I forgot in my last post. A friend and I are planning to go hiking for part of the day on Monday in the Highwood Pass (weather permitting). If you've never been in this part of Kanaskis, it's beautiful. The Highwood Pass is the highest drivable elevation in Canada, and the road is closed for half the year every year because of the elevation and snowfall among other things. At the summit of the pass, there is a beautiful hiking trail called Ptarmigan Cirque. I've done it a couple of times in the past, and the elevation gain is challenging, but fairly easily accomplished if you go a bit slowly. I think even young children could probably do it - most of them being in far better physical condition than me!
If you'd be interested in joining us, drop me an email, or give my cell phone a call. As far as I know we'll probably head out sometime in the morning, hike the first half of the trail (the hard, uphill climb part!) eat lunch in the meadow on top of the mountain, then hike the second half and drive home to be back in time for supper.
Saturday, June 24, 2006
loosey goosey liturgy?
I'm excited and a bit nervous for church tomorrow night. A good friend of mine, a girl I went to high school with has decided to attend church with me. Which is exciting, because so very few of my friends outside of church are truly interested in spiritual things.
This friend has always been what I would consider a "spiritual" person. And I'm excited that she's willing to come check out church with me.
But here's the thing. She was raised Roman Catholic. We met in a Catholic high school. (Now, I have a longstanding love and respect for the Catholic church born out of a variety of circumstances including my family connections, the time in the high school, and a bachelors degree in church history, all of which can be expounded upon some other day!) But I attend a Vineyard church.
She's used to liturgy, and I'm taking her with me to a church where the "order of service" is loosey-goosey at best. And I wonder a little if the things that used to shock me will surprise someone who is used to the set in stone liturgy that has changed little in the last 5 centuries.
But hey... I've assured her that she doesn't have to participate in anything that she doesn't want to, and we'll go from there. I'm praying that it will be a positive experience, and that she will connect with people in meaningful ways as she has mentioned boredom and loneliness after moving back to Calgary following five years of university in Ontario.
This friend has always been what I would consider a "spiritual" person. And I'm excited that she's willing to come check out church with me.
But here's the thing. She was raised Roman Catholic. We met in a Catholic high school. (Now, I have a longstanding love and respect for the Catholic church born out of a variety of circumstances including my family connections, the time in the high school, and a bachelors degree in church history, all of which can be expounded upon some other day!) But I attend a Vineyard church.
She's used to liturgy, and I'm taking her with me to a church where the "order of service" is loosey-goosey at best. And I wonder a little if the things that used to shock me will surprise someone who is used to the set in stone liturgy that has changed little in the last 5 centuries.
But hey... I've assured her that she doesn't have to participate in anything that she doesn't want to, and we'll go from there. I'm praying that it will be a positive experience, and that she will connect with people in meaningful ways as she has mentioned boredom and loneliness after moving back to Calgary following five years of university in Ontario.
Friday, June 23, 2006
Thoughts on the run...
I've only got a couple of minutes. I'm in the middle of a stretch of full shifts at the Bay, and I have one in a couple of hours. Before that, though, I'm going shopping with a friend for bridal shower gifts.
The little boy I mentioned in my last post is home. The doctors think it was simply a severe virus as nothing showed up in any of their tests.
Haven't heard anything new about a job. I'll be in contact with the placement agency on Monday to see if they have anything on the horizon for me.
The little boy I mentioned in my last post is home. The doctors think it was simply a severe virus as nothing showed up in any of their tests.
Haven't heard anything new about a job. I'll be in contact with the placement agency on Monday to see if they have anything on the horizon for me.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Interesting Days
It's been an interesting couple of days. Not interesting in the "major world shifting events" sense of the word, but interesting in the "lots of little things have happened that inspire deep pondering" sense of the word.
I spent a chunk of Monday morning playing with a beautiful little boy from my dad's church while his mom had a conversation with my dad. His parents are new believers, and face a number of challenges that would stress even the strongest person. All three of their children have a rare disease that creates a wide variety of serious challenges for them. Add to that the fact that they are the only siblings in the world with this disease (no other family has more than one child with this disorder), and that specialists in the field are rare, and you have an interesting combo. If you add to that the fact that the youngest one, the cutie I spent the morning with on Monday, is profoundly deaf, you have a combo guaranteed to make stress a daily reality. After he and his mom left our house, their family, and particularly him continued to be on my mind through the day and most of Tuesday.
Yesterday we got a phone call from his dad. The little one was taken to hospital yesterday, seriously ill. Today he's been somewhat stabilized, and they may move him from intensive care, but he remains extremely ill, and they're uncertain as to the cause. Funny how he was so heavily on my mind, in my thoughts and prayers, and the next day he was taken to hospital so very ill.
I had lunch with a friend on Tuesday as well. We talked about life and god stuff and boys. She's been a close friend for a couple of years now, and God has been doing some fun stuff in her life lately. We try to have a meal or coffee together at least once a week to stay abreast of what's happening with each other and with each other's families. We ran a couple of errands together, and then she headed off to work.
I also spent last evening with friends at a birthday party. I greatly enjoyed the chance to simply hang out with people who are new friends (I met most of them on my trip to Mexico) but who have quickly become deeply valued friends. I love how God connections can create deep and meaningful relationships with others - the central thing to both parties is Christ, and that binds hearts in a way that I've rarely encountered elsewhere.
