A Library Thought

This is a blogpost written while sitting in a library here in our city of Calgary, Alberta. It is about libraries, and why and how I sit here doing what I claim to be important things!! I forgot to post it back there in October. Now I realize it is on topic for my next blog! It will probably show up in a few days! Stay tuned.

October 8, 2025

A little discomfort I deal with each time I go to the library. For me a library is still sort of a luxury. It is a place of anonymity, and from my perspective a spot dedicated to whatever project I have in mind. It may be to read a book or magazine article – paper or digital – or to work at some document trying to take shape in my brain. My world is accepted as it is, and library staff available with whatever query this old guy might have (and older staff ready to defer to someone younger if they are just as confused by the copy machine as I may be).

In my lifetime I have become acquainted with two approaches to library time. The first is time wasted; a considerable presence when there were farm chores to do and hockey and ball games. Almost out of mind, in my younger years, library suggested absolutely nothing else to do. The other approach is at other end of spectrum, but probably still evidence of lifetime patterns learned. Now it is quality time, even more important than bs sessions in coffee shops or watching hockey on television! Therapists have no doubt this old retired Mennonite gets the workaholic label! So, library is either wasted time or quality time.

These days I pursue what I think needs pursuing, and that means when in the library I am not visiting someone, working at a project in my garage or yard or attending a Zoom meeting from my home office.

Today my bit of quality library time will be used to jot down a few “my Alberta thoughts.” At this time we are enduring a teachers’ strike. Our government is not willing to shell out the big bucks for educators and apparently it’s showdown time. Classrooms are packed and individual srudent needs are not being met, especially with many extra needs brought on by immigrant children. My first inclination is to give teachers all the support we can to help them do their jobs to best of their ability. Then again (ironic perspective from this longtime NDP), I also wonder about what kind of quality education must be provided. I also know that our education system is in a new day. It’s not only demographic classroom-size pressures. I also wonder what quality education can realistically be provided for children of busy high income professional parents. Can an education system provide what is not provided at home, like discipline and parental guidance?

This is where my genuine socialistic inclinations lean just a bit toward the conservative tend to what you need to do yourself before looking to have government pay for everything so everybody can go on expensive vacations with nice obedient kids. That will not happen.

Hopefully the strike will end soon with reasonable resolve, and I hope all parents will realize we gotta be realistic.

My thoughts for this library day. And yes, today the library staff are definitely busy trying to be alternate teachers!

A little discomfort I deal with each time I go to the library. For me a library is still sort of a luxury. It is a place of anonymity, and from my perspective a spot dedicated to whatever project I have in mind. It may be to read a book or magazine article – paper or digital – or to work at some document trying to take shape in my brain. My world is accepted as it is, and library staff available with whatever query this old guy might have (and older staff ready to defer to someone younger if they are just as confused by the copy machine as I may be).

In my lifetime I have become acquainted with two approaches to library time. The first is time wasted; a considerable presence when there were farm chores to do and hockey and ball games. Almost out of mind, in my younger years, library suggested absolutely nothing else to do. The other approach is at other end of spectrum, but probably still evidence of lifetime patterns learned. Now it is quality time, even more important than bs sessions in coffee shops or watching hockey on television! Therapists have no doubt this old retired Mennonite gets the workaholic label! So, library is either wasted time or quality time.

These days I pursue what I think needs pursuing, and that means when in the library I am not visiting someone, working at a project in my garage or yard or attending a Zoom meeting from my home office.

Today my bit of quality library time will be used to jot down a few “my Alberta thoughts.” At this time we are enduring a teachers’ strike. Our government is not willing to shell out the big bucks for educators and apparently it’s showdown time. Classrooms are packed and individual srudent needs are not being met, especially with many extra needs brought on by immigrant children. My first inclination is to give teachers all the support we can to help them do their jobs to best of their ability. Then again (ironic perspective from this longtime NDP), I also wonder about what kind of quality education must be provided. I also know that our education system is in a new day. It’s not only demographic classroom-size pressures. I also wonder what quality education can realistically be provided for children of busy high income professional parents. Can an education system provide what is not provided at home, like discipline and parental guidance?

