daily life as life goes on . . .

Arrived back in Kindersley at 6:30.

I must admit, I’ve had a great last few days.  Just sitting and organizing things. 

A weird relaxation, you say!  Yes, I suppose compared to the majority of the population.  Nevertheless, give me a day of cataloguing or describing or organizing and I come away feeling refreshed.  Maybe this will be my retirement income?

So, how do you describe your occupation for tax purposes?  Organizer (that sounds a little to union based), describer (that sounds like a writer), or how about straightener-upper (that sounds like putting plates back in place in the cupboard)? 

What would you suggest?

As I sit her tonight, I have pretty well completed wandering through my father’s files.  He has been described as being a careful man.  He collected receipts, statements, journalled activities and generally left more of a trail than an archivist could hope for.

The real thing was to decide what stayed and what didn’t.  Generally published material that is held elsewhere could be discarded.  Any general correspondence with addresses or personal identifiers was shredded.  Any unique materials that help to explain my parent’s life was considered for keeping.

And when all is said and done – I guess there is an art to archiving.  I’ve taken the idea that, should I decide to write my father’s story, what would I need?  Lots can go, but some has stayed.  I’ll just have to see if I can get it all packed in the car!

A year and a half ago I wrote a story.  Called it Jos and Jerry.

A writer’s aid is the setting where he writes.  In this case it was a cabin on a lake in Northern Saskatchewan.  For a few days I wrote while my wife enjoyed the view (which I also enjoyed, although not as frequently!).

The story was based in two real life characters – Josiah and Jeremiah.  Jews a few centuries before Jesus.  One a king, the other a prophet/priest.  Both about the same age.  Both committed to God.  Both apparently friends.

I took a bit of license in the writing.  I made them contemporary – a business person and a religious personality.  Both just into their twenties.  Both about to change their worlds.

I’ve been waiting to preach on these two.  This coming Sunday I will roll out some thoughts.  Mostly on being compatriots together.  You can try to change the world yourself.  But you will do affect your community, you country, your world best if you do it with someone else!

Real simple message, but not as easily implemented.  This is not merely project management.  These two seem to have been friends who just fell into projects together – because the projects fulfilled their heart’s desires.

I wonder if we can find those types of partners who are ready to change the world with us?  If you have not found this person, regardless of your age, are you willing to look for a life-long partner (in this case I’m not talking about your wife, but someone else)?  Have you asked God who that might be?

Oh, and BTW – Josiah and Jeremiah seem to have been opposites.  Don’t dismiss your worst critic.  They may be just the one!

Here I am in Lafleche, Saskatchewan.  Yesterday, following our church meeting, I mentioned where I was headed.  Two people gave that quizzical look that says “I’ve no idea where that is.” 

I can thoroughly understand that.  Put a “la” in front of any town and you look for French roots.  You might suppose a northern Saskatchewan town.  Perhaps where voyageurs wandered through the province.  Probably not on the rail line where British influenced companies named the towns.

If you are looking for the map coordinates, find Assiniboia, Saskatchewan or Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan in southwest Saskatchewan, Canada.  Then look where you wouldn’t expect a settlement somewhat on the third point of a triangle south of Gravelbourg or west of Assiniboia,  I chose those two towns because they are the largest cosmopolitan areas close to Lafleche.  And I use the term, “cosmopolitan” very loosely!

As far as a town, there are three churches I have discovered (I think there may be one more).  A local COOP store, a seniors centre, a coffee/merchandise shop and motel are all found on main street.  Fanning out from there are a few streets which accommodate a smallish population of well less than 1,000 people.

If you want to find  yourself, you won’t have to worry about getting lost here.  And so these next few days I will deal with my father’s estate and shed busyness for an opportunity to relax!  In the terms of another day and age – these will be “holy-days”.

Looking forward!