DashHouse.com

"... created with nothing more than a pen, exercise book, and maybe some photos, Memory Books, are written by parents or caregivers (usually women) dying of AIDS. They contain special memories and family history for the children they won't see grow up. Some of the books also include practical details, such as wills and funeral arrangements." Molly Marsh of Sojourners compares these books to the 12 stones used by the Israelites to mark God's deliverance. Beautiful excerpts are found in Henning Mankell's book, I Die, but My Memory Lives on: The World AIDS Crisis and the Memory Book Project

Marsh concludes her article with thought-provoking clarity:

These scrapbooks, ... are intended for a small circle of people, primarily direct descendants of the creators. The content and meaning they contain will be most important to them. But these books are also important social documents. The Israelites had a ready answer for the question, "What do these stones mean?"

When our children ask what these memory books mean, and why so many were needed, what sort of answer will we give?

Today Darryl & I attended Brendan's funeral service at St. Mary's Star of the Sea. One of the many gifts he left to his family and friends was an audio-video presentation of "One Tin Soldier".

One Tin Soldier

Listen children to a story that was written long ago
'Bout a kingdom on a mountain, and the valley folk below
On the mountain was a treasure buried deep beneath a stone
And the valley people swore they'd have it for their very own.

(Chorus:)
Go ahead and hate your neighbor, go ahead and cheat a friend
Do it in the name of heaven, justify it in the end
There won't be any trumpets blowing, come the judgment day
On the bloody morning after - one tin soldier rides away.

So the people of the valley sent a message up the hill
Asking for the buried treasure, tons of gold for which they'd kill
Came an answer from the kingdom: "With our brothers we will share
All the secrets of our mountain, all the riches buried there.

Chorus
Now the valley cried with anger, mount your horses, draw your sword!
And they killed the mountain people, so they won their just reward
Now they stood beside the treasure on the mountain dark and red
Turned the stone and looked beneath it -
"Peace on Earth" was all it said.

Chorus

Sorrowing tonight.

Read the party platforms: Conservative, Green, Liberal, NDP. (Yes, I do think Green is worth a reading).
Review local candidates.
Read the party leaders responses to the question, "What role do you think faith should play in developing public policy, and what is the place of religious institutions in contemporary Canadian society?" published by Faith Today.

If you're still looking for some direction, try the Vote Selector Quiz 2006 brought to you by:

Now go VOTE!

Last night I had the misfortune of comforting my daughter through the trials of a viral infection. No big deal until early this morning blood started showing up. We received good attention and care at St. Joseph's Health Centre ER and Christina is beginning to recover.

Here's the part that just baffles me. When we arrived at the ER there were NO nurses in at the reception triage to assess incoming patients - None. After waiting patiently for two or three minutes I requested attention from a registration staff person. They paged a nurse. No response. We had obviously arrived during a shift change. It was a full ten minutes before staff arrived to triage Christina and another individual who had arrived before we did. Have I missed an annoucement? When did "back in 10 minutes" become acceptable intake practice at an Ontario hospital Emergency Department?

This man doesn't sing and dance like this one but he gets incredible things done for our world.

Hope remains.

Please send my condolences to yesterday's overly optomistic Russian juniors.

My new year box holds some plans and expectations: Darryl's two week absence for his DMin program, Josiah's seventh birthday, Christina's grade 6 graduation, Mom & Dad's 45th anniversary, Mom's retirement, a family trip to England (hopefully!), Christina's 12th birthday and a few other surprises!

When I check more carefully I find that I have many other expectations: ongoing life, health and joy. But looking back at 2005 and back further to 2004 and 2003, I can not help but recognize that the life that God gives may include death, hardship and despair (no reference to our dog implied!)

My greatest joy in 2005 was a two minute message given by my father and the subsequent prayer offered by my mother at our Christmas meal together. Their passion for Christ flowed freely from their hearts. It is a passion cutlivated by way of incredible pain, loss and suffering in recent years. My second greatest joy in 2005 was seeing my father walk unassisted for a brief space - a miracle I did not have the courage, nor the perservance, to hope for.

Carefully, I close my 2006 box and hand it back to the Master. It never really was mine. Lord, thank you for the privilege of allowing me to see your ways and for your grace which makes it possible for my proud heart to surrender.

Lead on my king eternal.