"Climb Every Mountain"

The year was 1966. To a teenager, (read that, me) it was a normal summer. Nothing special. Sunshine, warm temperatures and no summer job. None of us teens seemed to be worried about the ever looming next school year. After all, we had just finished one. We were only interested in the here and now and looking forward to our two months off. We wanted our list of things to do to last the whole summer. No one wanted to be bored.
It would still be a couple of years before we recognized what carpe diem was. We were little concerned for “the day” or the future. I know what you are doing right now. Other then reading this. You are traveling back to your summer at sixteen. To many, we refer to this time of life as, coming-of-age. We remembered it as that one special summer. It always seems to come when we need it. It comes today when a child moves from playing hopscotch or twenty-one to being a real live person. Or so we thought.
As we think of those long past summer days, we smile. It was a summer of finding ourselves. We no longer concerned ourselves with kid things. After all, we were on our way. But only just. It was a stop over year between kid and rent payments.
That summer I found out who I was. It happened when I went away. No, nothing like the movie, Summer of 42 with Jennifer O’Neill. So don’t get concerned. I left my girlfriend behind and went away for six weeks to a cadet military camp in the mountains of Banff, Alberta.
Every morning when I opened my eyes, I saw Mount Rundle. Didn’t even have to move my head. Eyes open, there is was, every morning. Part of our training was for each company to take a one week trek up a mountain and back again. Unfortunately, I developed blisters the first day. They took me back to camp and I spent the rest of the week relaxing and ironing everyone else’s uniform. I missed out. Climbing a mountain was never on my to do list but it became important to me. I wanted to do it. I wanted to experience that feeling of accomplishment as you reach the summit and look out over all the earth below. It is experiencing that moment when you stand in the grandeur of God’s creation, feeling your breath taken away by the beauty and the pounding of your heart for the effort. God must have an amazing view.
I took many pictures that summer, including one of Mount Eisenhower. After I arrived home, I developed the pictures to show everyone. One was framed that fall and it has been on my dresser ever since. That summer I promised myself I would go back one day and climb Mount Eisenhower. Today it is still just a dusty picture on a dresser. But is it?
In my bible I read so many times about people climbing their mountains. We even read about the disciples walking up a mountain with Jesus and meeting Moses and Elijah. My bible tells me we climb mountains all the time. Mountains of achievement and mountains of pain. We may even replace our Eisenhower with something more important or more challenging. That picture stands as a testament to me when I realize I am at the base of another mountain. God calls us, not to walk around the base of our mountains but to climb over. To feel our lungs staining and our heart pounding. God knows we will not only be stronger for it but stronger because of it. It’s not too late to climb your mountain. Don’t just sit there. And while we look at that long ago picture in your mind, listen to the words of Oscar Hammerstein and dream.
Climb every mountain, search high and low
Follow every by way, every path you know
Climb every mountain, ford every stream
Follow every rainbow, till you find your dream

This is your summer, carpe diem. Rob

First Day of Your Summer

There is within our world a group of people who are really looking forward to this coming Thursday. Unlike the Druids, it has nothing to do with the celebration of Summer Solstice. Summer Solstice as many of you know is the celebration of the midpoint of the growing season in much of Europe. For us here in this area, it arrives at 2:06pm June 21st. So, what’s so great about Thursday? Well it is the day that has the greatest amount of sunlight for all of us here in the Northern Hemisphere. The group looking forward are those who suffer from SAD and think it is the best day of the year. And here you thought I was going to get all ecclesiastical on you.
All kidding aside, we meet the first day of summer thinking about all that is right with life. It has something to do with how we understand the seasons of life. The sun is high, the crops in the field are reaching ever taller and our children will be out of school soon. At times like this we take it all in. We want to experience things and do things. Our energy is up and our expectations are great. Life is Good! Maybe this is why we place so much significance to this time of year. Most people travel and go on vacation during these months. I don’t know if it is true but I would guess summer has fewer trips to the hospital (except accidents) then during the rest of the year. We also see more weddings in June then any other month of the year. Something to do a long ago tradition that May was the wedding month of the Gods and couples waited impatiently until June. Sounds dumb to me to.
Summer is also the time to throw off the conventional. To rid ourselves, if just for a time, of the routines that stifle us. I am reminded of what our schools do to our children. Before we send your child off to that first day of school, we can entertain them with a table, some paper and crayons. And what do you get? Creativity. You might even see them forsake the table and get down on the floor and put their whole being into the creation of beautiful artwork. Forget about colouring books, just give them paper. Who cares if you have to ask what it is? I have here in my office a picture that I personally drew in kindergarten. My mom kept it all those years. At the bottom of the page are the teacher’s words telling us today what I drew so long ago. I probably had to tell her. When children get to school, we then tell them to draw inside the lines. Why? So they can conform? So they can draw our concept of a great drawing?
Thirteen years later, when I first arrived at the university, I was told to think outside the box. In fact it became one of our societies catch phrases. At the time, I didn’t know how. It took me a while. And this coming from a child whose mother always said, “Robin, you march to a different drummer.” If you have heard me preach, you know what I am saying. And to all those who suffer through them, I apologize for the suffering you endure. No I don’t. God made me who I am. He made you who you are and in doing so He created this amazing person. So this coming Thursday, on that all important first day of summer, colour outside the lines, move beyond conformity. It is just one day to enjoy all that life gives to us. And don’t walk alone. Take someone along for the ride.
During my life thus far, I have journeyed with many people. It has been a great walk. But it could never have been so great if I had not taken along my best friend, Jesus.
“And He walks with me and He talks with me.
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known”.
Today is summer. Have a great one! Rob

Who Is Hidding?