This is where my genuine socialistic inclinations lean just a bit toward the conservative tend to what you need to do yourself before looking to have government pay for everything so everybody can go on expensive vacations with nice obedient kids. That will not happen.

Hopefully the strike will end soon with reasonable resolve, and I hope all parents will realize we gotta be realistic.

My thoughts for this library day. And yes, today the library staff are definitely busy trying to be alternate teachers!

Snack time Inspiration

Last week I participated in an event at the student center, mid-campus in our University of Calgary. It was one of many occasions planned as part of United Nations World Interfaith Harmony Week, an annual event hosted by this city’s Interfaith Council. Titled “Scriptural Sharing: Harmony in a World of Crisis,” this austere title turned out to be nothing but a circle of chairs in a comfortably arranged office and meeting room obviously designed for things like this. The name of this second floor place is Faith and Spirituality Centre.

The inspiration for me was not so much the words shared in that circle (many accents challenging this senior with hearing problems), but rather the occasion. We were reflecting on two sacred texts, one from the Ahmadiyya Muslims Quran, and one from the Bible, Romans 12. Not only Muslims and Christians, but also Unitarians, Buddhists, Sikhs, Hindus and others in absolute respect and peacefulness holding forth in this talking circle, speaking thoughtfully about “let not a people’s enmity incite you to act otherwise than with justice” and “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse” [i] along with related thoughts that came up during the two hour gathering.

The occasion seemed to incite a spirit of joy on this gathering of university students and a few assorted professors, retirees, and clergy. Near end of the talking circle, our discussion facilitator asked one of the women if she might lead in a song. She was taken by surprise, but almost immediately replied, “Sure let’s try.” Using the tune “Frere Jacquez” there we were, all of us, not quite karaoke but singing our hearts out, round song complete with clapping, missed starts and laughter for all. It was spontaneous and happened only because two in our midst exercised a freedom of spirit and the gift of music.

Consistent with tone of this meeting, there was food; lots of variety and served to us by several students from different faith communities. As I overheard them talking about some unique flavors coming from certain shops in the Food Court one floor down, I could not but enjoy the hospitable camaraderie, obviously communicating a youthful connectedness with others in this student center.

And then there was the carpool to and from this location. Alongside shortest or best GPS instructions, the personality of carpoolers also came into play. Our host provided the ride and the parking fee, all this alongside back-seat driver instructions from each of his passengers.

My enthusiasm for Interfaith events in this city is definitely beyond a nice activity to occupy an old thinker. This year’s chosen theme of crisis harmony addresses the very thing everybody, all cultures, young and old, male or female, rich or poor, [ii] is aware of. There was an undeniable willingness to participate with all in something we all desire - definitely more than just 'something to do'.

So our University of Calgary, secular institute of higher learning, very attentive to the education needs of a pluralistic, multinational student body, has a spirituality center well attuned to this day. The unpretenscious down-home hosting of a UNWIHW event communicates nothing but good news, perhaps also contributing to its increasing Times Higher Education (THE) rating and definitely a notch above all the separatist divisive lingo being touted in this province.

The ride home continued on topic; hearty conversation about our understanding of God (Yup, a Mormon, Unitarian, Mennonite, and a Muslim all in this neighborly rideshare). We were agreed it had been an uplifting meeting. I posit also that this was healthier for mind and soul than the religion and politics we avoid at so many of our family dinners or coffee klatches.

