daily life as life goes on . . .

For the fun of it, and to get hands on experience, I worked on a urinal flush valve today.  Of course, I always figure I can fix what is wrong.  Wrong!  In this case there is enough wear and tear that a properly functioning valve has become an open valve pouring forth unnecessary and copious amounts of H20.

Of course, it took me a number of minutes (which total amount I’m not about to disclose!) to figure out that I wasn’t about to create a miracle.  Finally I went looking for a replacement part.  Then, 15 minutes reassembling the various parts and the urinal was working properly.

The fun of the day?  Just getting things working! 

I realize someone may want to flush this blog entry down the drain, but at least now I can help you fix the valve to be sure everything works it’s way out!

One of the town committees I sit on presented an idea to our local town council.  We were well received and enjoyed the opportunity.

I believe in being committed to the community. 

I was born in the cooperative movement province, Saskatchewan.  I think sometimes we have lost this spirit.  And so, I want to be an apostle to our community for God and for good.  Perhaps this is how we let out light shine?  Perhaps we are called to bless our communities?

I must admit, this idea has not always been a part of my thinking.  I take myself back a few decades to the years working at a seminary.  I was focused only on the local church – with little or no room for those outside of those walls!

Daily at seminary I was surrounded by thinkers who pushed me to consider what cooperation was about.  First to Christians – we are to be known as those who love one another.  To non-believers, I want to live at peace but also to promote the good!

And so, I’m on a journey.  Trying to learn how not to compromise the need for a personal relationship with Jesus while seeking to work with those who are indifferent to, or even reject Jesus.

How have you lived in your community as a Christian?

Well, the fun is still there.  Each day I’m trying to transcribe the letters of my father’s trip to Ontario during the dirty thirties.  The trip began in July of 1937.  What today is a ten hour drive to Winnipeg takes a few days.  Town mentioned include Biggar, Saskatoon, Guernsey, Brandon and Foam Lake.

The term for the approach to travel was called “thumbing”.  A driver notes those who have their thumbs stuck out, and may chose to slow down and accept them for travel.  This form of transportation seemed to have carried on for a number of years – into the 70’s and 80’s.  By that time there were not a lot of people who picked up passengers – there had been too many muggings.  On the other hand, not many wanted to hitchhike – there had ben too many muggings.

But, back them this was an acceptable form of transportation.  If you would not pick some one  up, then when you needed a ride don’t expect anyone to pick you up. 

Dad mentions two particular rides.  One a young couple who blew a tire when they had inadvertently left the highway.  Further reading of the letters indicates that gravel roads were considered highway grade.  Even plain dirt served as a channel for travellers.

The other ride was on a ten ton truck with two threshing machines.  A 320 mile journey.  Needless to say they were looking up friends in the next big town and taking a bath!

Where to next?  Let’s see what comes!

Part of my family legacy are letters my father left when he passed away a year ago at the age of 91.  They are the remnant of a visit he took to Ontario in the 1930’s when he was around 20 years old.  I’m trying to type them out and having a hoot!  I think that even might be an expression from back when he wrote those letters – he would have been around 20 at that point!

So, here’s a little bit from one letter.  Talk about how youth continue to be the same while believing they are totally different.  Have fun!

A few Sunday’s ago they announced that they wanted names handed in for the church down here to be considered at council meeting. Well, I got Marshall to hand in Mountain Veiw Church because there is a very good view from the door. The church has always been called 6^th Line but they wanted something official or something. Well, they brought it up at the meeting today and they had a list of 14 names written on the blackboard such as Batteau Creek church, Cedar Grove, Cedar creek, Cedar Lawn, Blue Mountain View, Mountain View, Berean Church, Dutch Settlement, Mount Zion, Sunshine Church, that’s all I can think of and then somebody wrote on the tail end 6^th Line church. Well, I canvassed around all I could for Mountain View and then after dinner we voted. It came out between these 4, Batteau Creek, Cedar Lawn, Mountain View and 6^th Line. We voted again and what do you think. 6^th line church came out ahead, and Mountain View close on its heels. Oh boy! Some of the people were sure discustipated to think that that old name “6^th Line” won. I don’t see how it ever came out ahead because nearly everybody seems to be pout out about it. I guess it was just all the old conservative types who voted for it.

You’ve got to love that 1938 word – “discustipated”.  And how about church politics – they’ve been around for a long time.

Now, on to a youth thing!

Say, a bunch of us guys got an awful trick played on us today. It was at noon. Council starts at 10 am down here and then we had 1 ½ hr. noon hour before the afternoon session. Well, anyway Roville and Marshall and Don Marplet & I were standing around not knowing what to do with ourselves. We happened to spy the empty back seat of Vic Appleton’s car so I made a b-line for it and the other guys followed. We got in and here if Lila, and Lela and Mary Lou weren’t parking the front seat (of course, we didn’t know it? Shush?) Lila had the nerve to tell me I was getting as bad as her.

Well, we had only been there about 5 minutes discussing the weather & other unimportant topics when along came Mrs. Swalm and told Lela she better come into the church. She tried to get out of going in but her mother insisted so she had to go & so Lila and Mary Lou went too. We had the whole car to ourselves then but we might have rather had it crowded, we might have been able to keep warmer.