Calming down and reflecting

Here it is a little less than a week since my last posting and I find it remarkable how things can clarify themselves. No more angry phone calls, at least not so far, quite a  few words of support and, generally, the sense that people are moving on with their lives. Just as they should.

What do you know, it was a tempest in a teapot.

It is something of a cliche in the media industry that the people who disagree with your decisions are the most vocal. It is rare that you receive complements on your work. However, I suspect as I reflect on the last few weeks that that is likely the story for pretty much every action. And that is very sad.

How hard is it for us to tell someone we like what they said or what they did?

It isn't really. But for some reason we are constrained by some social weight from offering positive comments on our fellow human beings efforts. ow this is not to say that positive comments are non-existent. Like I said I have received good comments on this and many other efforts, both at the news paper and my work in the pulpit.

Let's just say the negatives are delivered with a littlemore vehemence and a little more immediacy.

It is something I need to bear in mind when considering what I hear and see from others in their efforts to make this world a little better and more beautiful.

Well that wasn't the reaction I expected

Well it's been a while since posting to here. However, if there was ever a time to put down some thoughts and perspective this is probably it.
How to put this. Work has become something of a tornado in the past week and I can pretty much take credit for that.
A New Year's edition of my newspaper The Dryden Observer ran a full page photoshopped image of a painting of The Last Supper. The faces of the characters were replaced by images of local politicians and community leaders.
The intent was to relate the shock and uncertainty of that situation to what is happening in our community today. While also conveying the sense of hope inherent in the picture. We also wanted to do so with a sense of humour.
How successful we were depends upon whom you speak with. Many got it. Many didn't or simply saw the attempt as inappropriate. I can live with that and respect that opinion. However there have also been a number of people who have expressed extreme outrage. There is this sense that in our attempt at humour we have insulted Christians, mocked Jesus and blasphemed the message of the Last Supper.
I personally don't see it. There is no attempt to diminish anyone's faith. That some interpreted it that way is obvious but the intent was never there as we stated clearly in an accompanying story. A mockery of Jesus? No, we removed him from the picture. There is someone in his place but what we did should have made it clear we did not see that person as representing him.
Is my theology on this matter flawless? No. Would I do the same thing again with the knowledge of how it was received. I suspect no, if only to simply avoid the stresses that have come as a result. Furthermore I am troubled that something I approved of and hlped make a reality has resulted in so much anguish. I would never wish to insult someone's faith. I know how important mine is to me.
What I find most troubling is how I completely misread the emotions and religious tolerance of my community. I have lived here for most of my life and it never occurred to me that this picture could stir such intense emotions. I feel like I have lived in total state of denial for most of my life. There is this sense of absolute disillusionment with my home town. I knew that we were a conservative community, but I also believed that it was a forgiving place that celebrated differences. I frankly thought better of my fellow Drydenites.
Now to be fair the vast majority of people have said they either liked the cover or didn't get it. Many have stated they didn't care for it or found it inappropriate. I can respect that. However the phone calls and e-mails that accuse me of blasphemy and state that if I don't repent God will send me to hell, have been a touch startling.
I have never doubted my faith in God and my relationship with Christ. It remains strong and the foundation on which I build my life and my relations with those around me. However I also find myself viewing the people of my community in a slightly different light. And that I find terribly sad.
It is my hope that the predictions of my co-workers proves true. That in the next few weeks this too will blow over to be replaced with other concerns. Right now this is dominating my life and my thoughts in a very ugly and troubling manner.

Watching Barak Obama give his acceptance speech after being elected president of the USA. It is a remarkable sight and one that should be remembered for a very long time. It is not often we get to witness a scene that will be written about in history books.
There are also a few things that Canadians should bear in mind as they witness this. We have been put to shame. For all of our talk about how we are more tolerant and more open than American society those assumptions have been shown for the lies they are.
Many won't want to hear that but there it is. The United States got there first, electing a visible minority as their leader. We still have a chain of white men as our prime minister with a very brief moment with a woman who was chosen by her party before being soundly rejected by the electorate.
Furthermore we got to watch people line up around blocks and wait for upwards of six and seven hours to cast a ballot. In our recent election less than 60 per cent of people bothered to visit the polling booth.
We can learn a lot from what happened. In the United States citizens viewed this election as an opportunity to effect change in their society. We viewed our election as an annoyance to be endured.

The start of a new era

So this halloween was a touch different from the past 13. I didn't accompany either of my two daughters in their trick or treating around the neighbourhood. That has been the habit for all these years. It's been a cold and often damp experience that I have thoroughly enjoyed.
But, things change, daughters mature and prefer the company of friends. Actually that last statement is a touch dishonest. I know perfectly well that my daughters love my attention and still desire my company, just the context in which it is experienced has changed.
This morning I attended a delightful production of a small play titled Spellbound in which my daughter performed. She insisted that I attend. She also stipulated that I not act like the reporter and photographer that I so frequently am at these productions. She simply wanted me to be her father watching her act.
It is touching. Did I take pictures, you bet. Will some of them make it into the paper. Probably, there are advantages to being the editor. But complying with her wishes I stayed in my seat like a proper father.
And so, this year I dropped my 11 year old at a friends house where she will attend a sleep over. Earlier I dropped a present off at another friends house where the 13 year old was to attend a birthday party before heading out to collect candy. Tomorrow morning I will pick up the11 year old to take her to swim practise.
No, they still want my attention and company but the role is changing. I think I can accept that.
It is part of growing up . . . for all of us.

Two for the road

So over the past few weeks my loving partner has debated and struggled to determine whether or not she is experiencing her own call. As two very busy professional people dealing with active children and social lives that often seem to run at cross purposes to the efficient operation of a household we have to work very hard to make time to actually talk, if you know what I mean.
Well when we have taken alone time to discuss where things areheading her questions about what she wants and needs to do professionally and educationally has been a real part of those discussions.
Well, now she has decided to further explore her possible call be getting our church involved. It's a big step and you can see more of that process at the blog My Side of the Pulpit.
Just to say I am really excited for her and proud of the work she has done to reach this decision. Witnessing her journey will be a remarkable experience.

Here I Am

This is new to me.
A lot of things right now are new to me.
Severalyears ago I found myself questioning the direction my professional life was heading. It is not that I didn't enjoy my job I just didn't see a happy future in it. The rest of my life was great. A loving and exciting wife, two beautiful daughters and incredible family support all about me.
I just new I needed to make a change in careers.
Well soon after I found myself asking if I was experiencing a call to ministry in my church. Long story short I am now a few years into my candidacy for ministry in the United Church of Canada. I am just starting my fifth course toward a Masters of Divinity and I remain the editor of my local newspaper.
It is a long, sort of complicated and intriguing journey I find myself taking. The studies and what I am learning have been incredible and well worth the effort. However, there are also those unknowns in the steps ahead that are also very scary.
I often ask myself if I should admit to those fears. Willt he people watching over this journey question my commitment or my suitability if they hear of them? I suspect I am far from the first to experience such concerns.
In any case this is not a blog that will focus on my fears and joys of candidacy for ordained ministry.
Instead I see it as a chance to comment on the things I see and perceive in all parts of my leife as I move through the whole process.That inclues the role of editor of a small town newspaper.
I won't make anypredictions on how often I will update this thing. As I said, this is new and I have many things, (job, family, studies, social commitments) to distract me.
I'll see you along the path.