Where cross the paths

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I have a friend in hospital. 

Today was picture day – dropping off some photos.

As I approached the front door of the hospital, the hospital administrator approached me with a question regarding our spiritual care committee.  Quick thoughts were exchanged and I headed in the door. 

Said “hi” to nursing staff – took a quick look into some rooms to see who had been discharged.  Dropped off the photos.  Headed back down past the reception desk and said “hi” to the receptionist.  Then back to my car.

All on a holiday afternoon.

Life is comprised of those times when life is . . . regardless of how things are linked to work or volunteer activities or friends or the world around us.  Sometimes to compartmentalize life helps to decide work hours or achievement but in the end, is life about power, wealth or people?  I choose the side of people.

On meeting a friend

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I think the toughest part of life is that we all want to have a reason to move into a new day.  This past week, I met a friend who has mental health struggles.  Arising from bed in the morning is no easy task.  Having friends who care and expectations from a job give at least some incentive.  Even then, the struggle is great.

As I reflected on his life, I am reminded that each day is a gift.  Opening the day means that we are shown what is ours, and we are reminded that our task is to grab the gift – not just look at it.

I suppose for some the hesitation comes from disappointment or even violence when they have sought out a gift.  For others of us, we are so distracted with the ruts we have created in life we miss the better path.  For my friend, the imbalance of chemicals may create a fog as he seeks the gift of a new day.

May we all enter this new day trusting that God, who is good, will give to us a great gift of a new day. This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Good Friday

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Talking with some Junior Hi students the other day, they remarked that Good Friday is both good and bad.

From our perspective, on the other side of two millenia, we see and understand the good.  There is forgiveness of sin and a sacrifice that was made.  There is a surety in the sacrifice for all time – with a resurrection of the one who was sacrificed.

But, for those in a place of not knowing the future.   For those who stood at a cross and saw a death, life was finished.  And now another chapter needed to begin.

That chapter would spell grief in big letters, and then who knows?

Hide away for a while?  Your first night without that person is spent in shock, and then the society’s approach to grieving kicks in.  You do what needs to be done, and hold the questions until later.  The second night you sneak a peek at the future and just want to be close to the one who died.

Day three?

Sing a song

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Last night was the double header for our choir.

The community group has practiced for the last few months.  Unfortunately my schedule meant I was only present for 1/2 the practice time.

In that time, I had seen most of the music, although our first concert on Sunday showed that I had missed singing one of the songs in full.

Sunday’s concert went well.  The room was somewhat dull, but the microphones were helpful.

Last night was in an acoustically primed room.  The sounds of human voices just bounced and returned, reverberated and resounded.  As you caught a breath for the next phrase, you could hear the whole choir breathe.

Now, that is what makes for unified singing.  Being able to hear each other even to the extent of sensing the next heartbeat of the music.  The men’s chorus hit their stride.  The Easter cantata was exhilarating.  The sense of the power of music to touch the inner person was there.

That’s when doing music is more than just an activity, it is a joy!