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[i] From Quran 5:8 and Romans 12:9-21

[ii] Galatians 3:28

 

Sunday School

It is not often that I get inspiration from the Calgary Sun, one of our local newspapers. Referred to as The Rag by those of us not fans of its political orientation, I nonetheless read it as a freebie along with my coffee at our local McDonald's halfway through each morning’s constitutional walk. This morning’s read was one of those. The front-page article was a begrudged affirmation of our Prime Minister’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Next page was equal print to Donald Trump’s rambling speech obviously not pleased with the standing ovation "Mark" had received. 

This free read was... almost balanced.[i] In fact, a few pages in and back to the local scene, Rick Bell, the Rick Mercer of the Conservatives, went as far as to identify some problems in Alberta’s healthcare system after his recent experience in an Urgent Care facility! Interestingly, Bell, the unofficial PR man of Alberta's UCP, gets immediate response from our government Hospitals Minister Matt Jones also admitting there are some problems. Really? Nice to at least have it acknowledged, even if it's only damage control. 

So our Rag was uncharacteristically balanced today. Media is that form of communication; words, images, art, a whole lot of posturing, and always conforming to the ones who are buying in, i.e. paying their wages. Media will give a balanced perspective if it is consistent with the owners' identified business goals. Anyway, today's newspaper is what inspired the pious-looking title you see at the top. Given the vested interest of media and the deep contrariness of speeches in the big arenas, I wonder about what is actually at the heart of daily news. As a Christian reader and writer, sometimes I also wonder what is at the heart of what comes from the pulpit. It's a good time to relearn something old, to sit with one another not only in coffee klatches and watering holes, but in a healthy way. Back to Sunday School!

Here we go! So far we still live in a free and democratic society, therefor important (urgent) that churches and faith communities learn - perhaps relearn - how to speak with one another! The truth of all 'stories' is larger than information, whether it comes from journalists, politicians, or from preachers (Yes clergy, we must admit this). 

In the congregation I belong to we have devoted recent months to an intentional transition process - preparing ourselves for engagement with the next pastor, reimaging our future. Guess what, now that we think we know what we want, we discover there is a limited supply! This perceived challenge for churches casts us in the same environment as the media. If we are dependent only on adequate professionals, good luck finding the right pulpiteers or managers to do it just right. 

Sunday School. I am a member of a congregation in the low church tradition, in my case the Mennonites. In our communion we do not need to emulate fellow Christians in the mainline and/or evangelical churches since we are not dependent on authoritative structures or popes or bishops or preachers to validate us (although historically some incredible leaders). Our strength and our confidence is in what we are known for - community of believers. It means we practice the scripture at the heart of our theology, For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them (Matthew 18:20). This is what orders our life.

Aaron Stauffer, in the latest issue of Sojourners, a U.S. social gospel magazine, writes about how important it is for congregations to act on what matters, the “sacred values we hold,” not just by what is being preached.[ii] These sacred values are best nurtured in circles of learning, the practice of gathering, not to form official opinions or to hammer out agreement on sticky Bible passages. It is here we sit with one another, usually dependent on one or several who have a gift of teaching, "we have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.... if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach" (Romans 12:6-7). This is the way to discern implications for the journey of faith. 

One further feature of good Sunday School is that it can be multigenerational. I recently visited a Mennonite Church near Two Hills, AB, where the starting age for Sunday School is four! Classes range from preschool to adult, classrooms with collapsible fronts so as to provide space for larger goszgebats (gatherings). Much inspiration in the education wing of this church. And Sunday School precedes a one and half hour worship service! The faith and the energy in this fellowship of believers is palpable, and certainly more convincing than latest meeting and worship formats with sermons from high-salaried professionals. The word, as touted by many in media or from pulpits, is not adequate.

There is considerable loneliness experienced also by those seeking to provide leadership. Once our perceived solutions are limited to 'input' - speeches or opinions as described in the opening paragraphs above - then we are hopelessly lost. Jimmy Carter, President of the United States 1977-81, served his country and his people well, losing after one term to Ronald Reagan, but winning the Nobel Peace Prize twenty years later. One of his involvements that began years before his presidency and only ended years later, was his regular schedule, teaching Sunday School in his home church in Plains, Georgia. 

