Monthly Archives: July 2008

Venturing to the City of Bridges

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The fact that Saskatoon has a number of bridges means summer fun.  You can walk along the river, fish from a bridge, and even watch fireworks exploded from a bridge.

Bridges also mean repair — summer repair!  Today as we approached one bridge on the way to a funeral, the line-up was atrocious.  We decided to head to another bridge which funneled into the uptown of downtown.  A few lights turned our way, more their way. 

In the end we walked into the funeral chapel area just before the family.  Actually that was not a bad thing — we sat immediately and were right into the proceedings! 

The funeral for Herman Ruff was a good funeral.  Herman had over 70 years of faithful Christian service — attested to be all those present.  One of those was my father who had know Herman for most of his almost 90 years.  Those are good funerals!

And now, at home, I reflect on a life well lived.  And ask God that I might live well my life to bring credit to God, just as Herman did! 

A walk around the block

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It’s been a few weeks.  I’ve been away, wind has been blowing and time has been flying by.

So, the nightly walks have been abandoned.

But tonight we determined to walk.  Around a few blocks.  Up and down the streets.

It’s not that the walk is what I go for!  Yes, I know they are good for my continued recovery from knee surgery.  And, yes, they restore the lung capacity and circulate the blood.  My body knows its good.

But its good for the soul.  I talk to my wife.  We hear each other out and plan ahead, and remember what others are doing, and think about what we can do.  And God seems to walk with us.  Quietly, in the background.  In his creation just being there. 

That’s life in the fast lane  of the slow walk around the block.

Experimenting in paint

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Phase three our our property development is under way!

That sounds pretentious!  We really just have a corner lot on a common street in small town Saskatchewan.  Each year we try to improve the house or yard.  Not unlike a number of our neighbours.

Three years ago we moved here.  The first year we completed phase one — upstairs renovations including flooring, painting, kitchen counter replacement and draperies.  Phase two, year two, was the basement’s turn with flooring, painting and heating duct repair.

This year?  Phase three has begun.  We have replaced eavestroughing (outsourced to a reliable contractor).  Now we are painting window and door frames. 

Today was the first window and door frame.  The colour is white — semi-gloss latex paint.  As we stood back basking in the afternoon sun, we could have used sunglasses.  The look is stunning and blinding.  Only nine more to go!

And the snow falls when??

One day past the birthday!

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Yesterday my daughter turned one year older.

So, I phoned her today to see how it felt to be out of the old and into the new.

"Not much different.  Life just continues on." 

That’s not to say that the day couldn’t have turned out larger than life.  Such deliberate pinpoints in time, like birthdays, most certainly can impact us. 

The "slow" pace of life often means  an impetus for change takes time.  And then one day, when you are looking, you make a decision that significantly affects the rest of your life.  Birthdays, anniversaries, funerals are great change point times.  They swoop in and graciously rearrange the furniture of your life.

But sometimes the day passes like any other.  And we can be glad God allows us breath for the day, friends to embrace and the opportunity to see another day.