The Great Dilemma

I find myself at a turning point today.

Last year I became aware of the EMERGE group of artists' collective here in Fredericton. Through this collective, you meet once a month for discussion and encouragement, schedule group shows and the like. Most likely a step in the right direction, art career-wise. Through my own absentmindedness, I have also become aware that today is the last day for application into the collective. They hold juries once a year.

I also have a meeting with Peter Short tomorrow to discuss the non profit initiative we'd like to make in our community, through St. Paul's, via a used clothing bank/grocery store/cafe to foster fellowship and mission here at home. I don't have time to do both - today, and in the next year.

So which do I choose?
But I think I've already made a choice.
At the risk of sounding Christian - y and preachy, I think I'm deciding to follow God's call... Dang, it always surprises me when I end up being obedient! And for that reason, I know it's a good decision - that our actions will bear fruit, and that my art career won't wither and die simply because I didn't have time to apply to this one collective for this one year. Relax, Marsh. Bigger things await.

5 Lessons on How to Treat People - Author Unknown

1. First Important Lesson - "Know The Cleaning Lady"

During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions, until I read the last one: "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?"

Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade.

"Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say "hello."

I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.


2. Second Important Lesson - "Pickup In The Rain"

One night, at 11:30 p.m., an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rainstorm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car.

A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960s. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxicab.

She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home.

A special note was attached. It read: "Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bedside just before he passed away. God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others."

Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole.


3. Third Important Lesson - "Remember Those Who Serve"

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10 year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him. "How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked. "50¢," replied the waitress.

The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it.

"Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired. By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient. "35¢!" she brusquely replied.

The little boy again counted his coins. "I'll have the plain ice cream," he said. The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left.

When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies. You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.


4. Fourth Important Lesson - "The Obstacles In Our Path"

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand - "Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition."


5. Fifth Important Lesson - "Giving When It Counts"

Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare and serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year-old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes, I'll do it if it will save her."

As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheeks. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away?".

Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her.

The Stories We Lose When Not Looking

Discouragement is such an obstacle in life. It's everywhere; it's in my lazy fingers not willing to write the stories that pulse through my head. Try to overcome it, try to be connected, just try.

Some stories I have neglected to relate over the holidays. I made an old man cry. He is the last surviving Elder For Life at St. Paul's, elected in '60-something, and was in to make a donation to his beloved traditional church. I was kind to him, served him tea while he waited for Cathy, the office administrator, to return from her lunch break. I sat and talked with him, asked him questions about his life, answered his. It was December 31 and the office was closing down early that day. I could easily have pushed him on his way; don't bother me, I'm going on vacation. However, I find value in these encounters with people, real people who have lived a long and worthwhile life. I left him in Cathy's capable hands to take care of his business, but passed him on his way out the door a few minutes later. He had a big smile on his face and told me 'Happy New Year, dear. Thank you. I have never been treated so well at this church!' Then he hugged me and when he pulled back, there was actually a tear on his cheek. That moment made me realize that we are important. We all have a precious gift to give to each other: respect.
It makes me think of another woman in the congregation. Some of our members are alone now. Due to age or life circumstances, a few are without close family and seemingly without purpose anymore. This woman has the classic name of a queen, or some proud heroine in a novel about women changing history, but she comes nearly every day for companionship and purpose. Out there in the world she has a very small ripple effect, but inside the walls of St. Paul's she is important and respected and I feel privileged to play a role in that transformation. That's what Jesus does for us too - transforms us from paupers to queens in an instant, through no act of our own. I embrace her because I'm embraced as well.
Don't be fooled by my appearance. I may look like I'm just pushing a mop or repeating the same chores day after day, but in reality, I am important. I help others any way I can. I take pride in my work. I make a special effort to be humble and reverent when talking to you. I love and respect as much as I can.

The Great Divorce

C.S. Lewis is the writer who has influenced my thinking the most. His humbleness, his imagination and his understanding of the Divine resonate with me profoundly. The questions that arise from reading his texts further my journey with God - contemplation of Hell, Heaven and human desire are brought into focus when I read his work. In reading The Great Divorce I see myself in each of the Ghosts and Lewis' vision of Hell is chilling...