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[i] Although subsequent issues back to Alberta separation and other hot topics. E.g. Rick Bell, “Not Taking the Bait,” Calgary Sun, January 30, 2026.

[ii] “How Congregations Act on What Matters,” Sojourners, Jan/Feb, 2026, p.12.

To Babylon and Back

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16 NIV)

My latest post was kind of academic, but like usual, ignited by a little personal incident. I started writing it, and then the good seasonal distractions. It almost didn’t make it as a 2025 model; finally hit publish on New Year’s Eve! This one in front of me now has no incidental ignition. It is merely ‘thinker material'. Here it is, thanks to whatever has accumulated to date!

Theology is a large subject that most people steer clear of. So I do not expect many to read this because there is no opener sparkplug. Instead of reading theology the preferred option for most people is to find a tradition or a conviction or a “comfortable pew,” as Pierre Burton once put it,[i] or the standard go-to for many, which is ‘nothing.’ No readers? That's okay with me; this still must be written. 😀 These days many things are changing; given new demographics and humanitarian conditions, along with increasingly autocratic politicians. The inhabitants of this world (that's us) are having second – or hundredth – thoughts about religion! Theology will never be outdated.

I have been thinking about the Babylonian captivity, right there in my Old Testament college memories of long ago. Interesting how when reflecting on new things, it is old things that come to mind. At this point the stimulus for me is my involvement in an Interfaith community in our city. Ironically, it is conversations with persons of other faith traditions that is getting me to review some so-called familiar stuff right there in our Bible. Muslims, Jews, Aboriginals, Latter Day Saints, Sikhs, Seventh Day Adventists, and a variety of both evangelical and progressive Christians provide a good environment to talk about and think Old Testament history, more-so than in the years when I was preaching sermons.

I am fascinated (inspired, relieved) in a new way to review some basics about our Bible - the helpful way our sacred text is arranged. There is law, prophets, and writings in the O.T. and gospels, epistles, and a bit of review, or overview (e.g. Hebrews and Revelation) in the N.T. Interestingly, there is an O.T. - N.T. pattern: Law - Gospels; Prophets - Epistles; Writings - Overview. [No footnote needed here; just this recent observation, thanks to paging around in my favorite book]. There is some New Testament in the Old Testament and also vice versa.

This morning, again in usual routine, my wife and I were reading from Jeremiah 31, and suddenly a surprise - surprised that we got a surprise! This chapter is uncharacteristically positive in a book generally thought of as the scolding “weeping prophet” warning his fellows, the people of Judah, that they have much suffering ahead of them because the Babylonians are coming, and this is consequences for their lackluster self-centered living. Now, near the end of all that gloomy doomy material, near end of the book, surprise, we have that same prophet’s message of a joyful people coming back. 

See, I am going to bring them from the land of the north and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, among them the blind and the lame, those with child and those in labor together; a great company, they shall return here (:8).

All is well? Happy? Time warp? Coming back from where? What gives? Is this a prediction of those same people coming back - or an even further look into the future? That opens a centuries old interpretive scenario. Given that this was written well before they returned, and we kind of know some subsequent history - good vantage for me to think about this. It is clear not all people left for Babylon in 587 BC, some already in 596. Some got taken, some stayed back, or left behind because they were poor, as per author Patty Krowec, [ii] unresolved tensions, different voices, family issues even, all of it alongside the prophets’ “told you so.” And when they landed in Babylon they spent some 70 years trying to figure out (and many of them the more educated ones) what to do in the strange land (read Jeremiah 29). Even so, there will be a coming back, so we read this morning.

