Author: Ron Baker

The other night Jill asked who CAR was.  They were playing Montreal in the Stanley Cup playoffs (which drag on until June!).

I honestly didn’t know.  The wrong answer was Calgary.  They would be CGY or CAL 

We both thought further. The name Hurricanes came up. 

“It’s not Kansas, Toto!”

We figured out it was Carolina. 

Back in the six team days we knew all the names and didn’t use three letter anagrams.  We may even have grown up with some of the players.  Now we have artificial ice plants that make Florida water freeze.  And Mighty Ducks (granted, name changes can happen) along with devils and other creatures.

So, why haven’t I been a hockey watcher? 

I played in a church hockey league.  I love the thrill of  a perfectly executed rush, from one end of the rink to the other.  And the slap of a stick on the ice is a beautiful thing.

I guess I’m trying to work out the question of sports as purely entertainment.  Somehow it used to be that hockey was a question of picking a side and staying with the team that I perceived were out to win, or at least that wanted my support.  Now I feel like it’s all entertainment – just like wrestling (one of my favourite high school sports) has now become the most theatrically choreographed event held in a small square ring in the center of a colossal stadium of rabid ticket holders.

OK, that sounds cynical.  Am I the only one who is a little jaded?

Last night at one of the senior’s complexes in town, my wife and I led a hymn sing.  For many there this is a time of reminiscing in old comfort zones. 

The world stands still for many of us.  Last night I heard one of the people tell about an event when they were four years old.  He told it like it was yesterday.  In his mind, it was.  He is now in his 80’s. 

I’ve heard teens tell stories of when they were eight years old.  As if it were yesterday.

So, when we sing hymns memories grow in a room.  Pushing out the faded voices and crackling melodies.  We join in remembering how the song affected us – personally.  My hope is that often that memory will return us to a time when our God awareness was keener.  When our obedience was stronger.  When our vision of telling others about God was consuming.

Those are songs that work!

In the 1974/75 academic year I sang full-time with a music group called Sound Alliance.  The music was contemporary and done to music tracks.  Of course, what was contemporary then is now “70’s”.  And the use of tracks, although a new innovation then, would now be considered Karaoke that anyone can do!

A friend emailed me today.  He was asking some questions about Sound Alliance.

The nostalgia mill whirred into high gear.  There were some difficult times (one day two members were literally yelling at each other – and had one of the two not been a martial arts afficionado there might have been blows!). 

But there were many more good times.  This email mentioned how Sound Alliance had affected his life as he considered music and ministry.  He now works as a concert pianist and administrates the touring of a world renowned operatic tenor.

That’s when you think that what you have done may have been worth it!

Now, that’s what I call God’s country.

Where the air is calm, the sun sets peacefully, and the day closes with God’s blessing.

Just in case you didn’t know.  This is Kindersley. 

God’s country!!