This past Sunday we had a celebration at our church. It was a celebration of God being in a person’s life in a significant way. We had a baptism. Vicki Hick was here visiting her family and had asked to be baptized in the church that started her on her faith journey of life. What an amazing day. It was not only great to see her but to hear what she had to say about the impact this church had on her early life. Thank you Vicki for sharing with us and allowing us the privilege of worshiping God in this very unique way.
In a few days we will be celebrating Father’s Day. Not as exciting and fanfarish, if there is such a word, as Mother’s Day but some special day non-the-less. As a father, the greatest gift I can receive is a day that I choose what to do. We men don’t get this often but this year will be different, or so I tell myself. Give me an hour on the motorcycle or some quiet time outside on the deck watching the goldfinch come and go. I don’t need anything nor do I want anything. If I did, I would go and buy it. So, no, don’t ask me what I want unless it is for everyone to disappear for those few moments.
Disappearing is good. Last Friday I had the wonderful opportunity to watch one of our granddaughters. Their parents were off somewhere and they needed someone to rescue them. Of course I had to go and pick her up and get her things and and and. You know the drill. The drive home was a nonstop monolog. She told me about this and that. She shared about her latest doll, stuffed animals or whatever. I think she has 2384 and has them all named and doesn’t forget one of them. Just on and on and on. I didn’t have to think of what to say or what to ask or any of that stuff that is part of a normal conversation. What a delight to listen and get all the pertinent information that a grandpa needs to know today.
Our grandchildren love our home, not just because of its size, but because of all the places to explore. After all, they know every hiding place at home and in their neighborhood. And so began a six-hour marathon of doing, seeing, experimenting and exploring. In between there was even room for ordinary things. Things like, Hide and Seek. This is where the disappearing comes in. She wanted to hide first. Sure, no problem. Of course she had to read the riot act. Not bad for a six-year-old. “This is how you count, this is the number you go to. Don’t forget to close your eyes” It was almost to the point that the instructions were going to last longer then the game.
So I started; “One, to Ten.” “Grandpa, that’s not how to do it!” Okay, and I counted very fast and arrived at ten before she took three steps. “Grandpa, that’s not how to do it!” The best part, I didn’t have to get off the chair. Finally I got it right and found her without getting off the chair. I like this game. Sadly, that was the end of the game and she went off to the next expedition. She found the crayons and decided to colour a picture of grandpa sleeping on the couch. As I watched this precious life, if felt as if, just for a moment, life stopped. Lauren stopped and I just looked at the beauty that God has created in her, in each one of us.
God doesn’t play Hide and Seek. What he does is just waits right in front of each of us saying. “Seek and you will find”, “Those who seek Me will find Me.” God patiently waits for us to find Him. A long time ago someone said they couldn’t find God. We all asked him if he was really looking for Him. Have you found Him? He isn’t hiding. You’re may just be looking in the wrong places.
Happy Father’s Day!
Rob

Almost!

“Almost.” That is the line most teachers are saying right now. Summer vacation is just around the corner. They are already out of school in much of the United States. But our dedicated teachers are not the only ones saying this word. For the students graduating from grade eight, they will be saying, “It’s almost over.” Moving from grade eight to grade nine is quite the transition. Going from a teacher generated learning to a student initiated education is a major step. For some it will mean moving to another school in another community. New people, new teachers new everything. And again they will say, “Almost . . . Not long until we feel at home.” To think, I have been here in Drumbo long enough to see those JK students graduating this year from grade eight and to know the grade eight students of that first year, are have now graduated universities. How time flies.
Back to “Almost.” You see, repeating this word can be a relief in two ways. One is finishing something. The other is becoming part of something. This happens to all of us. Not only does it happen when we are children and we finish ten years of education (grade eight) but it continues all our lives. By the way, what’s this about some schools having elaborate graduation ceremonies out of kindergarten? When I was a kid . . . sorry, ‘almost’ got away again.
Mothers’ say these words when they are seven months pregnant. Parents say it when the children disappear into the school door for the first time. They say it again when the bus takes them to high school and the van to university. As workers we say it after a day or weeks work. I say it every week when the sermon idea of five days ago it delivered and it starts all over again.
Each of these moments, these “It’s done.” moments are to be celebrated. They are transition points on our way to being a productive member of society and even beyond. They are also the start of another almost.
Jesus had them. They started in a stable, moved to school at the synagogue and even into his step father’s carpentry shop. There were more moments when he did what his mother asked at the wedding and went on with the teaching of His disciples. Jesus had many moments when he would say, “It won’t be long.” And then one day while hanging between heaven and hell, He said the words that have echoed through the centuries, “It is finished.” At that moment, Jesus took away our sin, and the price for your sin and mine was paid in full. All it took on our part was to ask Him to forgive. There are a number of stories in our bible that tell of this very moment when someone is almost there. It happened with Pilate and it happened with the rich young ruler. These stories drift around in my head when I think of P. Bliss hymn of 1871.
“Almost persuaded” now to believe; “Almost persuaded” Christ to receive;
Seems now some soul to say, “Go, Spirit, go Thy way,
Some more convenient day On Thee I’ll call.”

“Almost persuaded,” come, come today; “Almost persuaded,” turn not away;
Jesus invites you here, Angels are lingering near
Prayers rise from hearts so dear; O wanderer, come!

“Almost persuaded,” harvest is past! “Almost persuaded,” doom comes at last!
“Almost” cannot avail; “Almost” is but to fail!
Sad, sad, that bitter wail — “Almost,” but lost!