Furthermore, there are other religious communions with origins and lineages also involved here. As per earlier Old Testament history (Genesis 16), it was Hagar, the 'other wife' of Abraham, who became mother of Ishmael who had twelve sons (12 tribes) one of which, Quraysh, was the tribe of Mohammed, the Prophet who became the father of Islam about a millennium later. Mormons claim their space here also. Their extra-biblical, but historic records have this time as essential in their formative story. Prophet Lehi and two sons Laman and Nephi) [iii] avoid the Babylon captivity by loading up their tribespeople on ships, crossing the ocean to the Americas and they are now part of that new world history. The return to Jerusalem for them is an anticipated apocalyptic scenario. 

Then there are those of us who accept only the Bible as sacred text. Yes, as per the epigraph above, we believe in the whole Bible, complete with its firm packaging at the end of the last chapter. If anyone adds anything to them... And if anyone takes words away... God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City (Revelation 22:18-19). Within ranks of all who live by this canon we still have a huge variety in our denominational palates. There are the Catholics, Anglicans, Episcopalians, the Reformers, the Anabaptists (including dunkers and sprinklers), with evangelical and charismatic and progressive and fundamentalist variations in almost all of these. So, even as a believer in the adequacy of the Word in our Bible, I do find it interesting that, although not highlighted, the O.T. has some historical ingredients not recorded, yet with consistent prophecy of a messiah. The N.T. is celebration of that Messiah - Savior available for even those whose story line deviates from ours.

Anyway, this is long-haired thinking, and now I'm reminded of some good advice also in our Bible, Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body (Ecclesiastes 12:12). At the moment I do not need to go on and on about this. Now my head is back to the next Sunday School lesson in our church. It is based on John 14, including some verses about Jesus going to prepare a place for us, no specifics about how many (144,000?) or who (only those who say Lord, Lord correctly? Matthew 7:21). This first lesson of the new year - January 4, 2026 - nothing complicated or long-haired about that; just good material for us to chew on with one another.

Back to the Jeremiah 31 passage, that 'happy return' passage, including the extra-biblical content just referred to. Both of us in conversation about all of this, Verna makes a catch-all statement, “They’re coming back from captivity not because they have been perfected, but they've learned something of the grace of God.” Yes, so true! We found ourselves rejoicing, suddenly hit by that New Testament message of grace already so present in the OT. Right there in the prophets is beginning of the New Testament! God’s grace, God’s unmerited favor already there, and very much what we need to claim these days. Nothing new really, but a pleasant discovery, even among all as us of the faith communions look sideways at, or relate with one another. 

The biblical message of grace, the birth of a child come among us. This next Sunday of the Epiphany we will note that Good News so very important also to those kings coming from Persia or Iraq.

So surprise! It's good news heading into this New Year, and we need it regardless of the circles of comfort or discomfort we find ourselves in. Happy New Year.

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[i] Pierre Burton, The Comfortable Pew  (Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1965).

[Ii] Patty Krawec, Becoming Kin (Minneapolis: Broadleaf Books, 2022), p. 81.

[iii] 1 Nephi chapters 1-3, The Book of Mormon (Salt Lake City, UT: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Intellectual Reserve, 2013).

And Then Everything

This morning my wife and I had a far stretching conversation. It grew out of ordinary morning habit - light a few candles, read from the Bible alongside a brief devotional. Over time, now as senior citizens and as members of a church which emphasizes community of believers more so than preaching, it is obvious to us that this habit is a good one, not to uphold some long held tradition, but to receive inspiration and instruction for each day, not only Sunday mornings. Vital.

Vital, especially if you are tuned in. Ready! Set! And then we read about rubix cubes! 😏  Yup, that was it, kind of! The devotional habit promptly got into “what might be biblical or inspirational about rubix cubes?” At first kind of blank, and then mysteriously interesting for us. The writer’s brief review of the cube’s history at the hands of one Arno Rubik, a reclusive professor of architecture (yes!) and the long trek of finding right materials and then the eventual challenge to solve the very device he had created. Interesting! Conclusion? There is need for our Creator God to ‘lean into’ the many challenges we face today. Right.

