Blessings

I wanted to title this post: How a Cigar and a Fine Single Malt Scotch can Bring You to Prayer, but as you can see that's a little lengthy.

My father-in-law was recently in Cuba and gifted me a cigar that wasn't going to get any fresher and with no looming celebrations in the future and the days not getting any warmer I decided to celebrate the fine occasion of having a cigar.

I bundled up (it's only zero outside, so it's warm compared to the rest of Canada!), poured a drink and sat outside in the dark, smoking a fine Monte Cristo. I'm not a regular smoker but on occasion I enjoy a well-made cigar and this occasion made me think of the other times I've had the pleasure of enjoying one (it was rather contemplative by myself!)

The time the reverend (my Dad) surprised the socks off of me by bringing around cigars to smoke with him and my brother in celebration of Daija's birth. With a friend on our balcony on a low-key New Year's Eve in Ethiopia. On boy's/poker nights with good friends in Victoria. In the middle of the bush while working for Parks Canada.

And then I realized how blessed I am for the moments I've had, the experiences past and the possibilities present and future. I realized how blessed I was for the family that was sleeping soundly inside the house as well as the family that raised me, for the schooling opportunities and the chance to pursue something that challenges me and excites me, for the house, the friends, the cigar... and on.

It was much needed after a day with Daija when she was particularly whiny and I was particularly impatient - it was just one of those rough days of parenthood when you can't wait to put them down for the night. The days when you're not very appreciative of the blessings you have.

I remembered how I love my wife and need to remember to tell her how much I do. And it led to the parallel connection with how I need to remember to thank God for the blessings he has bestowed. Too often I am cynical and lacking grace when it is needed.

All of this brought on by a darkened yard, a random snowflake falling, a cigar, a scotch, and very cold hands. I am going to make sure I go in and kiss my baby again before I go to bed, tell her how much I love her, and then crawl in beside the woman I love.

The Big City

My Dad was in town yesterday, just a brief visit before some meetings he had in the city. So I took the chance to get out with him, do a few things in the big city. Always lots to do here.

First stop was the Royal Ontario Museum downtown. Cool building with the Michael Lee Chin Crystal as the front. Our stop was with a purpose, we were here to see the famous Dead Sea Scrolls which are on exhibit until January (in case you're planning on popping by). It was neat to see in person what is perhaps the greatest archaeological discovery of the past decade. Most interesting was how they were found, the lengths that have been gone through to preserve them, the sect that hid them in the caves, etc... Being an archaeologist would be cool if you could discover something as cool as this, say, every month. Otherwise it seems kinda dusty and kinda less fun.

Then we went off to the CBC building downtown to sit in on a pre-taping of The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos.

He's doing a bunch of pre-tapings because the TIFF is in town and so are all the actors (I haven't seen George Clooney or Drew Barrymore yet but supposedly they're here in town).

So we got to see interviews with 3 guests: the experimentally funny A.J. Jacobs (seriously, check him out - ridiculous stuff such as a month of doing whatever his wife told him, a month of saying whatever his wife told him to do, a month of saying whatever came to his mind, a year of living biblically (literally), outsourcing his life to India, etc..); actress Isabella Rossellini (who I can't say I knew); and author Douglas Coupland (whose book we got given free!).
(commercial break with Coupland)

It was a neat experience to see how it all works ("We're going to shoot that ending again") and, heck, it was free to do! Always lots to do in the big city.

Can We Choose Family?

At some point, I am sure, we have all heard the expression, “You don’t choose your family.” It’s meant to imply that you might as well learn to live with them, learn to love them, and regardless of how it all works out – they’re still your family.

Often we refer to the Church as a body or a family but somehow we rarely seem to apply this idea of not choosing your family. As Nolana and I move to a new city we hope to enter into a new faith community and I am struck with the dilemma of how to “choose” a church for our family. Often people look for good programs, welcoming people, lively worship, a dynamic speaker, convenient location or times, etc, etc.... And I am struck by the way we often shop around to choose a church that seems to fit us. This isn’t how I got stuck with my family!

I think most people find, that like with family, when you become active and involved in a church – when you give of yourself sacrificially – this is when you feel connected and rewarded by community. Before I left I had a good chat about this with a friend whose challenged heart I admire and we discussed in great length what it is that church should be about. Often, when we look for a church, we look for something that fits us and that fits what we define as church. We want to worship with like-minded people who like drums or calls to worship or liturgical prayers. We want what is safe and what we know.

