Holding Defense Power

"The price of both holding power and speaking truth to power can be very great. You ricochet between being offensive and being defensive, neither of which is a contemplative or solid position.
Further, you are forced to either defend and maintain the status quo to protect yourself and the group or to waste time reacting against it."

Richard Rohr

Leave Your Church For Interested Fields

This question would come up in a very practical way for some of the ordinands who were dispatched to parishes not terribly interested in what they had to offer. It could be discouraging. Gerhard Vibrans was sent to a tiny village east of Magdeburg that seemed populated almost exclusively by dullards:

"My parish of six hundred souls at Schweinitz is a very poor one; on average only one or two people go to church there every Sunday. . . . [E] very Sunday, wearing my vestments, I make a pilgrimage through the whole village primarily to bring home to the people that it is Sunday. . . . The people try to comfort me by saying that I will get my salary even though no one goes to church."

He said that on Trinity Sunday no one at all showed up, “apart from the woman sexton.”Bonhoeffer’s response to Vibrans was simple, practical, and biblical: “If one village will not listen we go to another. There are limits.”He was echoing Jesus’injunction to the disciples that they shake the dust from their sandals and leave a village where they were not welcomed (Matt. 10: 14). But Bonhoeffer was not cavalier about it, and his heart went out to Vibrans, who had been about as faithful a servant as anyone could have imagined: “Your loyal observance of our advice almost puts me to shame. Don’t take it too literally or one day you might get fed up with it.”

Bonhoeffer visited the village and preached there. He later wrote Vibrans and said that he should write his congregation “telling them that this is possibly the last offer of the Gospel to them, and that there are other communities whose hunger for the Word cannot be satisfied because there are too few workers.”

~ Eric Metaxas. Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy

If Jesus Is Lord What Is Not Lord?

"When Christians say “Come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20) or “Jesus is Lord” (1 Corinthians 12:3), we are actually announcing our commitment to Jesus’ upside-down world where “the last are first and the first are last” (Matthew 20:16) over any other power system or frame of reference. If Jesus is Lord, then Caesar is not! If Jesus is Lord, then the economy and stock market are not! If Jesus is Lord, then my house, possessions, country, and job are not! If Jesus is Lord, then I am not!"

~ Richard Rohr

How We Do It Matters

"So as his disciple I am not necessarily learning how to do special religious things...... My discipleship to Jesus is, within clearly defined limits, not a matter of what I do, but of how I do it. And it covers everything, "religious" or not.

~ Dallas Willard. The Divine Conspiracy

Things Are Meant For Use!

I want to tell you about an old friend I had in my College days. I never saw him again after the day he left college. My Sister kept in touch with George some. I wish I had done the same. However, it's too late now. George died expectantly at the age of 43 a few years ago.

George was a typical “take life as it is” person from Cape Breton. I remember the day I bought my first brand new car – a shiny deep red 1990 Volkswagen Jetta with a 1.5L Diesel that got 55 miles to the gallon. I took the new jewel over to the student center and told George what I had done. Grinning ear to ear, he said; Let’s go to Tim’s for a coffee and try it out”. We climbed back into the fresh new smelling car and drove to Tim Horton’s for coffee and muffins.

We ordered, and George came out swinging his coffee cup and coffee was running down the sides of the cup as usual. He got into my new car and set the dripping coffee cup down on my new dash, with the coffee drops running in every direction. I bit my tongue. George then opened his muffin bag and took out the first muffin and tossed it up on the dash with crumbs flying everywhere, including down the defrost vent, and then proceeded to peal the paper off the second muffin. I finally blew! “George, take it easy on my new car will ya!”, I said. He looked at me and snorted; “What? Got a new car now and you can’t even use it?”
George was right. We enjoyed the old car better because we did not care so much how clean or dirty it was. We just did what guys do and enjoyed "out" time.

I know my friend George had a hard life. But you know, he taught me what it meant to value friends, and enjoy your day as it comes. Life, people, are more important than things.
I needed to be reminded of this more. Things are meant to be used, people are not.

Oh, Baby Baby!

My Fried George Smith died in his mid 40's, in the fall of 2008. I want to share a few stories about him.

While we were attending College, “Oh, Baby Baby!” was the phrase George would say to a passing flock of good looking young ladies in the mall. I use to die of embarrassment every time.