Then just a bit of tuning in; given this overtly simple (simplistic?) conclusion we began thinking about challenges we have before us, relational and spiritual hunger not only in family, in neighborhood and also our church. Then how about the age factor? There’s quite an age range we think and talk about every day (yes, old people have the luxury now to think about many things). Now in midst of devotions, Erik Erikson comes up, a psychologist whom I read once upon a long time ago, [i] and more recently Richard Rohr. [ii] It became a conversation about God not only leaning in to solve puzzles, but present in all things, in all life stages, including subtle possibilities of meaninglessness. We talked about our story, my own burnout at a point of my life when 'successful preachers' might be hitting the speakers’ circuits and modeling the very best of what I had been preaching about. I was one of those pastors with a success label - top of the career you might say – and I had only a wish to die. My recovery began when I admitted first to myself and then to some trustworthy people around me that my spiritual thirst was deeper than career success. I longed for the open road, felt grateful for my Class 1 license still in my back pocket after those years of pastoring.

It was indeed the open road which began to reveal unexpected benefits, like the sheer joy of getting to know my youngest two, whom I had had no time for during their high school years, and now they were college students in Winnipeg. I got to see them often on my way through that important hub for international trucking. What a joy to hear them tell stories about friends or studies or whatever.

Erick Erickson’s psychosocial approach identifies eight stages of the life-cycle. At that time I was probably in his Stage 7 (Middle adulthood; generativity versus stagnation). This shows up in immediate challenges like parenting, says Erickson. I interpreted that as permission for the very thing now happening - a need to be authentic, regardless of the job. Rohr, from his priestly vantage, focuses more on the adulthood stages. Life is more than a career path. 

Especially meaningful to us, was both authors’ assertion that the first half of life includes getting established and known for something; the second half involves filling that identity with meaning, spiritual richness, often after experience of necessary failures or suffering, transforming down into a more authentic self. Although the devotional made scant reference to today's designated scripture, Psalm 80 makes good contribution to the subject, Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved. O Lord God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers? (:3-4).

This is good reference to what might be personalized middle adulthood issues. Most middle adult devotional writers, or preachers, or business executives, are now the Generation X. They are the ones born to the baby boomers. Us BB’s are the good lifers. We have suffered no wars and most of us hit hard on making a good living. Now as senior citizens we live with some consequence. Our children, having noted our busy-ness during their growing up, are a product of this value system. Many of them have hi-tech knowledge in matching career paths, at least two incomes, several cars or SUV's, vacation trips, etc. etc. These are feel good qualities which us good lifers endlessly brag about in coffee klatches. We try not to talk about our children's middle adulthood issues possibly soon encroaching on their journeys.

Today’s Gen Xers are in two worlds – values picked up from the parental good-lifers and they have a skillset to accomplish all things! The digital age is their language, and it may show up as a rubix cube demonstration. It also shows up in their faces, their memos, their business plans, their conversations and of course social media! They are today's workforce, today's teachers.

X indicates any of many things. Our children, the professionals and/or business owners we believe they are, live with all those opportunities and possibilities of pitfalls before them. X is in most mathematical formulas (Hmm, our oldest son is a math teacher). 

Finally, in consideration of all this ... everything, X may also be a challenge for those among them who have claimed a faith and seeking to live and express it in a believable way in today’s needy and broken world. Big challenge indeed. We may soon be watching that action from the vantage of the 'cloud of witnesses' up there (Hebrews 12:1).

Lots of conversation this morning. And then we prayed.

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[i] Erik H Erikson, Identity and the Life Cycle (Scranton, PA: W.W. Norton Publishing, 1994).

[ii] Richard Rohr, Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2011).

