Church

Rosetown, Saskatchewan puts on a great highschool play.  We enjoyed the evening — live theatre with all the warts and truly amazing performances.  Besides, the neices were a part — and without bias I state the they were GREAT!!

This evening plans to be a good one.

Not that an evening can do the planning.  That was up to us.  Weeks ago we heard three of our neices were involved in a play.  We secured tickets and put the date on the calendar.

Now, the day has come, the hour is near.

We’ll eat some chili and cornbread.  Then we’ll pop in the car.  An hour’s time will pass.  We’ll find seats with my sister’s family.  The play will unfold.  Then we’ll unfold from our chairs, hop in the car and head home.  By 11:00 we’ll be in bed, having enjoyed a great evening.

Trust yours will also be enjoyable as well!!

We all live with family ties.  Some are brighter than others.  Some we wish we could sever.

Yesterday I had opportunity to read through some letters of distant relatives — letters I had been asked to examine. 

These letters were from 8 decades ago.  They include daily occurrences, funny reminiscences and forthright discussions.  One is a very business like letter, talking of interest, and partnership, and inventory, and disbursements, and picky details.

The characters begin to shine through as you shuffle through the correspondence.  This is the stuff of novels.  Or, should I say, fiction is best based on real characters.  A son who needs money while at school.  A mother is worn out.  A father has a business that would be more profitable if all outstanding accounts were brought in.  Relatives with an innocent religion are seeking to inspire their relation..

As any archivis will tell you, you are peeking in the window.  As you work through history, there is a fine balance between salacious journalism and honest retelling.  A detail that appears at first scandalous, when placed in context, is quite understandable. 

I’m looking forward to more time with this family — although most are dead, their stories are very much alive!! 

Last night I met with  a family.  I didn’t really know them. They had come to a grief and loss session held by our local ministerial.  I was to be the presenter.

Their circumstances sounded familiar.  Cancer at the half century mark. A child dies before the parents.  Siblings are left behind.    Months later grieving is still present.  The deceased left a mark with her life, and with her death.

My brother passed away from cancer at 50 years of age.  He was an athlete — as was this "young" lady.  He had seen the world — so had she.  Health food was second nature — both ate well.  The similarities were multiple.

I sat there stunned.  I hadn’t expected this! 

The family was looking for advice.  All of a sudden, what could easily have been just straight forward lecture became the nitty grittly of life.  Yes, we did discuss the process of healing.  Yes, there were direct theological answers given.  But somehow the story was what captured us.

We weep with those who weep.

If a friend is one who shares life with you — I have new friends today!