Author: Ron Baker

Today Jill and I will wander over to our local senior’s manor for a birthday party.  This facility works mostly with care level 3 – 4 (in our health care system, this is just prior to hospitalization and also includes those who are disoriented, unable to care for themselves, and for whom home care would be unadvisable). 

We won’t have a long time together.  The program is planned for 2:30 with very short introductions, perhaps a song and then just being with the people.  And therein lies the effort and the joy!

Not everyone who comes will remember later what happened.  Not everyone who is there will enter into interesting and coherent conversation.  But everyone who is there is God’s creation and as such is dignified with his image!  So, we will gently touch people, speak about their birthdays, and bless them in God’s name.

With this year’s weather, we may be out planting in the next few weeks (OK, last night was down to around -20, but warm weather is on the way).

 I’m not a great gardener, but I’ve watched my wife carefully arrange flower beds with annuals.  The first plants you want to put in are the early bloomers.  If you miss their growing season, might as well pack it up till next year.  Then the mid summer night’s dreams and finally the one’s that just beat the frost.  

These annuals spring up, wither and then die.  Their seeds are gathered.  Next year the plants bloom again through that shell that looked dead but somehow survived as a seed.

On the other hand, perennials just keep popping up each year.  They remain in the ground and rejuvenate with warm weather, water and willing gardeners (I’ve been known to kill off rhubarb – a great perennial that used to come up every year until I got a little too close with the rototiller!).

Both types of plants make for a great garden.

Last night we had our annual meeting.  The church has seen some beauty die, and just a little seed remains – we are hoping to see those plants flourish once again.  Some programs have a life sustaining ability that goes on from year to year.  And along the way we want to pick up some new plants to add colour and hue to the landscape!

But the true secret of the garden we call Kindersley Alliance Church?  It’s the people who tend the plants and watch over the growth!  Congratulations to each and every one of you!!!

Day’s off tend to be “on” days for the phone. 

Our son called from shipside – he could be home in a month or so.  Called a single mother who needs a washing machine.  Contacted two people with cancer.  Jill talked with a colleague in her “Kids in the Kitchen” program.

And all before the evening falls.

Some would call this interruption – I call it community.  Keep the conversation going!

My task today??

Pick out church related pictures — ones that I have taken since we arrived here in the summer. 

They are now sudivided and placed in folders.  From AWANA to Youth; XYZ to 756.  A few of the people at the church have asked for them, so I’ve made some CD’s as well.

The total number of pictures?  341!  And that doesn’t include at least as many that weren’t worth using. 

Not that all of the pictures are professional quality, but they do document some of the church activities. 

Do I have a favourite?  Hard to tell but this one is right up there!

OK, so maybe she isn’t our best parishioner, but nobody’s pulling her strings!!