On the job front, Samaritans' Purse called me yesterday. They gave the position I was interested in to someone else, but apparently enjoyed meeting me, and have asked to keep my resume on file for future positions. So I guess that's a good thing. I also had an interview at a placement agency this morning, and wow! I've interviewed at a few different agencies recently, and been assured that they could place me, and then never heard from them again. This agency set me up for an interview with a company this afternoon, and have promised that they will be in touch in the next few days with at least one or two more possibilities. Or, I could possibly have a job by the end of tomorrow with the company I interviewed with today. So, on that front, I'm encouraged where I had been quite discouraged. It had seemed that I was getting very little interest in my qualifications and resumes that I sent out, but today has lifted my spirits.
Other than that, I have little to report. I've found some images for my art project, but will probably still be looking for others. I'm reading a fascinating book titled "Velvet Elvis" by Rob Bell of the NOOMA filsm fame. He discusses the idea that our understanding of Jesus, of Scripture, and of Christianity must be informed by Judaism. Very convincing and interesting points. I've also downloaded a few of his recent sermons and quite enjoyed them. I've read my share of novels the last while, watched some television, a movie or so (Nacho Libre - very funny), sent a few emails, played a few games, and tomorrow I go back to the Bay for the rest of the week. Can't say I'm looking forward to it, but I am clinging to the hope of more interviews and the possibility that I will be offered a good job sometime in the next day or two!
I spent a chunk of Monday morning playing with a beautiful little boy from my dad's church while his mom had a conversation with my dad. His parents are new believers, and face a number of challenges that would stress even the strongest person. All three of their children have a rare disease that creates a wide variety of serious challenges for them. Add to that the fact that they are the only siblings in the world with this disease (no other family has more than one child with this disorder), and that specialists in the field are rare, and you have an interesting combo. If you add to that the fact that the youngest one, the cutie I spent the morning with on Monday, is profoundly deaf, you have a combo guaranteed to make stress a daily reality. After he and his mom left our house, their family, and particularly him continued to be on my mind through the day and most of Tuesday.
Yesterday we got a phone call from his dad. The little one was taken to hospital yesterday, seriously ill. Today he's been somewhat stabilized, and they may move him from intensive care, but he remains extremely ill, and they're uncertain as to the cause. Funny how he was so heavily on my mind, in my thoughts and prayers, and the next day he was taken to hospital so very ill.
I had lunch with a friend on Tuesday as well. We talked about life and god stuff and boys. She's been a close friend for a couple of years now, and God has been doing some fun stuff in her life lately. We try to have a meal or coffee together at least once a week to stay abreast of what's happening with each other and with each other's families. We ran a couple of errands together, and then she headed off to work.
I also spent last evening with friends at a birthday party. I greatly enjoyed the chance to simply hang out with people who are new friends (I met most of them on my trip to Mexico) but who have quickly become deeply valued friends. I love how God connections can create deep and meaningful relationships with others - the central thing to both parties is Christ, and that binds hearts in a way that I've rarely encountered elsewhere.
On the job front, Samaritans' Purse called me yesterday. They gave the position I was interested in to someone else, but apparently enjoyed meeting me, and have asked to keep my resume on file for future positions. So I guess that's a good thing. I also had an interview at a placement agency this morning, and wow! I've interviewed at a few different agencies recently, and been assured that they could place me, and then never heard from them again. This agency set me up for an interview with a company this afternoon, and have promised that they will be in touch in the next few days with at least one or two more possibilities. Or, I could possibly have a job by the end of tomorrow with the company I interviewed with today. So, on that front, I'm encouraged where I had been quite discouraged. It had seemed that I was getting very little interest in my qualifications and resumes that I sent out, but today has lifted my spirits.
Other than that, I have little to report. I've found some images for my art project, but will probably still be looking for others. I'm reading a fascinating book titled "Velvet Elvis" by Rob Bell of the NOOMA filsm fame. He discusses the idea that our understanding of Jesus, of Scripture, and of Christianity must be informed by Judaism. Very convincing and interesting points. I've also downloaded a few of his recent sermons and quite enjoyed them. I've read my share of novels the last while, watched some television, a movie or so (Nacho Libre - very funny), sent a few emails, played a few games, and tomorrow I go back to the Bay for the rest of the week. Can't say I'm looking forward to it, but I am clinging to the hope of more interviews and the possibility that I will be offered a good job sometime in the next day or two!
Monday, June 19, 2006
Looking for photos
I'm in the middle of an art project again, and I could use some help. I'm looking for photos of people. Photos that display the depth of humanity in a person.
I'm working with a theme of the neediness of mankind - not just the refugee in Africa, or the victim of injustice in the middle east, but the day to day neediness. That person whose eyes just scream of their brokeness. The child who you look at and wonder what the deeper story is. The people you encounter every day in the mall and in the grocery store and library, and the street. So yes, I'm after some photos from around the world, but also pictures from the western world. The elderly, the abused woman, the oppressed immigrant, the crying child, the homeless man and so on.
If you have any photos that you'd be willing to send to me, or if you can think of a good place to look for pictures, leave me a comment here, or pop me an email at the address in my profile. Thanks!
I'm working with a theme of the neediness of mankind - not just the refugee in Africa, or the victim of injustice in the middle east, but the day to day neediness. That person whose eyes just scream of their brokeness. The child who you look at and wonder what the deeper story is. The people you encounter every day in the mall and in the grocery store and library, and the street. So yes, I'm after some photos from around the world, but also pictures from the western world. The elderly, the abused woman, the oppressed immigrant, the crying child, the homeless man and so on.
If you have any photos that you'd be willing to send to me, or if you can think of a good place to look for pictures, leave me a comment here, or pop me an email at the address in my profile. Thanks!
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