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The holiday weekend this year was well named.  Beginning with Valentine’s day until late yesterday, I have had quite the family adventure.

A few months ago none of this was planned.  OK, I started with some vague ideas in August, then more concrete ones as the days went on.

3,000 kms later, I visited with my fiance on Valentine’s Day, had some of her children accompany her to visit here in Kindersley over the weekend, visited with my daughter and her family in Edmonton, visited with Doug Smith and his family, had supper with some of Cynthia’s family.

And now I’m home.  Still with visions of white outs, and slippery patches and generally not the nicest weather.  On the other hand, with visions of family that I will cherish.

God plans our adventures, and this has been one of them!

I am on an adventure.   For basically a week’s time I have and will travel about 30 hours on the road.

Some of the roads were icy, and others are forecasted to have blowing snow.  For a prairie winter, that is not unusual but still requires focus. 

Some of the time will be with friends and family.  Others by myself.  I don’t mind the chatter of family, I don’t mind the solitude of driving solo.

In between the travels I will preach and be a part of a Board of Elders meeting.  Pleasure and work combined will make this week memorable.

So, if you do not see a lot of blog entries – you’ll know why.  Doesn’t mean I have nothing to report.  In fact, the opposite is probably true.

As some have told me in these past few days – may you have safe travels.  As some of you travel over this “Family Day” weekend, may you also have safe travels – and bring back great memories!!

Sometimes commercials have a lot to say about other than the product they are marketing.  Here is Paul Harvey speech entitled “So God made a farmer” – with a touch of the hat by the commercial producers to Ram trucks.  You might enjoy this. 

I understand the talk by Paul Harvey actually ended with the following thought:  “and finish a hard week’s work with a five mile drive to church.”

Paul Harvey video – So God Made a Farmer”

Well, my pie turned out well.  One of my Sunday School students asked his mother to bring some home – not sure if he wanted to try it out, or to see how bad it was!! 

After our meeting, around the pie, we began to talk some politics.  I was reminded, as I returned home, that I had written but never published a thought on politics.  So, below is that thread – hopefully it will make sense!

The purpose of temporal tranquility, which well ordered policies establish and maintain, is to give opportunities for contemplating truth.  – Thomas Aquinas – Commentary on the Ethics.

I suppose over the past while I have enjoyed the arena that is often called politics. 

I recognize that there is real distrust of those who create policy and seek to order institutions.  Politics is found not only in the public realm, but the church also experiences this.  A recent letter from the President of our denomination indicates how that distrust can creep in and disturb tranquility.

What drives me to be committed to my community – whether that is the public square or the ecclesiastical structure?  I do want to see a time and place where people can, with civility, seek together the truth. 

Creating that foundation is not easy.  Robert’s Rules of Order is just one attempt to help us create that foundation.  Peacekeeping measures that help with conflict resolution is another.  And leadership that actually believes that they are “under God” seems to be another.

The seeking of truth in tranquility allows for love to flow.  Where there is strife we generate hatred, distrust and slander (which is “not truth”).  Let’s find ways to love one another so that we have opportunities to contemplate truth!