Monthly Archives: May 2020

Inspiration, People

Moving Ahead In Spite of Adversity

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Sherry & Elmer still enjoy each other’s company.

In a 2 hour telephone conversation, Elmer and Sherry Thiesen of Mission talked about their nearly 45 years in a marriage that could have pulled apart at the seams the day they said “I do”. They each came into the union with significant issues. When Elmer was 17, an ophthalmologist informed him, with unnecessary bluntness, he’d be blind in10 years. Sherry grew up in a dysfunctional home and needed to look to others for an understanding of what it meant to be a responsible wife and mother. Her dream was to be a teacher, but after her mother unexpectedly passed away, she left school after grade 11 to become the family’s primary caregiver.

Elmer managed to graduate from high school, “but I read very slowly and was always in the front row, trying to see the board.” He did obtain a drivers license, but the test was perfunctory and Elmer realized he really shouldn’t be driving. It was shortly after receiving the license that he was given the dire prognosis. The ophthalmologist also told him he should relinquish the prized license. Elmer returned home that day, extremely depressed. How could he ever hope to provide for a family if he couldn’t drive? For 4 days he pondered his dilemma, mostly staying in his room downstairs. Finally he went up and wordlessly handed the car keys to his father, possibly the hardest decision he’d made to that time. “Dad understood what this meant.”

After they began seriously dating, Elmer hitchhiked or walked many times from Abbotsford to Aldergrove to see Sherry. When a well meaning friend warned Sherry, “that guy is going blind,” she responded, “that’s ok. I already knew that.”

Elmer’s Mom played a key role in Sherry’s development. “When Elmer brought me to his home to meet the family, his mother immediately set the table for a meal. There was homemade soup, buns and bread. His Mom was especially kind and friendly to me. They were a Mennonite family and she soon began teaching me to prepare dishes popular in their culture. She also explained her faith in God. While Elmer was downstairs playing pool with his Dad, I was upstairs learning from her. I was very shy, but in their home I felt accepted and loved.

Elmer was only 22, and Sherry 21, when they got married in 1975. Both were willing and conscientious workers. Although Elmer’s vision was deteriorating, he was determined to work and found employment at a tire outlet in Burnaby. Sherry worked in the kitchen of the Vancouver General Hospital. After about a year, they realized they didn’t like city life and moved to Abbotsford. Here Elmer was hired by a local tire shop and Sherry worked at a donut outlet until the business was shut down. After 15 years at the tire shop, Elmer was let go due to his failing vision.

In 1993 they bought a townhouse. Although by now Elmer had lost pretty much all vision and was on a government disability pension, he agreed to serve on council. The people apparently saw leadership ability in him and elected him to the position of chairman. Two other council members were also without sight. At the AGM, he said, “If you want to say something, don’t put up your hand. Three of us won’t see it.” He guided the strata to the best possible resolution of a lawsuit, and settled several other matters.

By now, they had brought 4 children into the world and Elmer’s pension wasn’t adequate. When they were offered a janitorial contract, they didn’t hesitate. “I have a spatial mind,” Elmer said. “I memorize where everything is in a room. That enables me to do vacuuming and other tasks. When we put in a bid to clean a medical building, the woman doing the hiring told us all our references described our work as impeccable. She gave us the contract.”

“It hasn’t all gone smoothly,” Elmer said. “One day when I was vacuuming in a doctor’s office, I bumped into a chair. It was not where I thought I had placed it. I began pulling it, but it seemed very heavy. Then a voice said, ‘I’m sorry. I just came back to make some notes.’” It was the doctor. “We don’t always expect things will work out right,” Sherry added. “We just keep moving forward” Love, resolve and resilience have held the marriage seams together.

Societal Issues

Has Bill Gates Been Reading “Revelation”?

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Some of Bill Gates’ thinking aligns nicely with a major prophecy in the Biblical book of Revelation. (photo clipart)


I learned that Revelation was written by John, a disciple of Jesus and a leader in the early Christian church. The citizens of Rome at that time worshipped a variety of gods and the emperor Domitian claimed divine status. Roman authorities didn’t approve of John’s monotheistic teaching. They banished him to the penal colony on the inhospitable island of Patmos. Banishment of enemies and potential rivals was a common practise by emperors. Even the highly acclaimed stoic senator, Seneca was banished for a time, albeit to Corsica, a much less dreary setting. It was on Patmos that John wrote the remarkable book that makes Daphne anxious and even now at times attracts media attention. Current developments on our planet are prompting more people to take note of visions John recorded concerning future events.