You have to understand George. George could not whisper. He was a jolly short big man, with a deep voice. When he said something, everyone heard. However George was convinced that the flocks of young ladies NEVER heard him say; “Oh baby baby!” Let me tell you they almost ALWAYS heard. George was always a free spirit, and not very self conscious about much. I liked that about him.

The College we attended was in my young brides home town. My greatest fear became this; Being introduced to some 21 year old friend of Lynn’s from earlier days, and having this young lady remember or recognize me as the guy who “Oh Baby Babied” them in the mall. Guilt by association – know what I mean?

How many times had I made George promise he would not do this? Before I would agree to go to the mall with him I would threaten him about it every time. However, “Oh, Baby Baby!” would slip out of this training preachers mouth at the most embarrassing times. I realize he meant nothing insulting by it. He was just saying to himself, so he thought, they were pretty and God creates some very nice things in this world. But they always heard him say it to "himself", and it was wearing thin with me.

One day George “Oh Baby Babied” a group of 4-5 young ladies passing by. Immediately after the young ladies passed by I elbowed George, HARD, and said; “George, will you please lay off? They hear you saying it every time.”

Right out loud George bellows; “What? They did not hear me say Oh, Baby Baby! What are you elbowing me for?”

I said; “Yes they did hear George, they are looking at us right now”

The 4-5 young women had already stopped 10 feet away, turned around, and were laughing as I chewed out my friend for “Oh, Baby Babying” them, and giggling as George insisted at full volume that they did not hear him “Oh Baby Baby” them, and that I had no right to elbow him.

I have often found myself using this phrase very endearingly for my wife over the years. She knows the story behind it, and she likes the sentiment I give with it as well. When I know she needs a compliment, when I just "notice" her, or maybe she asks me how a new outfit looks; at times there is only one phrase that really says how I feel. I say to her; "Oh Baby, Baby!" and she smiles a big grin back. When I haul that phrase out, she knows full well that I really really mean it.

God Complex & Poverty. Serving FROM a Place of Brokenness, Not only IN a place of Brokenness.

When involved in community development among the poor, one encounters the colossal unaddressed need surrounding the people we love. It is easy to slip into the mentality that we are the only people offering a solution. Eventually we can begin to feel that the future of these people rests on my shoulders, with the success or failure of this single program. That is an immense burden we are met meant to support.

We are not the only solution, but merely a small part. This place, these people are suffering from the affects of brokenness. Broken political, religious, social & economic structures & worldviews that impede family access to resources, or from seeing the opportunities before them.

My son Ted found this out while in Africa this past year. One day we were walking back from our 4th meeting with a poor family and he said on the way, "Dad, it should not be this difficult to help people". This was after four visits with an impoverished man & his family, each discussion consisted of the head of the family giving reasons why the irrigation would never work for them, even though it was free for the trying. What? Yep, broken systems not only prevent access to resources, but also prevent people from seeing, and seizing potential opportunities for advancement. We deal with both in Africa all the time.

We often come serving with the attitude that we are not broken and come from a place of “Fixed-ness”. This is the God complex that, in the end harms the people, and frustrates the aide or development servant, as well as the local people. It subtly communicates to the locals that they are incapable, debilitated, have little to offer themselves. With us, we also subtlety begin to think "They are lucky to have me! Where would they be without me?" Locals begin to believe that the only solutions are from outside – from those "fixed" people, from those “fixed” places.

We have truly lost sight of our place AMONG the people, and permitted them to place us OVER the people. The greatest resource is always the local people, first. Within and among we must work.

It is of critical importance that we remember that we too come to serve as a broken people. Our countries of origin are broken also. Places like Haiti & numerous African or Asian nations are indeed broken, but we Canadians & Americans are not broken….. right?

Haiti has voodoo, we have ramped materialism. The richest people on earth, with the greatest resources, yet, with the greatest debt to. We spend most of our money on things, entertainment junk, and sacrifice little for others in the world. We will not, no refuse to live simply. We deserve, demand, and expect our comfortable things, and in the end we give little to others. But our Canadian or American brokenness is, well……………………. less broken,……….. right? Isn’t it?

In Haiti, there has been some emphasis in Christian media about how the people of Haiti are steeped in Voodoo. I hear them speak of how their government officials, long ago, at some time, made a pact with the devil for their nation. Yes, that is it, they suffer because they are more broken. We don't because we are not. Do you see the problem with such Christian statements? Yes Haiti has problems, it is suffering from brokenness. But so are we. So is our Country. We DO serve from the same platform of brokenness, it is simply manifested differently in a different place, is all.

