Warning: This blog post is the
result of what happens when you abandon your blog for a month. The
"I-should-blog-that"'s pile up. So here it is...grab a cup of tea, and
enjoy.
Lately I have been thinking about Captain Hook and the ticking crocodile.
(Ever thought about how profound the story of Peter Pan is?)
I realize what my mom often says is entirely true: the older you get, the less you realize it.
You still feel the same inside. And so, with that in mind, I want to
share a few ways in which I know time is ticking onward, whether I
embrace it or not.
"Kathleen, look at my big musk-els! Don't I have such big musk-els?"
One of the most obvious indicators of time is this chica...
Then:
And now:
I bought this dress for Charlee one of my last summers in Costa Rica.
She put it on a few days ago, and I had to laugh. It was a reminder that
a.) I have not been to Costa Rica in a long time, and
b.) she's grown so much.
Not only in stature, but she has also grown in her ability to explain
her thoughts, to reason and problem-solve, to dream, to understand
humour and develop her own great sense of timing. I am privileged to
have seen the development, to have witnessed the transformation. And
now, as she grows to understand her relationship with her Creator, to
hear the sincerity in her prayers...the use of words that aren't just
formulas...she prays the things she knows she needs. Carleigh recently
wrote about this on her own
blog...
I keep looking at the kids and thinking about what type of students they'll be when they come to Bible college.
It's a pretty fun game to play.
"Am I really getting paid to have this much fun?"
Speaking
of fun and Bible college students, I am already over half way through
my first year as Associate Dean. Just before school started up again
last week, I had my commuter hosts (student leaders) over for a dessert
and games night. While we savored chocolate fondue, I explained to them
how this games night would be unlike any other they had ever
experienced. It would be epic. (And, inside I prayed to Jesus that they
would actually enjoy what I had planned).
Before
Christmas, I had the blessing to join Carleigh's family for early
Christmas. Her parents are incredible hosts, and put together a games
night for all the siblings which I got to participate in. It was a
competition, with five levels of various activities with red cups,
points awarded with each round, and a first prize "cup" for the winners
to take home. And so, from this experience, I was able to fashion games
night for the students. It was a great night. They played a version of
beer pong (minus the beer, don't worry!!), a "minute to win it"
team-effort-build-a-tower-tear-it-down challenge, and the
finale...marshmallow gun shooting range (to knock the cups over for
various points).
As you can see, the competition was fierce:
And some had an amazing marshmallow gun technique:
The
night reminded me how much I love my job, and also the fact that I had
one more semester with this group of fine leaders...so I better cherish
the time.
"It was a different generation, one with class, and matching china..."
Back
in November, my parents came to Abbotsford to help me celebrate my 30th
birthday (another shocking declaration that time is passing) and I took
them for an afternoon venture to Fort Langley, where we wandered around
the Antiques Emporium for a while. We ended up reminiscing about china
patterns and how they've become a thing of the past...and if you've ever
thought about selling your grandma's china, you might as well hold off,
cause the Antiques Emporium has most of it already...
But as we poked through, I found something of great significance:
These two china sets represent my heritage.
On the left, Grandma Doll's "silver maple" and on the right, Grandma
Davies' "petit point". Something about the two sets, on display side by
side made me stop for a minute and think about time. I miss the presence
that these two women had on my young life when they passed on to the
next, and in many ways I wonder what life would look like if they were
still around today to invite me over for tea on "silver maple" and
"petit point".
"For some, maybe it feels as though time has stopped and forgotten them..."
This last week, we've had our share of snow (If
you're from Saskatchewan and you're reading this...please just
remember, this is totally abnormal for us. And we're not built for this
weather. You are, and I congratulate you for it, honestly. Our city only
budgets for like, 2 days of plowing. I'm 30 and I finally own the
necessary clothes to walk outside in the cold and not freeze. So, now
you have your context.)
Not only did it snow. The temperature also dropped more than 20 degrees. With wind chill it was minus 24. MINUS 24. (that's celsius, my American friends...which means it was minus 11 farenheit...now you have your context.)
Don't get me wrong, it was beautiful....
...but considering our un-preparedness
here for snow, and the fact that I had been rear-ended the week before, I
was pretty nervous out on the roads.
Tuesday night when I got home from work, I
knew I needed to go out later that night, in the minus 24, and get
groceries for work. I asked Carleigh if she would come with me, just for
the sense of security that would provide me. She agreed, and we decided
to bring Charlee with us for the ride.
We were leaving Costco when I turned a corner and saw a man standing at a stop sign, panhandling.
"You have GOT to be kidding me!" I shouted.
I stopped the car.
I opened my wallet.
I pulled out the cash I had - $10 - and told Carleigh,
"I don't care how he uses this money, I just want him to get warm...no one should be out here right now"
I opened the door (my window was frozen
shut) and handed the shivering man his money, and he mumbled "thanks
ma'am" as he ran towards Tim Hortons.
Literally.
Ran.
We drove on towards home.
Charlee piped up from the back seat, "What just happened, guys?"
Carleigh explained to Charlee the scenario, and the little one went silent.
Carleigh asked her what she was thinking.
"He's like....he's like a wild horse", she replied.
Carleigh and I looked at each other.
"What do you mean by that, Charlee?" I asked.
"Well, he's like a wild horse. He has to
search for his food. And he's out alone, looking for shelter. He's like a
wild horse that doesn't have a home."
And it made sense.
That night I thought about the fact that
for some people, time must seem like it has stopped and forgotten them.
Kept them stuck where they are at. The scenario they find themselves in
is likely not something they ever imagined. And for those, I dream and
hope and pray for new seasons. New times, where the ticking crocodile is
a hopeful presence.