So as we go about figuring out where to call home I am struck by the question: should we just show up one Sunday morning to our local place of worship and, as long as they’re grounded in biblical truth, call it home, choose to make it family, and then stick with it regardless of worship styles or if they have lots of little kids for Daija to play with?

This seems to be along the lines of family. And yet, there seems to be things that I value that I want in a faith community: missional focus, community and social justice minded, built in the scripture, etc... I wonder if some of these are merely selfish desires and if I should be working as an advocate for these things in whatever family I land in? Sometimes it’s hard to separate our wishes, even when they sometimes seem so spiritual, from those of the Father.

Pictures taken from the hilarious site: http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com

Heartwarming

Nolana has choir tonight. Due to the blustery fall day we had and my resolve to not turn the heat on, I told her while she was gone I was going to pour myself a nice glass of Philips Chocolate Porter and sit in front of the fire. She told me in no uncertain terms that she would like the pleasure of sharing the fire with me and we have limited wood... so no fire. So instead, I poured myself a nice glass of Philips Chocolate Porter and sat in front of the... oven.
Not quite as relaxing.

On a completely unrelated front, this past week we cooked our first turkey dinner and were able to have some family come join us. To those family who were not there - we missed you. But we still had fun!

A Week of Crazies

This week has been super busy so here's a random update of things that have been been more important than blogging.

I got a job. Starting September I will be an Education Consultant (aka Tutor) for Korean high school kids coming over here and jumping into high school here. Pays pretty well, seems pretty flexible, so hopefully it works out while I am in school.

Lori stayed the week with us and Jani came over from Vancouver to visit. She brought her beaux. We had some fun.
They're pretty crazy kids but we enjoyed having them here.


We went up island this weekend to see our good friend Jeff marry the woman of his dreams, which was pretty much a woman who would put up with crazy ways. It was a gorgeous outdoor wedding, the bride and the groom were giddy with joy, they picked the perfect MC for the wedding (me), and we walked away thinking what a good thing God had brought together. It was a great day of celebration.

We were also recently up at Nolana's parent's place to celebrate John's birthday. I got to see my favorite niece . I usually get the first hug (when Uncle Kyle's not around) and we played bocce and picked berries together. Can't wait to have my own!

It was an insane week but we get a few days to collect our wits and get a few things done around the house before Nolana heads back to work. She's got about a month left and then she's done work to prepare for baby who is around 12 weeks away. Almost there!

Rest In Peace

This past week my Grandpa and my Grandma both died. Grandma finally succumbed to her year long battle with stomach cancer and Grandpa died a few days later from the effects of his stroke a week earlier. Today was their memorial service in Calgary and I'm not there to remember so here are my memories.

Grandpa was a God-fearing man who loved nothing more than sitting down for a cup of coffee and telling stories all afternoon. I remember him always pulling out the Daily Bread after breakfast to read that day's devotion. I remember his Dutch accent when he prayed. I remember the light in his eye when he told stories of being in the Dutch army or of immigrating to Canada and living in a converted granary. I remember how when I got my eyebrow pierced he pulled me aside and told me I didn't need to do that to get attention. He often came home with new trees for the farm or some other little gadget he found... which often caused him to be in trouble with Grandma. I remember going to the cattle market with him and everyone knew him, he was an old time farmer. He loved it when people took the time to play Skip-Bo with him and he loved winning even more (and he hated when the last time I was there I beat him every game!)

Grandma was a busy woman who loved her family. She was always protective of us kids and wanted us to stay away from the pens and the gully... which is exactly where we wanted to be! I remember her pride in driving and getting her licence at 60-something. She always made roast when we came over and she always overcooked it... but it was always yummy all the same. I remember when she was upset at Grandpa she spoke Dutch so we wouldn't understand. She always hoped us grandkids would get married to Dutchies and when she found out Nolana's Dad was Dutch and she knew Nolana's Grandpa she was thrilled and immediately gave her blessing! I loved it when she made rockebrote (sp?) with Gouda cheese on top.

As much as I feel detached from all that's happening in Calgary I know I will miss them dearly. I shed a few tears when I thought that my son or daughter won't get the privilege of knowing these two people who I have so many memories of. This picture was from the last time I was at the farm. I saw them again but away from the farm and after Grandma was sick... and to me this is how I remember them.Rest in peace Gramps and Gran.