Hopefully, we are not trying to make these people and places into little (“broken”) Canada’s or little (broken) “America’s”. Oh, my, no! We are together (The local people & ourselves) seeking to manifest a higher ideal; a true manifestation of the kingdom of God. We can’t plant that, because we don’t have it or own that seed, only God can implant the kingdom. We are simply seeking him for it, in one small village, by letting God work on us together, as we love each other, and Him too!

(Note:.... Remember we are NOT writing about “emergency disaster relief”. That supply is needed immediately, by any and every method possible. Rather, we are writing to address the process of development that assists a community in such a way that we are out of a job in the future.)

It's More than a Tomato! The Real Goal of Community Development!

I was a participant in a Community Development "Webinar" yesterday (2 more to go). We were discussing the dynamics of Community Development, and analyzing what poverty really is. And of course the issues of Haiti came up.

The Session yesterday was called "When Helping Hurts" - Haiti was known world wide as the "NGO State". It had such a disproportionate number of NGO's Operating that the NGO's were actually providing most of the government services, inadvertently propping up corruption and use of resources for personal gain within government. The Government did not have to share anything with the people. - or so they think.

As a result, there was little cohesion developing in the country of Haiti. Not working through local method's & resources generally leads people to thinking we can't help ourselves in any manner, and we lack the resources to help ourselves. This is the Lie that most are not aware of. The Root Cause of Poverty is rarely, if ever, rooted in a lack of country resources. It's the brokenness of humanity manifested in broken Economic, Social, Political, and religious systems that block others from access to those resources.

These were some various ideas that came floating out of the Webinar for Development workers.

William Hickox who works for World Vision Canada comments;

"And people say to us, "Why do you want to work with the government? They're corrupt!" ... vicious circle. We try to avoid providing what we feel it's the government's responsibility to provide. Maybe we'll build a school and give the kids supplies, but the government has to pay the teachers."



Redeeming the fallen structures is part of developments long term focus. Often we simply "react" to the immediate need, which is good, but without the former you are there forever, and ever, and ever. At least World Vision focuses on "future Extraction", even though that may be elusive, and changing.

A Good Balance is the key. I have two more Sessions to go.

Our Development work is not simply irrigation. It is more than a "tomato". The resources that that "tomato" creates touches many aspects of life. That tomato's increased income represents better access to health (Money for drugs), better access to education (Money for school fees), more income for Africans to invest in the needs of their extended family (They can help family members with similar crises), more freedom to be involved in and contribute to community needs. That simple tomato affects a lot.

Anyway, most think we are "Putting in Garden Irrigation", but have no idea of the thought that is involved as to why we chose this technology, or how we see it fitting into the larger picture of changing whole communities. The end goal is our real ministry. The irrigation is just a small start to what really needs to happen, in our view. We have to work at all levels of a community to help them see the need to redeem the brokenness in patterns of thinking, action, or decision that have isolated and impoverished people.

When it Hurts to Come Home!

It’s extremely difficult for settlers to understanding Reverse Culture Shock. However, I will try to explain.

The shock we receive upon returning home from places like Africa, is more complex and difficult than the culture shock we first experienced moving to Africa. Yep, it’s harder to come home than go. It has taken me six years to crawl out from under my reverse culture shock.

The more deeply we bond and identify with the people of another culture, the more difficult it is for us when we get home. Why is that? Well our culture, our view of the world, has been inextricably and forever altered. We no longer think or view the world like the “folks at home”.

As a result we often feel like an alien in our own home town. I have never experienced a greater sensation of “alienness” than when I returned to Prince Edward Island. We have become what is referred to as bi-cultural, meaning comfortable and at ease in more than one culture. In fact, liking some things about other cultures better than our own.

I have been returning to Africa each winter for the last 3 years to work with my old villages and friends. When I arrive in Ivory Coast, within 3 or 4 short hours, a tremendous sense of peace settles, and it feels like I have never left. There isn't any disorientation or need to slowly get my feet under me. However, when I return to Canada, that is quite a different story.

After returning from 6.5 weeks of village work, Lynn referred to me as a basket case.
I could not follow complete sentences well, because my mind was on information overload trying to process a wealth of African experiences & conversations & trying to make them fit with the excessive life we live here.