At this time when health authorities across the globe are desperately calling for the development of a vaccine against COVID-19, technology already makes it possible to use smartphones to trace the spread of the virus. Apple and Google have recently released such a system to 23 countries. It does not record names or addresses but a concern exists that the technology will be used by others for more nefarious purposes. China’s system sucks up a variety of information, including citizen’s identity, location, online payments, and more. Other governments are already requesting expanded surveillance capability. Daphne fears that by using mass surveillance technology, authorities will be able to extensively track her decisions and activities. Her pulse would really leap into overdrive if she knew what Bill Gates is planning.

This is where the thinking of the Microsoft founder and the Biblical prophet come into alignment. Gates and a number of billionaire partners have founded ID 2020. According to spokesperson Peggy Johnson, the purpose is to provide every individual on the planet with “a trusted, verifiable way to prove who they are, both in the physical world and online. For the approximately one billion individuals who cannot currently prove their identity, this will certainly be a huge advantage.”

How this will all unfold is somewhat murky for me. I do know though that Gates has gone on record saying that our lives will not get back to normal until we have the ability to vaccinate the entire global population against COVID-19. To this end he is pushing hard for disease surveillance and a vaccine tracking system that might involve embedding vaccination records in our bodies. He has said that societal and financial normalcy may never return to those who refuse vaccination. The vaccination system Gates envisions might ultimately be required to go about our day to day life and business. Without this “digital immunity proof”, we may not even be allowed to travel locally or enter some public buildings.

Has Bill Gates been reading John’s “Revelation”? Writing about what has sometimes been referred to as the “End Times”, John describes a powerful, miracle working beast which sides with Satan. This beast, he writes, in Revelation chapter 13, “causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and that no one may buy or sell, except one who has the mark or the name of the beast. His number is 666.”

Other than conspiracy theorists, most of us will welcome a vaccine when it is developed. If it includes an implanted digital immunity proof tracking technology, we may well have second thoughts. More concerning though is that some governments will utilize the technology to further control their citizens. COVID-19 has already changed our lives. Undoubtedly there is more to come. We need to be vigilant.

Inspiration

Andy & Uncle Ben – Part II

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Tina’s Café is gone now. It was somewhat similar to the café on this picture.

Several weeks ago I wrote about a devastating episode in Andy’s life. Only 11 at the time, his foster father told him he couldn’t be on a family photo, because he wasn’t part of the family. Feeling totally rejected and emotionally crushed, he walked down the driveway and onto the road. Fortunately Uncle Ben, a former hippie and still Black Sheep of the family, left the gathering and picked up the young boy in his rusty Volkswagen van. He suggested Andy come and live with him in his small rented house on two acres. Still a hippie at heart, he tended a large garden and kept a goat for milk and chickens for eggs.

I met Andy and Uncle Ben in Tina’s Cafe, not far from their home. We became friends and I wasn’t entirely surprised some three years ago when Uncle Ben invited me to join them for coffee at Tina’s. His serious tone suggested concern. Possibly he needed moral support. Although we were almost the same age, I addressed him as Uncle Ben when Andy was present. Uncle Ben had attended UBC two years, then decided he’d rather drive a logging truck and escape the noise and pace of city life. Almost a dozen years ago an accident had forced him into retirement.

The cafe was almost empty and Tina gave us a few minutes to settle in, then she brought us the usual, coffee for Uncle Ben and me, a root beer for Andy. After a few minutes of light chit chat, Uncle Ben said, “Andy, you’ve been quiet all week. Are you unhappy with what I’m feeding you? ”

I sensed Andy had been expecting the question. “Ever since my father wouldn’t let me be on the family picture,” he began, “I’ve hoped he would change his mind. It’s not that I want to go back. I want to stay with you. But I’d like to know I have a family. I have always felt rejected.” He looked at Uncle Ben, took a slow sip of his root beer, then said, “I know you won’t shut me out, but something in me keeps saying it could happen again. I try not to show it but I’m always scared l’ll be alone.”

He looked at Uncle Ben and myself, as though wondering if we understood. “Dave let me use the phone at the store last Monday,” he continued. “I called my parents’ home. My Dad answered. When I told him I was his son Andy, he said ‘I don’t have a son named Andy’. Then I heard a click. It’s been seven years Uncle Ben, I still really miss my family. Except for you, I have no one.”

