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Three people – one week.

From January 20 – 23, 2020 three of my acquaintances died.

Now, I’ve had that discussion of how we should characterize death – “Don’t say died!”  Some say just say “passed on” – on to what?  A curious type would take that as an opportunity to ask more questions.  Which the mourners may not be ready to answer.  Some say just say “deceased” – as though in the ceasing there is nothing else.  Suits a contemporary society that dies at death.  Much like the saying that someone “expired.”

As to the celebrations of life.  One was in a Legion Hall – where the friends were familiar with the surroundings.  Another was on a native reserve where her children felt at home.  The other is at the church building were he attended and felt at home.

There’s something about home that is relevant to remembering loved ones. 

There’s something about how we talk about death that is relevant to hope for loved ones.

I was putting away my journals.  I’ve kept a set from 1994 – to the present.

The whole set takes up more room than I had budgeted for.  Each day’s entries in the journal are just jot notes of what I’ve done or thought.  From points of depression through to exhilaration, its all in there.

As I was going through the journals I ran across a journal my wife and I had kept for our daughter.  We called it the Compliment Book.  Each entry was a compliment for what we had seen that day.

As I looked back, I remembered being a teenager’s parent.  Those days are not easy, for either the parent or the teen. 

Somehow two decades later, I think this was as much about building a right perspective of others as it was about giving my daughter affirmation. 

I phoned her last night.  We chatted.  We ended by saying “I love you.”

I couldn’t leave it alone! 

“It” being a thread on Facebook related to a “conspiracy theory” website’s – and the latest output therefrom (new word, I think). 

I guess I’m just getting to a point where relative truth, whether from conspiracy sites, MSM (Mainstream Media) or from lobbying/partisan groups is beginning to wear on me.  Here was my response.

I’m finding that Facebook is doing the work to find hoaxes and fake news – they have been pushed in this direction, and rightly so. You will see related articles that contradict this article underneath these comments (at least on my computer).

Factcheckers have become the apologists for our world’s ideals. While I agree that refuting science requires better science (the basis of much of the factchecking being done), I still go back to the question of "What is truth?".

Siloed truth and social media echo chambers can miss the greater objective truth that our world is in need of. OK, a bit too philosophical – but that is where my head is at these days!

I can’t say I’m original in this.  But I am determined.

As I  began this year, I was seeking to know God more.  Jeremiah 9:24, in the Hebrew Scriptures, states that the best boasting we can do, and boasting we should do, is to boast that we know God.  That goes into considerations of his love, justice and righteousness. 

Best way to know God – talk to God.  Listen for God.  Act on God initiatives.

So, three times a day, I’m trying to connect:  morning, noon, night.

I figured using some already learned “prayers” would be good.  Start the morning with the popular song of the 70’s – To see thee more clearly, love thee more dearly, follow thee more nearly (prefaced by “In the morning when I rise, give me Jesus”).  At noon is the Lord’s prayer – which we learned in Grade School.  The evening is the Apostle’s Creed – used when I was touring with a singing group in 1973/74.

That has made the prayers easier to remember.  Perhaps part way through the year, I’ll replace a prayer with another.  It’s not about what prayer – but that my prayers direct me to know God.

Looking forward to this!