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Three days that filled my time!

Our denominational conference ran from Monday – Wednesday this past week.  We are in the midst of transition within this district comprising Saskatchewan, Manitoba, part of Ontario and Iqaluit. 

Recently, the District Superintendent (DS), who oversees the region, has been asked to take on responsibilities at the national level.  This is welcomed by all.  But it also means that a new/interim DS has to be appointed or elected. 

The choice was made to appoint Al Fedorak, who had been serving as a district officer, as our new DS until an election can take place two years from now.

Al is a very capable man.  He is a man whose advice I seek, and whose life and ministry I would want to emulate.

For the next few weeks our current DS will remain in place.  Then Al will take on the full reins. 

Past this conference, I am praying for wisdom for Al, and for a real sense of God’s empowering for him.

Join me in that prayer!

Saturday was a day to enjoy some music.  Piano music and some brass highlighted the Provincial Music Festival for me, which was held in Saskatoon this year.

Over the past few years my tradition has been attendance at the Festival.  Two things have highlighted those times. 

One is the opportunity to listen to youth who attend our church.  The second is just the enjoyment of listening to music well done.

Such was the case as I sat in on the senior class of brass instruments.  Two trumpets played and two French Horns. 

Now, trumpets are a class in themselves.  They herald triumphant battle – as the adjudicator pointed out on one of the songs.  Trumpet is the front end of battle, with the trumpet played raised towards the enemy.

Then there is the French horn.  The bell of the French Horn faces backwards.  You hear a sound that is first bounced off a wall or echoed from a distant point.  I find the sound to be softer than a trumpet.

Karalie Near, a youth from our church, played French Horn.  Another youth, Paige Summach, also played in this particular class at the festival.  Both were very well practiced.  The pieces were well done.  And the enjoyment was great.

Not every day does one hear the mellow sound of a well played French horn.  Yesterday I was treated to a double portion!

The drive back to Kindersley from Airdrie was with mixed feelings. 

I am in a stage of life where each day is something new and something old.  Today I awoke with planning in my head.  That is not new!  But the plans are new.

Trips to Airdrie, where my fiance lives, means a few household goods come back each time.  Yesterday was even more so.  Both Cynthia and I were driving vehicles – a result of our various schedules over these next few days.  In the vehicles were some cabinets, a bike, some toys, a light, puzzles, a stool, and coolers.

This is new to both of us.  For year(s) we have both kept our own house.  Kept the house running, supplied with goods and arranged in our own patterns.  Now we are both working on com-promise (the original meaning of the word being to come together with promise for the future).

I am learning, trying to learn, hoping to learn – life is not just about me.

Storing the bike was easy – there is space in the shed out back.  The cabinet?  Well, I have a feeling there needs to be some more combined thought on that.

Of course, this is a life lesson as well.  We are never islands to ourselves.  And the best of life is experienced with others, in compromise, seeking what God has next for us!  Not always an easy path but well worth the effort!

For eight years I served as a registrar in a post secondary school.

There were days of great joy, days when completing the journey for some students was pure delight (for them, as well as for the faculty as they saw them leave through the front door!).

And then there was the graduation!  For us administrators this was the busy time of year.  If my children wished to accompany me, they would know that dad was “in his grad gown.”  That meant quick steps and short conversations.

Yesterday I attended the grad of my “soon to be” step daughter.  I was awash again with the preparations that go on.  This time I was on the other side.

The administrator who looked after the “show” was running like crazy.  She stopped at our table for a second – and that was about it!  Shades of yesteryears!

The result was a great day.  A ceremony in the morning and a banquet in the evening. 

These are good times.  I enjoyed the day! 

But I’m glad to be on the other side of the table!