Lynn has since made the policy that I’m not permitted to be around people for at least 2 weeks after my return. We have found it takes one month before I can even begin to process what happened while overseas. People anxiously ask questions, but I find it almost impossible to say much as my mind is overloaded with images, impressions, feelings and thoughts that are to hard to explain. I feel my words are inadequate to vividly explain what “really” happened, my words seem like a watered down version of “real life” and it frustrates me terribly to write or speak about it early on.

One year I was in the village with Prosper (See phote). As we ate, talked, and slept together in the village, over 4 weeks I lost 20 lbs, as we just did not eat much. Times were hard economically for the village people in Ivory Coast because of the coup and the rebel situation. Anyway, I did not see much volume, nor variety of food that whole month.

My second evening back home, my Lynn had to rescue me. I guess Lynn heard me saying, “Wow!” over and over again in the kitchen. She was concerned at the sound of my voice and she could hear me pacing around so she came out to see if I was Ok. Lynn peaked around the corner and watched.

Apparently, I had been looking for a snack to eat. I opened the fridge and was so thoroughly overwhelmed by the shear volume of food in there, that I was stunned and saying; “wow!” I shut the fridge door and went to the cupboard and the same overwhelming experience happened again, then off to the pantry- same thing. I was on my 3rd round of three destinations, overwhelmed, and I did not even realize I was doing it . Lynn realized what was happening and she grabbed me by the hand saying; “Come with me”, and she led me like a little child to the bedroom and tucked me in bed like a kid. I closed my eyes.

Long Live Canadian Imperialism!

Well someone had the great idea of introducing the Canadian Beaver into wild Russia. And surprisingly they adapted well. Too well! They are damming up the whole country it seems. Causing massive problems. In response to the news as delivered in Maclean's mag, two people rote in- WAY to FUNNY read Both. The second is priceless. Long Live Canadian Imperialism!

BEAVERS ON THE MARCH
"NATIONAL PRIDE swelled inside me and my hand went over my heart when I read Malcolm Gray’s story about Canadian beavers chomping their way across Russia (Ivan, what’s that chewing sound? Nature, July 28). Our imperialist little rodents are can’ing a legacy worthy of us putting them on our nickels. I am sure it is not funny for the Finns, Russians and Argentineans, but it does show our beavers are the best. All hail the mighty Canadian beaver and its conquering of the world.
Glen Davis, Carleton Place, Ont."

THANKS FOR the article on the pesky Canadian beaver threatening Moscow. Do you think they’re onto us? All over the world Canucks meet in clandestine corners plotting how we can take over the world using beavers. Phase one: Moscow and Argentina. Phase two: Washington, London and Madrid. After that, the most devastating. Phase three: we clip the flight feathers of Canada geese and place them in downtown parks in foreign cities. Soon Canadian icons will be everywhere. Today, the Great White North, tomorrow, the world! Owen Thornton, London, Ont.

(Maclean’s, August 18^th,2008, Comments )

Why I love Mornings, Marriage, Post It Notes, and Recreational Companionship!

I have been up and on the go at 3:30 am 7 days a week for some time now. Now, it's Monday morning, my first day off in months. The Lobster gear was landed Saturday. Of course I was awake early and went back to sleep several times. Finally at 5 am I could lay there no longer and got up.

I like mornings. I'm alone, the house is quiet, and it's my best time to think, reflect and read. After 7Am little of that seems to happen in my life. The "to do's" seem to set in heavily after that. The truth be known, I encounter Christ better in the mornings. I make better decisions in the early mornings. The tired me just can not focus well on Him, or them, after 7 Pm.

I'm pretty excited today because, again, I'm on the receiving end of some "Recreational Companionship." We are going day tripping with the sea Kayaks today. The plan evolved into doing extended day trips rather than the a full 5 days. We are paddling to a deserted sand dune island to hike the beaches for the whole day.

You know I like to "play" with my family when I can. Ben will be leaving home next year, with another son soon to follow. So time is getting more and more precious. I like to "play" with the boys when we can these days.

But you know something else? I also like to play with my wife as well. Let me explain that before your mind goes a wondering there - Hold back buddy.

Years ago we read a marriage book together that proved insightful for both of us. "His Needs- Her Needs". Many excellent things were articulated in this book. It's not the be all and end all of marriage books. However, my summary would simply be this - There are certain things a woman & a man needs (Or is it wishes for?) to be happily married. Sure one can be married without these basic needs being met. However, if the 5 basic needs of men and the 5 for women (They are different) are not acknowledged and focused on intentionally, one or the other, or both, will live in a marriage wishing for "Something" more.

