Birthing a Good Society

The birth of a good society comes when people start to trust each other, to share with each other, and to feel concerned for each other.
~ Jean Vanier

Tonight I was at the Catholic Foundation of Manitoba’s annual gala dinner. This year the recipient of the award was a former employer of mine. One of my first employers was St. Amant’s Center—I worked there for a summer in the Occupational Therapy Workshop. It was an eye-opening experience on lots of levels.

I worked, naturally, in the Workshop itself but I also did some one-on-one sessions with some of the residents in this residence for disabled people. This work impacted me for life. I worked with one young woman who had been the victim of a drunk driver. She had been a vibrant teenager with a passion for horses when everything was taken from her—she lost her hearing, her speech, and her ability to walk. Her sense of frustration was obvious and it broke my heart to see her mentally aware of how limited she had become. At the age of 20, I made a decision then to never drink and drive. I have pretty much kept that promise to myself on her behalf, only occasionally have I had a half a glass of wine over dinner when I know I am driving somewhere.

It was also my first time working with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome/Effected children. That was tremendously challenging for me. I had no idea that alcohol could do such horrific things to life in the womb. Back then, not much was known about it.

This evening’s event captured the journey of the Centre and the Grey Nuns who started it. I was pleased to see that even though the Grey Nuns no longer own the facility, their legacy was remembered and honoured tonight. The work that the Centre continues to do is ground-breaking, based on the dignity of each person, but working together in a community. Vanier’s quote above hits the nail on the head. Doing the work that St. Amant has done all these years does birth a good society where people can trust each other, share with each other and feel genuine concern. My summer at St. Amant was one of the best jobs I have ever had. The influence of the people remain with me and have clearly shaped me.

Congratulations to St. Amant on their achievement!

Peace,

Suzanne

Rock On, Dreamers, Rock On!

Keep your dreams, for in them lies Joy denied to men grown wise. ~ Edgar A. Guest

My friend Rena invited me to a Rock Show at her son’s school. I think tonight might have been the fourth year I have attended. It is always fun to see the students let loose, find a voice, and be a Rock Star for a few nights. I love to watch them rock out and have a blast doing it. Music is so fantastic for that. As an audience member, the songs are always familiar and bring back loads of memories. My friend’s son is now in the show and that is an added hoot to being there. He is one of the guys on the right in the blurry photo.

I do not always go on closing night but I love that experience. The Grade 12 students get to share what the show has meant to them and it always touches me. Tonight I could not help but think of two teenagers really struggling right now. Their dreams are dead. These kids were so pumped—it was, and always is, a fabulous closing testimony to the success of more than the hour and a half show. These kids end up experiencing what they say is the “time of their lives” and the “best part of their school time.”

I am not sure how many will go on to become rock stars or even musicians in a band or performers of some kind. Some may end up singing in a church; others will only sing in the shower in five years time. Life is funny. The dreams that are so meaningful at one point fade to black at another juncture in life. Joy sometimes is never realized.

On the way home, I said to my friend’s son who had performed in a Guns and Roses tune that one of the guys I went to school with went on to become a guitarist with Guns and Roses. He was impressed. When I said that I also went to school with the drummer of the Crash Test Dummies he said he did not really know who they were….oh wait, don’t they sing with really deep voices? You never know what can happen with dreams. I know both those guys were hooked on music then; who would have thought that they would have gone on to realize their joy?

Don’t grow wise too soon. Joy is something to aspire to, too.

Peace,

Suzanne

Flood Fears

You have to accept whatever comes and the only important thing is that you meet it with courage and with the best that you have to give. ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

I remember the flood of 1997 though I was fairly detached. I had not yet started working for my current employer and so did not travel the way I do now. The names of the towns were often foreign. These photos are taken today just outside of Brunkild. In 1997, this is where the famous old car dykes were used. Today, I felt like I was looking at a lake instead of a prairie. So many people are holding their breath, wondering what the next few days will bring. You can only accept what comes with courage and your best self. There have already been a couple of flood related deaths here and that saddens me. No one needs that added burden in a time like this where the stress is already high.

In 1997, I volunteered with the Habitat for Humanity Flood Recovery Teams. I remember one Saturday morning, going just outside of Winnipeg, to a house that had been damaged by the water. An old woman lived in this particular old house. We were tearing apart the house because of the mould damage. The insulation was made of sawdust. I had never seen that before. I also remember the sadness that woman felt at having lost so much because of the flood.

My back has been acting up again so I have not been able to assist with the sandbagging efforts but I sure hope those who can help, will. As I drove around southern Manitoba today, I sensed things might be ok for the most part, but a rainy day or some freak event could change all of that for some of these folks. The water is less than a foot from the tops of bridges. It won’t take much to change the outcome. All we can do is to think positively and send prayers for those who need it.

Peace,

Suzanne

I am not Lost

Not all those who wander are lost. ~ J. R. R. Tolkien

Today was a traveling day. I drove through prairies that resembled ponds….or maybe more accurately land that looked like lakes. I should have take a photo but the highway was busy. Instead, I send a snapshot of a little creek near a Hutterite colony I was at later in the day. Look like a creek to you? Manitoba is under a flood threat and some places are worse than others.

After work I had my final Tai Chi class (we finished the short form at last; now I just need to practice) and then went on to Net for God in the Chemin Neuf community which showed a film on a seminary in Burundi where the people stood by each other during the genocide rather than turn in their friends with a different ethnicity. The film was powerful and brought back lots of memories of being in Burundi and at another seminary.

