ourselves
My claim to fame - meeting and talking with Brian "Head" Welch from Korn. I was never a huge fan. I could not relate to their darkness and anger and even less to the destructive lifestyle, but few years ago I heard Head perform his solo album "Save me from myself". Talk about a story…Read more Most difficult peace with ourselves
Good Friday and The Cranberries in my head
The keywords - Ireland, The Cranberries, Good Friday and Jesus - are not equal in importance but they are all part of my story. I am a big fan of Ireland! I have never lived there (my brother has, my friends and close relatives do) but I have always been fascinated by it. The Celtic…Read more Good Friday and The Cranberries in my head
What makes us Latvian? Let’s talk values…
Few days ago I watched a debate about values in Latvia. Big topic and lots of interpretations. Afterwards I had more questions than answers. What is a value? Is there such a thing as specifically Latvian values? How are our values different from other places and cultures? Or are they the same? I think of…Read more What makes us Latvian? Let’s talk values…
Shared European identity? Being proud and embarrassed together
Recently in Amsterdam I was invited to join a small group at a local pub. I am not a fan of beer, so my choice was a glass of red wine. But the rest of my new acquaintances knew their local beers - Dutch, Belgian, German... You gather a few Europeans and they can have…Read more Shared European identity? Being proud and embarrassed together
Sons and daughters… kings and queens of love
It was a hot and humid evening in Kuala Lumpur. Our friend Darren is a good driver and I am glad because the traffic here gets bad. I don't mind sitting in a passenger seat though when it gives more time for good conversations. And in Malaysia there is lots to talk about. People, the…Read more Sons and daughters… kings and queens of love
Don’t talk in maybe’s… Sing it like it should be
There is this one guy I would like to meet. He is very tall, very skinny, very bald and very cool. Well, he is kind of intimidating, too, but in a good way. His name is Peter Garrett and he is an Aussie. He also happens to be the lead singer of my favorite Australian…Read more Don’t talk in maybe’s… Sing it like it should be
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