The Fourth and the Eternal

There is a saying probably well rubbed into the annals of time, “It’s hardest to show love to those who are closest.” That sentiment is near at hand these last several days as my family and I are dealing with the death of one of us. The imminence of my brother’s death, his colorful personality and life journey are well inscribed if not in the history books, then at least in the memories and the family lore. Philip was a character person. Having written somewhat theoretically about end-of-life a few years ago [i], this blog will be very different. I now write anecdotally, and I know each of my siblings could add many variations and probably corrections. I shall try it this way: First, Did he die? Then secondly, A House Party; and finally, New Life? Here we go.

Did he die?

I received a text message the morning after Philip’s passing. This was after the rumor mill had already been active for a day or two - customers at my younger sister’s and my brother’s local businesses enquiring, and they were not able to provide clear answers. As soon as I received the text I notified with an email to the whole clan. Next up were the funeral queries. Where, when? Now I really felt badly for my younger sister and brother as again they did not have an immediate answer. I was invited, seemingly the only family member to make the cut among friends and fans!

Thoughts to myself: I shall participate in this gathering which will be one of those Celebrations of Life quite common these days. By invitation! Not quite sure what that means, my mind into “I wonder who’s not invited.” Being the eldest brother, my brain is busy. Grateful for the invite, I also feel badly for those not so. Why? And then of course the next thought, “How can I manage some appropriate communication with all the others” (family of twelve now whittled down to nine)?

And very important, how might I listen and speak clearly with his youngest daughter and business partner? [ii] She knows who her dad liked and didn’t like; 😏 she’s grief stricken, loved her father dearly and lost her mother just over three years ago. I’m guessing her dad may even have left a few instructions, “Don’t bother with all that funeral crap; no need for a service”, etc. etc. Not being a church girl nor well connected with her dad’s siblings (most of them also not church goers), I hate to think of her vicariously living with her dad’s agenda. She is a charming and articulate person, well respected by the people she knows. She will be a great host to all the guests. All this while Philip slips away into eternity.

A House Party

I arrived a few minutes late (nothing new to my friends here in Calgary 😔), no problem for this full house, a number of others right in behind me! The comfort of conversation is a blessing, especially when you know hardly anybody. My pretty niece ever so sweet and hospitable in this the home of her growing up. Approximately half an hour into the hubbub, as agreed, she introduces me her uncle, “dad’s oldest brother, and he will say a few things and a prayer.” It was but a few extemporaneous family comments and then a Committal Service similar to many I have done before.[iii] Fascinating to me was the rapt attentiveness and looks of hospitality ranging from Philip’s grandkids all the way through neighbors and longtime AA friends. The party needed a Divine reference; ashes in the urn and spirit in presence of our resurrected Lord Jesus.

New Life?

Most of my readers know, it does not take long for ‘my thinker’ to kick in. It is now a few days since the goszgebat (Low German for celebration). My reflections now include not only the holy party but a delightful dinner with my younger siblings later that same day.  Already life is going on. We could not help but reflect on our brother's persona, his creative crude language, and his declaration of life in the fourth dimension. It is thanks to some previous research that I learned a few things, and have come to recognize a commonality between the two of us – probably why we enjoyed one another, me the preacher and he the alcoholic (yes I also have some alcoholic preacher friends). According to Google the spiritual 4D is a plane of existence that allows us to understand the internal processes behind everything we experience - life, death, dreams, insights, wakefulness, sleepiness. He claimed this life-view never caring whether you agreed or disagreed with him. Fascinating to me, his daughter refers to his shop - the place of his fabrications and repairs – as his sanctuary!  Once when he was telling me about this all-inclusive spirituality, I responded casually that it sounds like the Christian life empowered by the Holy Spirit. He agreed.   

I could slip into theologizing, but no need. Philosophizing? Well maybe a bit. I was eldest of the first third of our large family; he was oldest of the second third – teenagers getting into trouble when us older ones were in college or universities; and then there were the kjliene, the youngest four who already had tired parents still reeling after the eight to date! Philip and I were the eldest in each of our segments. And then there was Joe, oldest of the youngest, entrepreneur, world traveler, also a force to be contended with, deceased seven years ago.