As I drove from one place to another, I wondered about my wanderings. I have been a lot of places. To keep my mind active as I drove 350 km I tried to think of places I had been to following the alphabet. Let’s see if I can cover all 26 letters—and I won’t always pick the obvious ones. See if you know where they all are!

A for Arviat
B for Bujumbura
C for Cincinati
D for Duluth
E for Edmonton
F for Frankfurt
G for Guatemala City
H for Holguin
I for Iowa City
J for Juarez
K for Kigali
L for Los Angeles
M for Montreal
N for Nairobi
O for Ottawa
P for Paris
Q for Quebec City
R for Rankin Inlet
S for St. Boniface
T for Tofino
U for Uvira
V for Vancouver
W for Willow Bunch
X for X-ray Dept (Maybe after I travel in Asia I can get this one)
Y for Yorkton
Z for Zurich

Can you do this with places you have been to? What you have better things to do with your time? Ah, but the challenge is interesting!

Peace,

Suzanne

Waiting on CPR

Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" ~ John 11: 8-9

Today’s Gospel reading is that of the raising of Lazarus, which happens to be the second longest continuous narrative of John’s Gospel. The longest one is the Passion which will be read next week. This event on the road to Calvary will ultimately cause the leaders to kill Jesus—such an irony since what Jesus does is give life back to someone.

This morning, as most Sunday mornings, I did my morning prayer, listened to the Praise and Worship time on the Christian radio station, and generally, sabbathed. Yes, I know that is not really a word, but I like to think of it as one. During the break in the music, the radio announcer said this zinger, “If you’re not honest with God, that is where it all starts.” He meant that is where it all breaks down. As I thought about Lazarus in the tomb, I believe that oftentimes we are in our own self-imposed grave and this happens when we are not honest with God and ourselves. Jesus can yell all he wants, “Come out, Suzanne!” but if I am sulking in my cave and got that big rock in front of it, I won’t really care. How often do we do that, and then ironically, blame God for not getting us out of the dark place?

Fr. Brian Massie one time spoke of Lazarus as receiving resuscitation instead of a resurrection. Christ did a mini-CPR on him as he returned in his earthly body and went on his way. This Lent I have become more and more aware of the moments that I need spiritual CPR as I crawl way into the back of the cave with my sins and avoid the Light. I am making headway though. Unbind me!! I may be ready to come out as a new creation by the time Holy Week rolls around.

How about you? Ready to come out yet?

Peace,

Suzanne

Birthday Blessings!

Old age isn't so bad when you consider the alternatives.
~ Maurice Chevalier

Today is my mother’s birthday. Oddly enough, I went to a funeral today for a man who used to come to my parish. As his daughter gave the eulogy, I could not help but think what a fantastic job she did at honouring her dad. One day one of my siblings or I will have this task of speaking at our parents’ funerals.

Two days ago, my parents celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary. My dad is a week younger than my mom and will join her in turning 78. My parents are not very affectionate people but there is light-hearted banter in their lives. When I read their cards to each other, I see that there is still love between them.

When I was visiting my aunt and uncle in BC a few weeks back, I asked them how they met. I swear my uncle blushed like a schoolboy as he reminisced. My aunt used to go to the gas station he worked at and ask for only $2.00 worth of gas so that she would have to come back again before too long. They are obviously still in love.

I look at my mom and dad and do see glimpses of that. Fifty-three years is a long time to be married and to see sparks of love is hopeful. My mom is a different person than my dad which cannot have been easy for either of them.

I learned a few things about Mom while I visited her brother. She was a daddy’s girl—just like me. For some reason, that surprised me. She seemed to always get her way in the family, according to her younger brother. He said she always thought about herself—and it was always about her. That made me chuckle because that is the mother I know. Once in a blue moon, though, she surprises everyone by moving beyond herself. Redemption is always possible.

Today I wish her God’s blessings.

Peace,

Suzanne

100 or 1

If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting? ~Stephen Levine

This is post number 100 and so I guess I should write something profound (hence the quote). Honestly, I am surprised that I have been able to write for 100 days straight. It has been an interesting journey. Hopefully you are enjoying it, too.

So…Friday night and I am home after a hectic workweek, that has had busy evenings too. I am awaiting a call from a friend in Vancouver after months of saying we should catch up.

There was a time in my life where I could talk on the phone for hours. I don’t do that so much now and it usually goes in spurts. I will call one friend and then decide that was so much fun I should touch base with someone else. This quote did make me think as to why I do wait to call people.

Stephen Levine is always thought provoking. I am not sure I have an easy answer to this question. I can assume that my family would be with me at this time, and those closest to me, if I knew in advance. If however, I had just been shot and was slowly bleeding out (morbid thought, bear with me—CSI is on in the background), then I think I might call my dad. I am sure my mom would answer the phone though and that might be a problem as I would have trouble getting a word in edge-wise as my blood seeped out of my body.

OK, so this is not turning out to be profound and my brother is probably saying, stop trying comedy—that is my territory. If I called him, I would draw my last breath, laughing, I am sure.

The trouble is that I have led my life, developing friendships that are dear to me. I would have to plead more than one measly call, unless it was a conference call. How many people can I talk to at one time max?

Blog 100—quite an achievement. Maybe I could write one last blog instead of one last phone call, Stephen. Is there room for negotiation here?

Ok, you think that is an easy question, then you answer it. Who would you call and what would you say?

Peace,

Suzanne