I bumped into someone last night who said, “So have you decided November is a blog-free month?” Ha ha, good question, no it is not a blog-free month but, as I explained, I find that sometimes I sit down to write and I can’t think of one topic to focus on because my mind is flooded with too many topics and then I find I just can’t write about anything! I guess that is what authors call writer’s block. Anyway his comment was enough of a poke to get me going and so here I am. Finally.
What to write about today… Community, that is the topic. This week has been a week of community. Tuesday, many gathered at the cenotaph as Canadians spent time remembering our past and worrying about our future. It is always a significant day as people, young and old, gather as a public witness.
Last night I attended a retirement celebration for someone who has dedicated her career to caring for the watershed of Muskoka. It might be wrong to call it a career as I think it was her vocation – a life-long commitment to care for our water, our environment, our planet. Retirement parties are always bittersweet, for while we celebrate with the person entering a new phase of living, it marks the end of an era. That was certainly the mood last night with the room filled with many people from many aspects of our community to honour and celebrate the work of this one person.
Today, as I write, the building here is humming with activity as every room is filled with people bustling about in preparation for our Christmas Marketplace tomorrow. Baking is being carried in, hand-crafts and second-hand treasures are being placed, art work is being displayed, and goods and services are being catalogued for the Silent Auction. It is a great day as this faith community prepares to share hospitality and to offer a shopping opportunity (!) to the community.
Sometimes when I watch the news, or even movies or television and I get overwhelmed with the violence and negativity. But when I refocus and think instead of the power of community, the goodness of people, and the beauty of individual’s who give without hesitation then I am reminded of what is truly important and that the real power of humanity comes in community.
Indeed an awful lot of community showed itself yesterday at the Christmas Bazar. One little girl found a treasure in glass for only 10 cents that she will fondly remember that day by for years, until she brings it back as an offering at some future bazar. Little did she know that her singing was broadcast on WBUC radio into all the corners of the church. Next year we might have a lot of fun with that. Call it the Bazar church companion, reaching all the corners of the church, some we don’t even know about. Hearts met hearts, retirees met workers, clergy were sold off as hosts for future dinner parties. Community comes in many shapes and sizes. Comfort ye people.