Battle New Face

My son and his daughter were at Scotiabank Saddledome along with about 19000 ‘faithful’ at last night’s version of the Battle of Alberta. Others of us interested family members did our duty in front of the trusty television in our family room. Still others in our family totally into doing other things.😊

It was a fun evening leaving this grandpa with some morning after thoughts. First thing which comes to mind is that byword “Battle” which has resided in this province for decades. Even as we in front of the tube were high-fiving each other with the closing good luck which yielded a W for the Oilers, we were immediately inundated with disappointed critiques from sports commentators, the talking heads. This was no battle of Alberta, was the appraisal of these professionals who make their living trying to say obvious things as smoothly as possible. Battles according to the apparent standard require hard hits, standing up for team mates, fights, perhaps some game misconducts, etc. etc; something for the faithful to really cheer about. Of course we were treated to clips of a dirty knee hit which sent Edmonton’s superstar Connor McDavid rolling, and – for shame - nobody from the Oilers team stepped up to lay a licken on the Flames’ culprit. Nope, just a nice competitive hockey game! After the game the culprit Mackenzie Weegar spoke like a statesman taking responsibility for some bad moves which apparently cost them the game. Calgary 1, Edmonton 2. Flames coach Suter after this game amazingly casual, in his usual unique assessment, said they played easily on par with Edmonton, only “didn’t score a couple times.” I appreciated Coach's perspective, much enjoyed the game which featured fantastic goaltending and perhaps a few players on both teams a little slower than usual with a little too much Christmas turkey? Instead of ‘the battle’ it was a good Alberta-up-and-down-the-Queen-E hockey game. My son (residing in Ontario but a sentimental Oilers fan) as per his engaging personality had many fun banters with Flames fans, all acknowledging the importance of hockey games with fans on both sides. Perhaps a new day is emerging.

There are other things, probably more noticeable to a fixed income senior like me not quite attuned to present-day appetites and budgets. In my day, scalpers used to be those of questionable repute on game day holding up a couple of tickets at ‘special price’. Fans (customers) would risk scoring either a bargain entrance fee or not getting in at all. It was a risk! Today it’s still a risk, but you do it online, just like everything else online. My son and granddaughter indulged their last minute decision by logging into scalpers of the day, a Gametime website, and then watched the going price of available seats complete with a visual of the location, with prices dropping hour by hour minute by minute, perhaps taking a dive just before faceoff – or perhaps a last minute rise – just like gambling! 😏 After purchase you go to Ticketmaster (yes) to procure the appropriate bar code for your cellphone to get you in the door. As per most fast and easy online transactions you're paying U.S. dollars, and as they also discovered, a surprise extra service fee at the gate. If you click the required fees at the right twists and turns you get to join the party - quite sleazy actually. You have now been accommodated by the U.S. and the www just to get into a game to be played by two neighboring Canadian hockey teams!

And other things (Yes now my thinker again). For me the topic gets larger and admittedly on theme with other 'things' that appear in these blogposts. Those who read here regularly may even predict what I may yet venture into. In this latest Yuletide season my heart has gone out especially to pastors and other leaders of churches and other religious, those holding forth as per official requirement of the faithful. Not necessarily Battles of Alberta but there are seasonal expectations. So whether the template is The Church Year as per Lectionary or Advent Hymn Sings as per favorite long-time choir conductors or Theological Treatises on eternal worth of the virgin Mary or remembering so-and-so’s prescribed way of doing Christmas Eve Candlelight Service or asking about so-and-so’s children whether absent or present at any of the special services 😉 - my perspectives obviously filtered by memories of the years when I served as a church pastor. In these 'special seasons', sentiments want to be the driving force. Sentimental rules trump original thinking.

The Big Original for us Christians is the birth of Jesus, still the greatest meaning and the reason to assemble year-in and year-out. Hebrews 10:25 has something to say about that, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. The original Christmas has new potential and surprise possibilities even for the sentimentally addicted once-a-year church attendees. The real challenge of leaders is to meditate on this truth and facilitate it among the people. Yes, the sheep still need shepherding. If it becomes merely seasonal routine then everyone is in trouble. Jesus said this well when his leadership was coming into question, When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:36).  Leadership anointed by God? Undeniably needed still.

It is among the sentimentalities and requirements of faith communities that my kinship with hockey and other sports comes to mind. In this day we have a way of accommodating everyone at least if its profitable, to whit Santa Claus in the malls and Boxing Day sales! And it is with a price, and probably with a compromise. So you want last minute game day entrance? It’s available, but with international service fees. You want a perfect exercise regimen that will help you recover after holiday overeating? It’s available also online. You’re not into hockey, but you’re a gambler? Log into Bet 99 or 365 and make it a money game. You want healthcare? It’s available in the U.S.A if you can afford it and your government won’t cover. You want good sermons? Search the web a bit and you may discover a perfect purveyor of the Word (your word). You want a better price for a kitchen appliance or kids clothing or even groceries? Order online from Amazon. All of these are today’s ways of getting what our very heart desires right now. A word of caution! CAUTION, do not forget about your church, your friends, your fellow hockey players and your neighborhood including both friends and enemies.

In this new day all things seem to be available to all, and yet interestingly not to any. All are faced with new opportunities along with subtle compromises - some things hardly change! At the moment I am reading a book, a Christmas gift from my daughter. The Paris Bookseller, written by Kerri Maher (New York: Berkley, 2022), is about authors and artists promoting their ware and also wanting to make a difference. Here is a quote in answer to a request to write something, “I don’t think I’d say anything more or different from what [others] are already saying. I want to do something. Doing was how she’d made the most impact in her life: knocking on doors, handing out blankets, tilling soil.” The scene is Paris in1920! It’s just after WW1 and it's people hobnobbing about the war's impact on local economy, about American influences in all things, what kind of books can be legally published, and what is this world coming to anyway ...? It might well be conversations and opinions bantered about in social media and coffee shops just this past year 2022! 

