Casting off by Lynn J Simpson

 

May 4, 1995, under a clear spring sky, the Edmonton Queen Riverboat navigated the North Saskatchewan River waters for the first time as  hundreds of spectators lined the banks. 

I wonder if Ray Collins was among those hundreds?

See, according to the stories told, Mr. Collins since a young lad  had been fascinated by the stories of steam boats that once sailed the river of Edmonton.  Delivering lumber to the North West Mounted Police in Fort Saskatchewan, the steamwheelers operated from 1874 until  1915 when the big flood halted the operation. But that flood is another story. 

Mr. Collins first approached the project of building a steam boat back in 1964, but it wasn't until 1992 that his dream began to float when the mayor of Edmonton said yes to the 3.4 million venture. Scheduled to launch a year later, the boat was docked in money battles until finally Mr. Collins drifted into bankruptcy and Carrington Properties cruised in to save the Queen. 

Now, I don't know Mr. Collins and have no idea what his mind state may have been that day his dream sailed when he was no longer anchored to the project.

May he have considered himself a failure?

Or maybe, just maybe, Mr. Collins took on a mind state that he had done his due diligence in piloting a dream, a project that did voyage? Just most likely not sailed the direction expected, possibly due to hasty decisions along the way. 

Why the boat story when it comes to writing about our theme this month of apprenticeship? 

One word: tenacity.

Remember it was May 4th, 1995, twenty-nine years after his first launch attempt that the Edmonton Queen floated the North Saskatchewan River, and Mr. Collin's dream got under way. 

Twenty-nine years.

There are many, many stories of dreams started and finished, with a boat-load of time in between.

May we always be encouraged that time is our friend, and that diligence does pay-off.  And even though our dream may look different between launch and sailing, we've got our great Captain whose purpose prevails. 

Proverbs 21:5 The plans of the diligent lead only to plenty, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.

Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans of a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails. 

You can find more tenacious musings by Lynn J Simpson on her Website

Write it Down - Karen Toews

Probably all of us have attended writing workshops, strategy-planning sessions, business retreats - a sojourn where we brainstorm, discuss, and pursue clarity for future goals pertinent to that event.

These "exercises" involve the action of writing down goals, a process that requires thinking, then physically moving the pen or tapping the keyboard so that plan becomes a visual thing. This is not a new tactic, yet a useful tool to keep us moving forward in a specific direction.

If you've followed my blog over the last year (and more), you'll know that I've had challenges accepting setbacks with my physical fitness activities. Coming to terms with making changes I didn't ask for and/or want, has encouraged important soul-searching - evaluating priorities and trusting God for direction and comfort.

Thankfully, with His help, along with that of a lot of other friends (trained in massage, physio, acupuncture, chiropractic procedures, MELT therapy, etc.) I'm able to run again without pain - as long as I don't run every day and use a minimalist shoe. I've gained a new respect for this passion of mine and accept it as a gift to be used with care and thanksgiving.

This spring I committed to my desire to return to the racing scene and registered for the PEI half marathon, scheduled for October 16, 2011. Training went well - other than wiping out in June while running on the road, resulting in a knee gash, swollen bursa sac and some very painful ribs. I had a pretty flexible training routine: there were other activities happening, like taking grandkids to the beach, going for bike rides and overall, enjoying the sweet days of summer.

I drove to PEI with friends who were also running in the event; the day before the race we picked up our bib numbers and checked out the booths at the race expo. OptiMYz (a fitness magazine) had a promo for something free (I didn't win whatever it was) for those who dared to write down their projected finish time for the distance they were doing, and have your picture taken. Uh oh. From previous racing experience I knew how nervous I could get by predicting finishing times, thus I'd invariably go for the maximum end of what I thought I'd be able to do.

This race was for fun and throwing out caution (and possibly common sense), I jotted down a number on the low end of my wish-time, still knowing anything could go awry "tomorrow."

Within an hour, I was thinking, "what have I done?" - not wanting to look like I was totally dreaming. Then waffling back to "what does it matter if you're off by 3, or 5, or 10 minutes?" Regardless, the pre-race jitters were back just like the past: I rolled with it, still enjoying the day sight-seeing, eating the "right" food, drinking water and visiting the bathroom.

All because I'd written down a number.

Race morning. Muscle memory is a term runners embrace and count on - in spite of getting a less-than-restful sleep or your legs are lacking the usual "punch", those muscles of yours will remember what to do because they've done it so many times before. Well, my mind also remembered that my pacing on the first 12km would determine if I would have enough gas or time to finish well so I had to run smart.

I decided to hang close to a pace bunny and a group that were aiming for the same time I'd written down - resolving to pay close attention to my breathing and how I was feeling. With favorite worship songs in my mind, an eye on my watch, and prayers of thanksgiving to be enjoying this sport - plus some diligent effort - I did it. With more than a minute to spare.

A goal that became my focus - because I'd written down a number.

Where else do I write down goals, plans, dreams? Journals, work binders, devotional books and Bible margins. These words are important motivators and reminders.

But we have been given eternal writings, valuable signposts from the greatest designer of all.

"This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel....declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people." (Jeremiah 31:33, NIV)

And if we're on His "team", we all win.

"Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.......and they will reign for ever and ever." (Revelation 21:27, 22:5c, NIV)


http://www.realfoodmatters.ca
(Photo courtesy of OptiMYz - Facebook)

Thankful for Trees - by Marcia Lee Laycock

The two Poplar trees stand side by side in the park across from my living room window. I've been watching them slowly turn golden for the past few weeks and a few days ago the fall winds came and began to strip them bare. A few stragglers are still hanging on, but soon the trees will be only trunk and branches. The inner sap has probably almost completely stopped flowing.

They mimic how I'm feeling these days as I continue the chemotherapy. Bare. Sparse. Dried out. Enthusiasm is a word that seems foreign. I've forgotten what it's like to have hair. There are days when I want to rail against what's happening to me, days when I'm just angry. But then I look at those trees and I think of the scripture that has so often come to mind as I've watched them fade into dormancy.

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. ... You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills will burst into song before you and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord's renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed" (Psalm 55: 8-13).

So I'm thankful for those trees that are standing guard so close by. I can see they're still standing, still swaying in the fall winds, waiting. I know the biology of tress; and though I know winter is coming I know their sap hasn't disappeared, it has just stopped running for a while and will run again in a few months. When it does they will sprout tiny green leaves that shout the word 'Revival' and will grow and clap loudly in the spring winds as their sweet scent permeates the air.

God is in the business of revival on all levels. But there is purpose in the dormancy. A friend sent me a link to a wonderful song, Blessings, by Laura Story. The lyrics rang true -

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near?

What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst
This world can't satisfy?

And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise?