Somalia

 

I’m sure you, like me, have been distressed by the recent news from Somalia, where drought is causing the worst humanitarian disaster for twenty years. Television portrays thousands of refugees streaming into Kenya and Ethiopia after days of walking without food or water to find shelter and relief.

The size of the problem overwhelms us, as potentially millions face starvation. We can send $50 or so to a trusted organization, but it seems pitiful in the face of so much suffering.

Even the idea of prayer seems pointless in the face of such great calamity. God can, but will he respond to my piteous prayer? It might accomplish $50 worth! But what if we all prayed fervently for the need? And publicly on facebook?

Any of you hackers out there able to open a “Pray for Somalia” Facebook page? I would do it, but deficient knowledge would take this.................long. Even then I might not get it right. Just a simple page where we could deposit our prayers, even update information about the tragedy.

That child could have been mine. Apart from an accident of birth, that could be me in that line-up. Ruling Islamist gangs make aid dangerous and ineffective. But a hundred or a thousand prayers publicly displayed on facebook may alert the world of the alternative to the world’s inability to “fix it.”

Let me know when the page is up. My prayer would be one of the first. Let’s be sure both God and the world hear us.

Redeeming the Time

It is difficult for Ann and I not feel the tide rising as we wade into our mid seventies. If there is any time that we feel more jealous of the days we have left, it is contemplating our mortality and how little of it we may have left. Mind you, our concern is less about our death that how we use our time before full tide.

I recall, as an architectural student, an outdoor freehand sketching class. I never enjoyed freehand drawing—never felt adequate enough for it. So I tackled it with a high level of disregard. However, the instructor advised, ”You are putting two hours of your life on this paper—two hours you will never have again.”

His words remain with me to this day, becoming evermore meaningful as I age. I’ve found increasing age brings a reversal of attitudes and goals fostered in youth. For instance, I have more confidence and less doubt about my faith—just as well when facing eternity!

But specifically, I am more concerned with using my time profitably for God’s kingdom, and less on the many frivolities retirement can bring. I feel saddened as I visit our local seniors’ centre. Good healthy people just filling in time, seeking some form of enjoyment, before they die.

So we write. The main purpose is to leave a legacy of our faith and guidance for our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren God has blessed us with. That legacy of faith may well last for many generations; much of our story will not be told before eternity.

If there is a spin off for the encouragement of others, we are grateful. Now, so little time, so much to do. But our greatest comfort is that God will not call us home until our work is done.

The Approaching Sexual Smorgasbord

A news article on ABC News this week reported Marcus Bachman, husband of republican presidential hopeful Michelle Bachman counselled a homosexual that he could change his sexual orientation.

Homosexuality is considered a normal and acceptable practice. The prevailing belief that homosexuality is a normal and fixed orientation, denies the ability to change.

In fact, the reporter continued, trying to change could be dangerous, leading to depression or even suicide when the change did not occur. This incident stigmatized Marcus Bachman as practicing unprofessional, if not illegal, counselling.

Simultaneously, a rerun of a Law and Order SVU episode had a pedophile claiming that perhaps straights are the perverts, pedophlies are normal, and “we’re not going anywhere.” As farfetched as that sounds, the scene could have substituted a homosexual fifty years ago!

Experience in residential schools and the Catholic Church suggest that pedophilia is as common as homosexuality. Why is this not considered a normal orientation also? Why are attempts at “rehabilitation” continued when they are admittedly futile and orientation is fixed?

The problem is that recognition of pedophilia as normal opens the door to its practice. After all, if homosexual or other sexual expression in children is acceptable, even encouraged, why should sexual relations with a willing minor be considered statutory rape?

I am certainly not advocating pedophilia as a practice. What worries me is the trickle down effect that the open door and confusion on sexual identities produces. Practices now abhorred may be legitimized in the future in the name of human rights.

Also in the news this week, Kody Brown, the producer of the American reality show “Sister Wives” that promotes his four wives and sixteen children, is going to court for acceptance of his polygamous relationships.

Today also marks six years of gay marriage. Apparently, according to this morning’s headlines, “Canada hasn’t crumbled from it.” The problem is not gay marriage itself, but what opening the marriage door is leading to

Perhaps the man who wants to marry his dog my not be so far out after all. The news also reports this week that two monkeys in India were secretly married a few days ago. It is illegal for monkeys to marry in India!

