Monthly Archives: October 2010

One of the fond memories of times with my dad was rummaging through junkyards trying to find just that unique and exquisite piece!  The piece didn’t need to be practical or useful.  Just unique.

Like the time we picked up some seatbelts.  They just looked neat.  Didn’t fit any car we owned.  Couldn’t be adapted to any car we owned.  Weren’t useful for any car we owned. 

But they were unique.

The time spent was not so much about the prize – this was male bonding.

And so today, I was reminded of the richness of life as we (my wife and I – this was marriage bonding!) wandered through Buck’s Auto Parts in Saskatoon.  The field was just abandoned car upon abandoned car.  Lined up in Ford, Chrysler and GM order.

We found the small parts we were looking for, extracted them and returned to the office.  There the owner looked over the treasures, said they weren’t really worth much and ushered us out the door with a smile and “no need to pay.”

What a day!  What a bargain!  And by that I mean a true bargain – the last time I picked up this part at our local GM dealer the cost was well over $100.00.

Came home and the piece worked perfectly.  Now, isn’t that a great day!!

These past few weeks I have tried a number of new things.  From eye surgery to sermon approaches to differing daily routines.

Interestingly, the words in English – tried and tired. . . have the same letters.  And would appear at first glance to be the same words.  To persevere in trying is also to experience a sense of tired.

Right now, I’m tired.  Not exhausted.  Not discouraged.  Not overwhelmed. 

Just tired.

And trusting for rest in the next few days.

Another one of those things yet to try.  I’m off to cataract surgery for my other eye and when I walk out of surgery I will no longer need glasses (actually I may need reading glasses, but not much else).  The equipment that has graced my nose for the last fifty or so years will no longer be necessary.

I talked to another cataract surgery patient who had surgery the same day I did.  She is keeping her glasses because she is so used to them.  They have a blank lens, but they will still be on her face.

Perhaps I also will keep the frames when they are no longer needed. 

Somedays you just don’t need to change – it makes no difference – and who knows, you might look better with glasses frames than without glasses frames!

What a hoot.

Jill and I (she being the cook), watched a great series called “life unjarred.”  I’m sure they are sponsored by VH sauces.  Great recipes done in just a plain fun way.  Tickled my funny bone!

www.lifeunjarred.com (also found on YouTube!).

The town!

That’s where Friday had a youth conference related to drug and alcohol awareness.  I had been part of the planning group.  And many others helped out.  In the end the day went smoothly!  And the kids seemed to pick up something along the way.

The messages are varying and working as a Christian amongst addictions professionals I was pleasantly surprised to see that Christian principles seemed to populate the addictions messages we were sending to the high school kids.  Not everything was as I would want, but in general, not bad for a publicly funded event!!

May more of these cooperative ventures happen.