Many people around the world are using the Advent Calendar in the coming weeks, to ‘countdown’ to Christmas. What about Ukrainians? An artist friend lives in Kyiv, Ukraine and posted the following this night. It is shared with a gentle prayer and hope that in our own preparation / ‘countdown’ to Christmas this Advent, we will not forget the people of Ukraine. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Now there are many who are not in Ukraine have started writing about the Advent calendar – countdown to Christmas. We have our own countdown – light outages, planned and emergency. We plan our lives in such a way that we make the most of it in five hours. And then, in the dark, counting the minutes until the next opportunity to do something … along with electricity, the heating is turned off. Connection and Internet disappear for many. I have no hot water, along with electricity. Stores, banks, post office, those nearby do not work. But I don’t allow myself to whine. I think of our boys and girls in the trenches protecting us on the front lines. About the boys and girls who are captive. They have their own countdown.”
(Used with permission by the author who remains nameless for security reasons.) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My friends, as the world prepares for and ‘counts down’ to Christmas, safe in our homes with electricity, heating, internet access, food, safety, freedom, may we remember those in Ukraine who join in the ‘countdown’ to Christmas in a different way. Slava Ukraini!
“Baby, it’s cold outside!” And it’s going to get colder – and colder – and the snow that began falling earlier today is still falling and apparently is going to continue throughout the night.
When it began, it was just frost – making lovely patterns on the wooden fence on the back deck. Then the tiny snowflakes began to fall – creating a winter wonderland. And then the fat, wet snow filled the sky and quickly covered everything in sight.
It’s cold outside. Gratefully, I am warm, inside this little home. But so many in this community are not.
My heart doesn’t understand … why our local community centre can’t be opened so that warm shelter can be provided for those on the street.
My mind understands … that “it’s complicated” because of issues of who’s going to pay for it; who is going to staff/volunteer the facility; sanitation; meals and more. And then there’s the concern about COVID (people are still in hospital, fighting for their lives), the flu and the respiratory virus that’s affecting many children (and lately, seniors), as well as questions, raise their controversial head: … will those who will use the facility be fully vaccinated? … will those who staff/volunteer be fully vaccinated? … will everyone wear a mask? … what if violence erupts – will there be police/RCMP present? … will medical staff be present? … what about insurance issues? … what about overall security/safety concerns? … and, who organizes such a plan – municipality? province? federal government?
Some are posting on social media that “churches should open their doors.” They would love to, but If they do, the same questions above need to be answered.
But there are no easy answers. The homeless this night will sleep curled up on a sidewalk, in a doorway, huddled under a tree, as the snow falls and the wind howls. And some won’t wake up in the morning.
No answers. Just deep pain in my heart, my soul, my mind.
FAREWELL, NOVEMBER Not ‘good-bye.’ We plan on seeing you again, this time, next year.
HELLO, DECEMBER Good to see you again. May each of us bring moments of grace-filled love this month expressed in … gentleness … respect … kindness … patience … goodness … and thoughtfulness to … and … with one another and ourselves.
In so doing, may this world be less chaotic less tense less troubled less stressed.
What has been happening in your country is beyond imagining … the hatred … the fear … the lies … the threats …
You may feel helpless.
You may feel frightened as you have never felt before.
You may not feel as if you have the strength or courage to face “the next.”
You may feel alone.
Please be assured that there are people around the world who are holding you all in the Light … are praying for you … are “with you” in spirit … are hoping, praying and encouraging you to vote in your mid-term elections in numbers your country has never seen before.
May you vote love, not hate.
May you vote with hope.
May you vote with commonsense.
May you vote.
Signed, one of your Canadian neighbours, with love, who aches with and prays for you all.
THANKSGIVING. No matter what situation life presents, may there be at least one moment of ‘giving thanks.’ Each day.
THANKSGIVING. No matter how one is experiencing politicians, colleagues, family, friends, may there be at least one person who puts a smile on our face and provides a reason to give thanks. Each day.
THANKSGIVING. No matter how we are feeling, where we are living, what we are eating, may we go to sleep with at least one reason for which we are grateful we are alive. Each night.