Last time I checked, freedom of conscience, speech and religion were still an option to the increasingly doubtful assortment we are driving towards.

Looking Back, Looking Forward

 

This last weekend, Ann and I celebrated 56 years of mostly married bliss. I first met Ann in church, and was immediately captivated by her smile. She was the most beautiful girl I had ever met and I fell in love instantly. That hasn’t changed.

We were married in our late teens in the church where we met. Now, three daughters, several grandchildren and great-grandchildren later, we look back on God’s grace and goodness to us throughout the intervening years.

Sure, there have been bumps along the way. What marriage worth its salt hasn’t? In fact, marriage difficulties, like pain, are a God given warning that something is wrong and needs fixing. They are rarely an indicator that the marriage is finished!

This common misconception results in terminating potentially good marriages too soon. Working through difficulties together results in greater appreciation for our partner and a stronger marriage. No ship’s captain learns his craft on a calm sea!

Have we wasted some of those years? Probably. But as we get older we increasingly realize that we have only so many days given us and need to use each one we have left for eternity.

So our mid-seventies are not a time to kick back and veg out. If they were, we might as well be dead, for we’d simply be waiting to die! As long as God gives us breath, we wish to use whatever time we have left to support others in the faith.

We will continue to enjoy our life together, the world, family and friends God has given us. We will continue to write, to leave a legacy for those who follow us, to remain faithful to each other, and supremely to God who gave us life and fellowship with Him for time and eternity.

With all the attention on Will and Kate it seems reasonable to note some aspects of the monarchy that need to be remembered. Of course, much of the adulation Will and Kate received appears well founded; they are perhaps the most delightful and personable couple the royal family have produced since George VI and his wife.

Elizabeth II has stated how much her Christian faith means to her during one memorable Christmas Day speech. Just as well, as the monarch is head of the Church of England. Which leads to a couple of anomalies. First, Canada tries to pride itself, in concert with the US, in separating church and state, yet has a queen who heads the church!

Second, what happens if the monarch is not a Christian? After all, faith is a choice, not something handed down like nationality. That, it seems, is a distinct possibility if the curmudgeonly Charles ever makes it to the throne.

Ever wondered what the D G after the Queen’s name on Canadian coins means? They are abbreviated Latin for “by the Grace of God”; oops, another anomaly! At least Canadian coins have omitted the letters on British coins that say REG F D; abbreviated Latin for “Queen, Defender of the Faith.”

Perhaps the anti-monarchists (in Britain as well as Canada) should turn their attention to having the queen’s faith imposed on them, rather than considering the monarchy an anachronism. For me: how about the monarchy actually defending the faith it represents?

Destination or Journey?

Well, I missed the blog last Thursday, but I was literally sick and tired. Driving 3600 km across Canada when you’re not well is not what the doctor ordered. I’m glad to say that both Ann and I are beginning to feel nearly human again, but not until we’d had three days of sleep—all night and often most of the day!

During that drive, I could not help thinking what a relief it was to hit the prairies. While Montreal itself is mostly bilingual, a few miles into the countryside and there is no English to be found. Unless you know the French for cookies or cabbage, the supermarket aisles are all guess and eyework.

Then there is that dreaded PST, making everything more expensive than we’re used to. Ontario shares that with the now HST at 13, or is it 14%? I sympathize with BC residents, fighting that iniquitous tax. As seniors, we are far better off in Alberta; no PST and good senior benefits to boot.

As much as I like Ottawa, heading west along the Ottawa valley is not meant for getting anywhere. The mostly two lane highway passes through every town and hamlet, and corkscrews its way around Lake Superior. Beautiful scenery you say; but that is a hazard and distraction not needed when destination is the priority.

What a sense of relief to hit Manitoba. Within a few minutes, the four lane highway—now stretching almost into Golden, BC—commences. Wide lanes, faster speed limits, and travel takes on new meaning. Yes, it may be boring. But boring beats beautiful when you’re trying to get somewhere.

An if you’re ever in Brandon, check out the Midway Motel, right off the Transcanada highway. Good Korean Christian hospitality, comfortable, clean rooms and breakfast—all for $57 a night. An oasis in the motel desert!

That all adds up to the progressive centre of Canada marching west from sputtering Ontario. Never thought I would champion Alberta as the best place to live in Canada. We started our Canadian life in Alberta, and whatever brought us to finish life in Alberta, it is the right place for us now.

In fact, I can’t help the feeling that life is better than we deserve!