Married people feel that at times. Feel like they really love their wife or husband, but there is just something , some little thing, not right? Well this book took a stab at articulating what those "somethings" might be.

Like most young newlyweds - we thought we had it all figured out, but we really did not.
These 5 basic needs of men and women were articulated so well that it changed us. We found ourselves enlightened and saying; " So that is what you were trying to say. OOOOOK I get it. I'll work on that."

So we developed a system that has worked very well here. We have the list of the top 5 needs of a man and woman on a "post it" note on the corner of our bathroom mirror.They are listed in the order of importance for each of us. The list is there to reminded us to work intentionally on these five things for each other every day. However, when either of us feels one area needs special attention, we write it down on a post it note and stick it on the mirror for "emphasis" that week. This one area receives a special effort for the whole week. One might post conversation, affection, domestic support, or admiration, whatever, for emphasis that week. We do not approach the "post it" with drudgery like; "Oh great, another "To Do" list. " No, I love my wife and it's good to have these things concretely & clearly spelled out. I will do my best with the time I have to focus on her needs, she knows that, and that is all she asks of me. I love it!

Anyway, one of the needs for a guy is called "Recreational Companionship". This is the desire for the girl he married. The one he had before kids came along. The one he had before house work, dishes, and heaping loads of laundry came in as an exhausting swell into their marriage and smothered a guy from just having fun with his girl.

Let me put it in lady language for you ladies.
"The Royal Knight wants to ride up to The Princess and fling her onto his battle horse with him, and ride off into the sunset together for some adventure together, any adventure, come what may, every now and then."

You use to be interested in him and all that he did back then. You went and did things he liked, played a game, or a sport, or were present for some hobby of his. Simply put, you tried to be involved anywhere and everywhere you could in his life. You were genuinely interested in "playing" with him. Why? Because you wanted to be in every part of his life back then. Now? Well, you answer that for yourself. Guys really miss that girl as the years go by.

Anyway, this is why I'm really excited about our Kayaking trip today. I get to play with my Princess today, and man oh man, I sure do like that!

There are 2 things I have always reminded Lynn about me.

1. "Don't treat me like I'm one of your kids". That is a real huge turn off to a guy. You will have no "Knight" if you treat him like the squire. I don't need nor want another mother. I didn't marry you to be a mom to me.

2. "Remember, I married you for companionship". I want to be with you. I do not wish to do things without you. It does not necessarily mean you have to be totally involved. Just be in view so I can smile, wink, and think about you. Some simple close proximity in activity. I realize that is not always practical nor easy. However, it's our (my) desire none the less. We guys sure appreciate it when you jump on the horse with us from time to time for a play adventure. Even it is means your just hanging on and coming along for the ride.

So today I'm pretty happy. Lynn is coming out to play, like she often does.
I really really appreciate that!

Dandelion Delight! ........So West Africans Think!

Dandelions, PEI is famous for them. There are just so many vigorous Dandelions, that by and large, people on PEI have just about given up trying to control them. Our Capital city is even considering making a bylaw against spraying in the city limits now.

However, right now there are a few die hards who fight the annual battle. Personally, I know very few. The Majority have thrown up their hands and just made peace with the pesky plant.
Needless to say, the average lawn on PEI tends to have droves of Dandelions.
My recent trip back to West Africa saw me sharing pictures of my family with some village African friends. A few shots where on the front lawn of our house, of course a nice crop of Dandelions were scattered over the lawn. My African friends immediately zeroed in on, "All pretty flowers we had in Canada." "There were so many of them and they were so yellow." The white poofy ones were extra amazing to them, as I explained they were the same flower ready to send seeds. Also when I explained they grew wild, we did not plant a one of them them, "WOW!" they exclaimed with big eyes. They could not believe so many pretty flowers just grew naturally for us like that. Of course I told them dandelions are a weed, and explained that many people pay money to have them killed with spray. They were horrified to think we would kill such beautiful flowers, and waste good money in the process. I had to swiftly divert the subject, as the concept was just not registering with these rural Africans very well. You see, their yards are swept down to the bare dirt so that poisonous snakes and scorpions can not hide near the mud hut.

Anyway, I for one, don't spend money to, "kill pretty yellow flowers". But it goes to show, that it's all about perspective & attitude. Point of view does make a difference doesn't it? Something to remember; when God made things if nature; for each one God said "It is good". So who am I to question that exclamation with any authority? My African felt we have none. :-)

Beer Bottle Blues! ......This Bud is For You!