Thus spake Zarathustra. Oops, I was going to stop theologizing! Zarathustra, the founder of Zoroastrianism, is in my brain thanks to a once-upon-a-time college course. Now this preacher is starting to sound intelligent! Once at one of those profound moments of conversation when Philip and I were quite impressed with one another, he quips with childlike clarity a memory verse learned when he was a kid in our Old Colony Sunday School, “Ich bin nur klein. Mein hertz ist rein. Soll niemand darin wohnen als Jesus alein.” 

As indicated at top of this tome, families may present the biggest challenge to deep love. Right in there is also the wonderful possibility of that love which mature adults can reclaim like little children. I cannot but refer to that very same teaching from Jesus one day when his disciples wanted to learn many things, He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me” (Mark 9:36-37a). The memory and the brains and the mystery of our Philip will be remembered and retold for years to come. Rest in Peace dear brother.   

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i “Death the Omnipresent,” https://www.jcfroomthoughts.blogspot.com/. May 31, 2022.

ii Also present was Philip's oldest daughter from his first marriage.

iii Heinz and Dorothea Janzen, eds., Ministers Manual (Newton, KS: Faith and Life Press, 1983).

The Supernatural

I can still see it in my mind’s eye, a clearly written neatly typed bulletin note just outside the student lounge. It was addressed to all of us, from a fellow seminarian, a good friend who was a ‘recovering hippy.’ He had seen it all, tried it all, and at that time not pleased with us, his fellow Christians in this grad school, participating in on-campus or community trick or treat door knocker festivities. He knew and had had experience with the dark origins of Hallowe'en. Although he and his wife were both kind hearted and soft-spoken, they sparked considerable conversation and fresh perspective especially for those of us with children who loved to dress up and collect a few candies and cheery greetings in the neighborhood.

Created by David

Today’s Canuckle word is SCARY – yup, got it in three tries 😊 – and the Fun Fact is a continuation of this very topic. “Halloween is the perfect time for all things scary in Canada. … Creepy costumes, scary decorations, and spine-chilling stories make Halloween the perfect time to embrace the supernatural.” That’s where I cannot but gulp a little. It is now fifty years later (I just did the math) and today my friend's (R.I.P.) admonishment comes to mind. As we prepare treats for the little hooligans who will ring our doorbell tonight, my mind goes back. What are we including, or possibly excluding in our celebrations? In my previous blogpost just a week ago I write about the nature of Jesus’ ongoing presence. [i] Considerable reference to the supernatural there, this could now be a continuation of that.

Now here is my question. Do we believe in the supernatural? Even among people of faith, much energy is spent aligning ourselves with various spiritual or political or personal viewpoints, but do we actually believe in the supernatural? Fact is, All Hallows’ Day, in medieval Christianity was recognition of a mysterious thin line between the living and the dead, and the day before came to be identified as All Hallows Eve, easily shortened to Hallowe’en. My knee-jerk response to the Fun Fact is “Do you also believe in the upside of supernatural? How about God, how about Jesus, about resurrection, ascension, about the ongoing presence of Holy Spirit among us?"  What is not supernatural about that? In other words, what is not supernatural about weekly worship services?

The writer of that fun fact may even be a church goer – just maybe not very often 😏 or perhaps just not made the connection. It is indeed almost par for the course, very easy to put church or ceremony or liturgy into a lifestyle ritual, devoid of any supernatural expectations. And so Halloween has become the commercialized fun evasion of that which we all yearn for.

The Apostle Paul seemed quite aware of this possibility even back there in one of his epistles, “It is my eager expectation and hope that … Christ will be exalted now as always in my body, whether by life or by death” (Philippians 1:20). Whether by life or by death, we dare not forget the supernatural in God’s daily redemptive presence, not only the ghoulish coffins we put on our lawns on October 31.

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[i] “Who is Jesus?”, https://www.jcfroomthoughts.blogspot.com/.