I wrote last week that voting is an exercise in hope, but it’s certainly not the only one. Here’s a couple who demonstrate a great deal of hope in the future. I especially like the pastor’s theme, “You’re not done living ’til you’re dead.”
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Congratulations Rose and Forrest.
♥ ♥ ♥
You were patient Forrest and you got a beautiful bride!
Here’s a tune just for you:
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What a fascinating development! The Conservatives get a majority but the Liberals are decimated and the New Democrats become the loyal opposition. It’s a whole new world out there. I don’t even know what to say, but I’ll bet the Americans are a little nervous that the socialists got so much headway. I look forward to seeing what Jack can do with some power, though unfortunately not quite enough to balance the House and encourage lots of negotiation through coalition bargaining.
I like multi-party negotiations for ensuring the most fair policies for the largest number of Canadians. As a result, I’m not thrilled about this majority, and too be honest, based on what I heard I’m kind of surprised about it. Oh well. It is what it is. Let’s hope that everyone governs with grace and consideration for the greatest number of citizens rather than any special interest groups. Good luck Canada.
The wall of water
descends thundering through screams
All turns to silence.
I choose
to believe.
.
I choose to believe
that my one vote
can make a difference
like a single pebble
rippling
to the edges of a still pond
.
I choose to believe
that my choice
provides the fuel for the future,
that in exercising my franchise
my small voice resonates.
I do not have to stand
in the street and shout
to make my opinion heard.
I walk into my polling place
unmolested
and cast my vote fearlessly.
.
I choose to believe
that my vote matters.
I choose to believe
that leaders want to govern
responsibly,
that they care about the people
they represent,
that they want to make a difference.
I choose to believe
in the hope of a better tomorrow.
.
I choose to make a difference.
to be a pebble in the pond
of democracy,
and so
I vote.
If you listen on the wind, you will hear chuckling from Heaven. God is welcoming one of his favourite jokesters today.
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It was about 1980 or 1981 when the very colourful Rev. Albert Baldeo arrived in Kelowna to pastor St. Paul’s United Church and fill its rafters with his booming laugh and his joyful Trinadadian accent. His humour was famous for diffusing the tension of serious moments at church, in conversation, or in community groups. I particularly remember at a wedding when the bridal couple stood before him, shaking in nervousness. He explained their names’ meanings and with a twinkle in his eye, made a booming comment dripping with sexual innuendo that had the whole sanctuary echoing with laughter. The couple visibly relaxed amid their embarrassed giggles.
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After 30 years of serving the community, Baldeo passed away this last weekend after a battle with Parkinson’s. Last week in his last column for the Kelowna Capital News he wrote, “My new destination is heaven, where there is no sickness, there is no Parkinson’s Disease, there are no hospitals…and there is no HST.” A jester to the last.
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People in Kelowna and members of Rotary District 5060 will remember him fondly. My condolences to his family, particularly daughter Kim who was the Okanagan Mission Rotary Club’s outbound exchange student the year after me.
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In 2009 an Oprah Show audience member stood up after the taping and related the story of being bullied because he was undeniably gay, even as a little boy. The kids called him sissy. He said, “Here’s how gay I was, I carried a pink Cinderella lunch box in grade four!” Listen to his story to get the details of how that lunch box delivered his emancipation from bullying. Click the link to Oprah’s site: http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Audience-Member-Tommys-Lesson-on-Bullying-Video/topic/oprahshow
As I watched, it occured to me that he had amazing parents. How many fathers would tolerate having their little boys go to school carting pink Cinderella lunch boxes? I think it is quite wonderful how they allowed him to have the lunch box he wanted. They had to know that he was going to get teased for having it, but they allowed him to have it.
There’s an example of positive parenting- letting your kid be who he is, and letting him make his own decisions!
Okay, dad’s comment that he should fight his battle was rather harsh (see the video) but obviously it worked to give Tommy some self-respect. There is some poetic justice in that pink lunchbox being the weapon of choice.
Consider the symbolism of Cinderella. She is transformed from her dreary life to the magical world she longs for. So it was for Tommy. Cinderella helped him transform his world.
Talk about a Cinderella story!
I am an island.
Not like Simon’s
impenetrably tearless rock,
but one aimed at
by a ferry of tourists:
a welcome adventure,
a gathering of isolation
a mad mix of artists,
rolled into a village
surrounded by a sea
of civilization.
I am an island:
your escape,
our excuse.
I am.
I lie to myself all the time. But I never believe me.
(Ponyboy speaking in The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton p. 18).
How true this is, eh? We convince ourselves all the time of things that aren’t necessarily so, in order to function.
We tell the lies to ourselves, but we don’t really believe them, so they niggle in the back of our minds, making us feel snappish and guilty. We could be better, but we aren’t. Preservation requires a little self-delusionment. What happens when we are faced with the whole truth? Can we find a new way of being?
We were young and full of dreams
We learned that nothing’s as it seems
We wished at futures, grabbed at one
Played our games: lost or won.
Suffered, fought, rejoiced, survived
Collapsed, gave up, came out alive.
And now we look back at our choice
And rearrange to find the voice
We silenced when we made our pick
of futures piled and buried thick.
We re-invent the selves we were,
Embrace the dreams that we deferred,
Move forward into something new,
and grow beyond all that we knew.
We are less young. less full of dreams,
so we construct our own life themes.
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For S & L,
college sweethearts who are re-kindling romance 25 years later…
Many blessings on you both.
Shawn L. Bird 
Invocation poem: THANKS April 30, 2011
Tags: acrostic poem, invocation, poetry, Rotary, Rotary International
Today we are thankful for all we’ve received
© Shawn Bird 2011 Available for free use within Rotary; however, please indicate in the comment section below that you have used it at your club (date and name).However we live, we firmly believe
All is a blessing that we must pass on.
No matter our status or where we have gone.
Kindness and generosity are what we impart
Showing the world what’s in Rotary’s heart
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