“I wondered what was troubling you,” Uncle Ben said, stroking his flowing grey beard. “My brother is a hard man. Before he and Emily got married, I urged her to break off the relationship. I told her Howie is as unbending as our father was. Since Howie told you to get out of the family picture, she has many times pleaded with him to let you come back, but he’s as stubborn as an old farm mule.” Andy swiped at a tear rolling down his cheek.

Tina approached with a second root beer for Andy and topped up the coffee cups. As she walked away Uncle Ben said, “I’ve been considering something.” He stroked the beard again, searching for the right words. “Seven years ago when I picked you up along the road, you needed a home. I was living by myself and feeling lonely. Like you, I don’t have my own family.” He paused, brought the coffee cup to his lips, then set it down again. “Here is what I hope you will think about.” He pulled a pipe from his shirt pocket but made no move to light it. “What I have in mind is pretty unusual, maybe even crazy. I would very much like to adopt you. It would make us a family.”

Seemingly stunned, for a long moment Andy said nothing. He drained the entire contents of his second root beer,then very quietly asked, “Could I still call you Uncle Ben? I’ve kind of gotten used to that.”

“Of course you can Andy,” Uncle Ben said, obviously pleased. “So then we have a deal?” For the first time Andy smiled. “Yes,” he said. “We have an awesome deal!”

Community, Health

Divergent Responses To COVID-19

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COVID-19 Message posted on Hedley Post Office Bulletin Board.

In the Hedley Post Office someone has placed a message on the bulletin board. It says, “No Means No.” The writer is deeply concerned about COVID-19 and advocates a monastic level of abstinence from social interaction.

In an email, Irvin expressed a vastly different perspective. He wrote: “Canada, true North, not so strong and Definitely not free. Closed the borders, made it illegal to gather in larger groups, restricted national travel, put people and businesses out of work. Created lineups just to get groceries.”

It is evident these two messages come from individuals who view circumstances and the world through very different prisms. I don’t know who placed the message in the Post Office. I do know Irvin though and we communicate by email regularly. I’m aware he devotes many night time hours to sitting in front of his computer, searching for “alternative truths” concerning COVID-19. We are friends but rarely agree on important issues.

I decided to respond to his litany of complaints. “Irvin,” I wrote, “I can understand that you’re becoming impatient with the restrictions. You just want everything to return to the way things were before the virus. We all want that, but our political leaders and medical experts are beginning to caution us we need to expect a ‘new normal.’ Dr. Bonnie Henry has said it’s very unlikely we’ll get to zero cases in our country this summer. She has said we really are in uncharted territory and if we are complacent we could be hit by a second wave. Then everything we have gained and the price we have all paid would be for nothing.”

The Hedley Country Market is doing its part to keep the community safe.

There was more I wanted to say. I heard this week that a new mutation had already been detected in February, and British researchers have reported numerous unanticipated mutations. Dr. Henry has described COVID-19 as “devious.” Dr.Theresa Tan, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, has admitted that “there is still much more we don’t know about this virus, like the extent of silent spread by nonsymptomatic individuals. It’s the most transmissible virus we’ve seen to this time. We’re trying to understand it.” From our many discussions over the years, I realize Irvin has a limited attention span, especially when he disagrees with my opinion, which is most of the time. Knowing he will discount anything I have to say on this subject, I didn’t mention these last items.

Irvin responded within minutes. “Art,” he wrote, “you’re listening to the wrong people. I agree with President Trump. It’s time to get the economy going. He believes America will be highly prosperous again soon. I read online this morning that the Democrats want to use the virus to destroy the U.S. dollar so they can impose even greater restrictions. I’m sending you some blogsites to look at so you will have accurate information.”

The blogsites were pretty much a jumble of confusing conspiracy theories. The lens through which he was looking offered a distorted view of reality. I do understand Irvin’s fervent desire for a return to our nation’s earlier “normal” state. Not having been able to visit Linda’s 96 year old mother, or our children and grandchildren, we have it too. We’re in difficult times though, and just wishing it won’t make it reality. Neither will Donald Trump’s confident assertions bring a speedy return to health and prosperity.