We bought a 5 acre woods to build our new house. The kids enjoyed running around the trees playing, shouting, and hiding. All kinds of treasures where hidden in the woods just waiting for the boys to discover them. The Kids found a host of old car parts, and beer bottles. I guess the formerly vacant woods was a good place for “celebrators" to pitch their beers bottles while driving down the road.

The Kids started collecting the beer bottles for cash. It was a long time before we took them to the consignment for a refund. The bottles stood inside by the garage door for a year or more. One day, on my way out of the garage, I was a bit startled when I realized how terrible it looked for a preacher to have a bunch beer bottles sitting by his garage door. It's strange that this had never occurred to me until that moment. I said to myself; "Man this does not look very good". I seriously wondered how many people had traversed in and out this door over the year, each one seeing our collection of beer bottles, and seriously wondered who might have been talking.

The first conversation with myself went like this. "I should hide those Beer Bottles in the corner and cover them." Then I realized; "You know, if I hid them in the corner and they get noticed there, it would look like I was trying to hide them, and that would be even more complicated.

What should I do? Hide them? Leave them where they are?

I reflected on the situation a few brief seconds and settled on leaving them there.
I walked out thinking; "If people coming to my house don’t know me better than that, they will believe anything people say about me anyway." Eventually we took them and dropped them off for a refund – Even that is flamboyantly humorous. The preachers kids making money off of someone else’s beer bottles.

Anyway, goes to show how far we bend simply to satisfy others narrow legalism. We have been almost taught that we should satisfy legalistic demands to remove "Stumbling Blocks". Oh really? Legalistic demands and stumbling blocks are not the same thing, nor do they originate from or effect the same kind of person. Anyway, I get the blues more often because of judgmental legalism, than from beer bottles by the garage door.

An Odd Shaped Box - With An Open Lid

I have a strange life. I like to Sea Kayak, hike off in the woods and examine fungus on a tree, turn rocks over to see what’s there. Did you know I always wanted to be a marine biologist? However, people are more important than that, so I abandoned that interest.

I read different books. Just read “A Nation Of Serfs” recommend it, it makes one think analytically about Canada. Last year while in Africa I read a 900 page commentary on Romans, and the Koran in French. I often wake up at night, get a cup of tea, and outline information I read, make notes and write comments. 90% of which never get discussed, or taught, and lands in the garbage after a few weeks of being stuck in the way on my desk.

My approach to life is different than others I know. I focus on quit different things.

The last six years of my life, since my return from Africa, have been the most difficult for me. I have wondered why I don’t see things like most others. People here ask questions beginning with; “ Don’t you think…………?” And I often find myself saying (or wanting to say) “no”, most of the time - further enhancing my sense of “alienness”. Am I approaching things wrong? Is there something wrong with me?

My Confession: Yes, Ok, I get it. You are right. I most certainly don’t fit most people’s box.

My Realization: God has a box that fits me, and his comes with an open lid.

He has one that fits you too! I invite Ya! Join me, jump right in!

Where in the World?

Well, it is the question of my life. It seems that I have been asking this question incessantly for the last 20 years . It has lead me to several provinces in Canada, living in West Africa for 5 years, back to PEI. Then once again back to Ivory Coast, Ghana and Mali in Africa again. But I'm still living here on PEI. I still find myself contemplating this question every day. The 3rd world (2/3 world - as most call it these days - the 3rd world is 2/3 of the world) still has this draw on my heart that never lets go. So I am still asking; "Where in the world?"

However, these past two years I have found a little more peace in this piece of the world. I have been exploring our island by Kayak.
In the late evenings, and on storm days (When I am not working at sea),
I managed to paddled well over 400 miles in various bays, estuaries, rivers, and along the open coasts of PEI. I also started to do some over night hiking, but that has not materialized as much as I like yet.
The scenery was great, the solitude refreshing. Above all, I got time to think about what I do, want to do, should do, and where in the world God wants me to do all these things - if any of them.

During those first long solitary miles, I had to shake the feeling that I was wasting precious time. I also had to shake feeling bad that my sweetie could not come with me more often. However, there was still something inside me that just needed to do this; it was my mission, my adventure, not Lynn's. However, as I paddled or hiked mile after miIe, I began to realize something. Until I know the answer to the question, "Where in the World?". The only way I can keep hopeful and sane in this part of the world, is to explore this small part, until the answer comes.
Andy