By now another reading intrudes itself on my mind. It is the wise one in the Old Testament, already been around for a while, 

 Whatever is has already been,
    and what will be has been before;
    and God will call the past to account (Ecclesiastes 3:15).

And also the present and the future. Even among the conservatives, the liberals, the rich and the homeless, among the despots, among the desperately faithful and the faithless, I cannot but refer to issues political, recreational or religious, most of them with fundraising requests, especially at end of year relentlessly in my inbox, especially this week! The temptation is to ignore them all ... or maybe donate lots, because they represent causes I believe in and already involved with, and also so I won’t pay too much income tax for the year 2022!  

Very human us humans, and also in presence of the Very Divine. Some things still the same.

 

On Behalf Of

I have recently ventured into a new form of volunteering. I am canvassing door to door for a political candidate in preparation for next provincial election. Volunteerism is one of my very most favorite things, although most of it has been in committee capacity – many meetings attended and decisions made along with others in the service of the community, of the church, of God. In my profession also blessed with volunteers' assistance - secretaries and coworkers. Now it is walking, yes physical exercise and a totally new unrehearsed human encounter at the end of each sidewalk! Not only that, I begin this volunteer project as a novice, walking sidewalks with an experienced partner obviously a few years younger than I. It is humbling, and it is exhilarating.

As per usual, this presents some interesting new thoughts for me. First off, I must say it is a study in decision making. You need to be deliberate in your own head, no waffling once the die is cast. You are going out there as representative of someone whom you would like to see as your 'member' in government! That decision needs to come from the core of one’s being. For me this requires attention to basic convictions that I own as a Christian. No political party can fully represent my faith. It is important, however, to be at peace about a particular candidate by affiliation and by platform, and also demeanor. “To thine own self be true” said Shakespeare once upon a time. Which candidate will I show my best smile for, and risk a little abuse if need be? Only fifteen minutes in and I already had a bit of each! Once you're out there you're the one! You’re in - appreciated by the candidate and fellow team members, each with our own prior process. We move forward on that. 

Secondly I have marveled at procedure - how it gets done. “I am here on behalf of (leader or candidate) wondering if we might count on your support next election” or … "have you made decision re upcoming election?” Sometimes they break out in a smile and animated conversation ensues; next door it may be, “Oh not interested at all” and the door is closed NOW. I have already marveled at my training partner's cheerful “thank you” even as a door is being closed in front of his face. All info duly recorded into a nice little software program downloaded into cellphone.

The humbling part? Well, you get to learn these new tricks precisely because you’ve never done it before.

And the exhilarate? Something about this venture brings on a celebratory tone. This is a positive thing. I am growing tired of coffee shop politics to the extent that my attitude towards friends AND the politicians is going south! It's not fair to impose coffee shop slander on persons submitting their interest, convictions and effort in direction of public service. Rather than slander, I have now had occasion to meet and come to appreciate a learned candidate who: i) is pleased to meet us; ii) is available within the block somewhere just in case one of the ‘doorbells’ wants to speak with her; iii) treats new and seasoned volunteers as equals for the job. This is good stuff. I remember the training for my profession regarding “pastoral conversation” (essays were written and verbatims submitted) but never so brief and so clear as on this occasion a lesson in accepting others even while offering what I’ve got. Nice to learn something just when I thought I knew everything. 😉︊

Politics. In last several years I have met people from Syria, Turkey, Myanmar, South Sudan, Laos, etc. immigrants and/or refugees who have encountered the worst of the worst from competing abusive regimes. I find myself with increased gratitude and appreciation for democracy. These friends from other countries smile at the democratic process still available here in this country of Canada – where our vote is important, welcomed, even encouraged (unlike the shady polling station issues in the U.S.). There are no cynical coffee shop attitudes coming from new immigrants. Most of them have known worse. How to accommodate these newcomers and to incorporate into our Western society is part of the challenge faced by the politicians who want (need?) our support. Needless to say this is by now a talking point at the doorsteps, at community bars and restaurants, and even in the living rooms of our mostly middle class homes.

The common philosophical courtesy bandied around forever has been that two topics to avoid at family gatherings are religion and politics. From my recent experiences I am telling myself not to be deterred from either of these! As a Christian and as beneficiary of early 20th century immigration policies of this country, I am free and willing to engage socialists, indigenous, environmentalists, evangelicals, affirming LGBQT+, fundamentalist Christians or Muslims, and of course fellow educated social activists of any stripe. I am learning a few things about community and teamwork even from people I hardly know. 

And one concluding thought. I find this relaxing. Recent experience is confirming for me that people no longer answer their phones, probably another consequence of the coronavirus lock downs. Even when calling service organizations or churches, it's a recorded greeting with a menu of options, and check the website, and then leave a message. Usually no call back. Given this techno hide-and-seek it is refreshing to meet someone cold turkey. Some are pleased to meet you and some are not, but there is no hiding behind a text or voice message. [Oops not quite accurate even here. By now I have already left a few messages speaking to doorbells] Walking up to houses, this mixture of exercise and surprise greetings is a healthy thing. Possibly another person lonely for human contact is behind that door. And come to think of it, the Mormons and the Jehovah’s Witnesses in their historic door to door strategies have known a thing or two about us all along.

There is nothing like a fair and honorable election to prepare the way for governing authorities. Our Bible instructs prayer and respect for them.  Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. (Romans 13:1) There is a bit of nuance here, but also an important point. Feel free to give me a phone call and we can talk about that. 😏