I decided not to trouble Irvin with possible economic ramifications of the virus. Canadians already have record debt levels. Will we be able to do our part in breathing life back into a battered economy? Also, many of our most important corporations are losing money and laying off employees. Air Canada reported losing a billion dollars in the first quarter of 2020. The federal and provincial governments are borrowing and giving away tens of billions, which surely will have to be repaid. In spite of Prime Minister Trudeau’s talk of “when our economy comes roaring back,” it may take more time than we like.

I’m aware that my perspective will be discounted by Irvin, and probably many others, anxious to get back to normal. Even though we may not be convinced that “No Means No”, to avoid further grief in coming months, we’ll be wise to heed the advice of Dr. Henry and other medical authorities. Also, except for the very wealthy, this may not be an ideal time to place an order for a new Ferrari.

Hedley Times, Inspiration

Lindsay Fairweather, A True Hedley Gal

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Lindsay Fairweather of Hedley, holding a gift for a friend.

I’ve known plenty of individuals whose early life sucked them down into drug use, crime, living on the streets, and a sense of failure and despair. In a lengthy phone conversation last week, Lindsay Fairweather of Hedley talked about circumstances and experiences that might have dragged her into a life of meaningless desolation. “Our family was troubled by intergenerational trauma,” she said. “ My grandfather was abusive, drugs and alcohol were in common use, a family member died of an overdose.”

Looking back at those years now, she said, “it’s the culture of our society. It’s what I saw adults and my peers doing. My friends raided their parents alcohol and prescription drugs and brought them to parties. For me it was just a part of growing up. I wasn’t exposed to any other way of life.”

Born in Penticton, Lindsay lived with her mother for a number of years. “Mom was a construction worker,” she said, “when a job ended, we’d move to another community. Many times she showed up at my school and told me to come with her. We were moving again. It meant leaving behind friends and never seeing them again.” This unsettling pattern ended when at age 12 she moved to Hedley to live with her Dad. She graduated from Keremeos Senior Secondary.

Although her life was no longer disrupted by frequent changes of community and school, all was not well. “I was angry, I fought a lot in high school,” she admitted. “Then I started going to raves and festivals. I saw a lot of colour there and the freedom to be yourself. I loved the music and I loved dancing. They helped me see the magic in the world.”

Lindsay saw a lot of good in the festivals, but she was also keenly aware of a dark side. “I saw people trying everything, mixing all sorts of drugs, and disrespecting each other and the land.”

Inspite of being so immersed, she had the capacity to be objective and evaluate what was happening around her. “I saw people turning to drugs, seeking instant release and gratification. They wanted to escape their physical and emotional pain. Often they said this was how they got out of their shell.”

Lindsay believes the festivals played a role in shaping who she has become. “I began to understand that there is good in everyone,” she said. “When I saw people on drugs and how they were acting, it broke my heart. I felt there was a need for greater compassion. I began volunteering at festivals, doing what I could to keep people safe. I took on more of a nurturing role.”

After graduating from high school, Lindsay volunteered with Katimavik. Her assignments took her to MooseJaw Saskatchewan, where she worked in a day care, then to a French immersion program in Ontario. Her third placement was in Parksville B.C. where she worked with dementia, autism and downs syndrome clients. “Katimavik changed the direction of my life,” she said. “Parksville particularly gave me the understanding I wanted to be in community work. Katimavik opened my thinking beyond my small community experience. It was kind of a gateway to expand my life.”

She had the understanding she wanted to be a community support worker. For 10 years she talked about it but was concerned she’d become too emotionally involved. Unable to make the decision, she picked fruit, worked in a fishing lodge, operated a ski lift, managed a restaurant, and took a course in basic accounting. It was Peggy Terry, then a Hedley resident, who kindled the spark that prodded Lindsay to act. “You’ve been saying this for years,” Peggy said, then added, “just do it.”

Peggy Terry said, “Just do ti!”

The next day Lindsay enrolled in the Sprott Shaw Community Support Worker program and now works at “Ashnola at the Crossing”. Located just west of Keremeos, it’s a specialized addictions treatment facility for youth and young adults. “I love it,” she said.

Lindsay’s earlier life trajectory could have made her a client at “the Crossing,” rather than a counsellor. Fortunately she had a supportive community in Hedley. “Also, my Dad was a good mentor and my friend Meghan showed faith in me,” she said. “I feel my siblings and I have broken the chain of intergenerational trauma. That’s important.” It could also be added that Lindsay learned from her experiences and had the inner strength and good sense to change direction.