Thanksgiving is a holiday this weekend in Canada. Last month, Thanksgiving (Chuseok Day) was celebrated in South Korea. Next month, Thanksgiving will be a holiday in the United States, Liberia, Grenada, as well as China, Norfolk Island, Japan and Vietnam.
Interesting information but … while it’s good that one weekend/day a year the focus is on ‘giving thanks,’ be that as a celebration of the Autumn harvest or a celebration of gratitude, why is a separate day/weekend and all its commercialism needed to help us be aware of the many blessings around us?
Why can we not express an attitude of gratitude for someone, or something, somehow, and some way – each day?
We can. If we want to change our attitude from criticism, self-recrimination, resentment, anger, etc. to gratitude, we can.
Let’s let Harvest Thanksgiving (being celebrated in Canada this weekend), be the catalyst for us to make place for gratitude in our hearts, each day giving thanks … thanksgiving. May this – and each day – be a safe and happy thanksgiving day.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Photo was taken at Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada, while visiting my brother, Gerry Mack, and his family. The memories are bittersweet because it’s the last time I saw Gerry before he unexpectedly died and because the memory of that visit is so precious – filled with laughter, adventure, wonderful long talks, his wisdom and love.
He was the very best brother one could ever wish to have and I am so grateful for the privilege of being his ‘big sister’ for the years we had together. Rest in peace, Gerry. Rest in peace.
A phone call and a question “Would you like to go for a car ride this afternoon?” began a day that unfolded in ways I hadn’t expected.
I’d been going on afternoon car rides with a wonderful man for several years. We enjoyed one another’s company, laughed a lot, had great conversations and loved exploring parts of this island neither of us had seen before. That day was no different. Or was it?
He picked me up and off we went with Shandy, his delightful King Charles spaniel – meandering along country roads, beside the ocean, exploring, talking, laughing. The sun was shining and the drive was leisurely and delightful. About an hour later, he pulled into a parking space beside the ocean (a place we’d often frequented on our afternoon drives), and we went for a walk along the ocean shore. At the end of our walk, we sat on a bench overlooking the water’s edge and before I knew it, he had asked me to marry him. Again. And added “It’s okay if you’re not ready. I’ll be here when you are. I’m hoping you’re ready now.”
He’d asked the question several times before, but each time I declined. This time was different. He was a man who was genuine, honest, sincere, could be trusted, was patient (he’d waited years for me to say ‘yes’) and loved me deeply. I knew that I loved this man in so many ways and when he said that he had phoned my son for his blessing, he endeared himself to me even more. My son had a deep respect for this man, was so happy for us both, and wholeheartedly gave his blessing. I was so happy and easily said “yes.” When would we get married? There was so much to do – perhaps in a year’s time?
“Soon, I hope. I’m not getting any younger” he said. “Sooner than later.” Within six (!) weeks, we had put our respective homes on the market … sold both homes … packed up the two homes (each downsizing as much as we could in such a short time) and found our ‘together’ home in a new community … created handmade wedding invitations … made the painful and difficult decision to love Shandy enough to let her go and be at peace from the pain that wracked her body and canine dementia confusion that imprisoned her mind … chosen wedding rings … planned the wedding … got married … moved into our new ‘together home’ … began to unpack the boxes … dealt with the kitchen cabinets that were literally coming off the walls and other unexpected renovation projects that needed immediate attention and more. It was a stressful time, but amazingly, it all seemed to bring us even closer together.
Little did I know how much my life would change when I answered a phone call and went on a car ride with Hans Van Der Werff.
Remembering how it all began … with a simple phone call and invitation to go for a car ride … thank you Alexander Graham Bell for inventing the phone so Hans could phone and invite me for a drive that day. And, … thank you, Karl Benz, for inventing the gasoline-powered car in 1871, so we could go for that lovely drive on that wonderful day in 2019.
Each time I remember that day, there’s a smile on my face and deep gratitude in my heart. Too many friends have recently been diagnosed with a form of dementia and are unable to remember very much. But that special, joy-filled day is firm in my mind.
That gentle giant of a man conquered cancer once – twice – but not the third one. Sad memory, but even so, I am ‘remembering’ much more with Hans — so many happy memories and am grateful for that gift of remembering.
