daily life as life goes on . . .

Around 80 years or so ago, my father and his brother hitchhiked, biked and rode train to Ontario.

The trip involved a failed border crossing into the United States, overnight stays with relatives and friends of family and friends. 

The impetus for the trip in 1937 was to obtain work – on a relative’s farm.  Their father’s farm (Kindersley, Saskatchewan) could not support both brothers in the midst of a depression peppered with no rain and little financial resources.

The adventure was a true adventure.  Their venture took them into trials and testings, but also fun and family connections.

This was a formative trip.  Throughout his life, my dad constantly had the view that “the best is yet to come.”

2021 – THE BEST IS YET TO COME

New Year used to be March 25th (based in a Western Christian culture).  A little interesting tidbit to start the day.

Of course, the tidbit needs to take into account other cultures who will celebrate new year at another time and in other places.

What a great privilege to be able to start a new year almost anytime of the year!!

Becoming a community pastor.  Not an easy thing.  Not necessarily a desired thing.  Not necessarily a matter of title.  But certainly a matter of time.

I am thankful for our local pastors.  I’ve known some of them for decades.  They love the people of their churches, and they love the community.  I would gladly stand beside any of them, and just hope to reach their stature.

We are a settled community.  There was a wave of settlers in the early 1900’s.  In these last few years we have more settlers who have migrated to this country and this region. 

Being settled as a community also means being contented.  Not all of us, but there are agents for various social, medical, construction, retail, agricultural/resource and spiritual needs.   Beyond these needs, there are those who are given to celebration – a much needed resource in the midst of a pandemic.

I am thankful!

102 years ago, my father was born (December 29, 1918).  In the little village of Kindersley!

And the stars shone bright – perhaps.  It was a rather holy night – at least for those of us who follow legacy and example.

My father would not have considered himself a king (in case you were wondering, the first few lines of this blog mimic a song called “Birthday of a King”).

Dad was humble. 

He was not a celebrity, although those around him liked him very much.

He was not an intellectual academic, although he was a bit of a genius in the whole area of math and physics.

He was not a contractor, although he built and renovated houses over the years.

He was not a super dad, although he provided well for his children and left us memories that have lasted for decades.

There is much more could be said, and I have said much more in the past.

Thanks, dad, for your example – not least of which is being a godly man who loved Jesus, his family and those he brought into his life.