Learning about myself, my world

I find my creativity is cyclical and goes something like this (starting at a random point in the circle - since it is cyclical there is no beginning step): curiosity about the world, followed by observation of the world and the inherent beauty all around me - the buildings, the colours, the crows scrambling in their flying cities...I feel tuned in and intimate with life. I feel connected and special and energetic. I wouldn't say I'm 'channeling' the energy around me because that implies some kind of harnessing, or focusing when really I feel as if I'm caught up in a current that is flowing through me, lighting up my dim bulb perspective again. I begin to read meaningful books; books about questions, theology, philosophy and sometimes motorcycle mechanics come my way and I learn. Learning is intoxicating. Once I begin I don't want to stop, but that desire is also cyclical. And through this learning stage, ideas pop up about subject or material and usually I have several false starts and nothing feels right at the drawing table. Sometimes I give up, sometimes I persist (depends when the deadline is!) but when I hit upon something that works it is like finding the key to the treasure room and I can't get the gold out fast enough. That eureka! moment is precious. I work like crazy, the images consume my thoughts and even as I'm working on one thing I'll have another quick fire 'wonder if I do this...' and the image will take another twist. Because of this method of working, that is - being driven by the material, I can't guarantee what will happen and I can't even guarantee the subject will be as originally intended. After this intense period of creation *read: deadline has been narrowly met*, I don't want to look at that drawing table for a long time. I hibernate, watch tv, give my brain a rest. Slowly I'll come back to life to the life around me, but it's any one's guess how long that will take. Soon enough though, I become curious again, and start noticing again, and the cycle repeats itself....gratefully.

Snow Day

How many centimeters have come down so far? Reports of 15-20 seem reasonable. I took my daughter Georgia with me this morning to check on the boiler at St. Paul's. The boiler looks fine; I didn't perform any chem tests today but emptied the return valves and blew down the main part. The wind is whipping at the window....

Back outside again where Georgia and I gazed upon an expanse of white, undisturbed snow that is the Charlotte Street parking lot. Scratch that; the plow (Darrell Bruce) had made one sweep earlier and there was a good sized snowbank to the right which Georgia made a beeline for. I bent and tested the snow for 'packiness' - how sticky, or 'packy' the snow was for making snow balls. Perfect stuff! While Georgia tumbled down the snow bank I started work on a snow man. Eventually she joined me and we made two great big snow people and positioned them at the entrance to the Charlotte Street door. Hers is wearing an evergreen wreath. I know it will bring a smile to the regulars who come through that door to do their volunteer work, or attend exercise class, an AA meeting, a play group or a quilters' circle. I look forward to Cathy's reaction!

This is the first time I've ever been caught at work, when not working. This job may be turning into a vocation.

I have a donkey in my office!

It has been suggested to me that my one liners regarding Sextoning should be shared with the world at large. Indeed, being a sexton has some very unique challenges and rewards, not the least of which is the legitimate occasion to say "I have a donkey in my office!". I like this idea. It may also cross paths with some thinking and reading I am doing regarding service vs. servitude, and a nifty book that Peter Short gave me titled 'Shop Class As Soul Craft'. One challenge I face in maintaining a blog regularly is being regular - I often get distracted by fatigue, other projects, beautiful women and the like. I don't think there is a shortage of material...so perhaps you could help. Leave an encouraging one liner comment and I'm sure this will spur me on! One cannot create in a vacuum....

So back to the donkey in my office. The week before Christmas and the hooligans have come out; baby Jesus is missing and I had to dig out my spare (yes, He is a hot commodity apparently. Last year He was stolen as well, but returned after The Big Day. I can only imagine the hilarious photos of baby Jesus' travels those lawless hooligans took Him on...). A poor hapless donkey also got vandalized, and is awaiting repair in my office. Unfortunately, there is no replacement donkey as he is not central to the story...PETA will be up in arms, no doubt.

On my last day before vacation, on the last hour before vacation, a storm window in the bell tower blew off and shattered glass came flying down the roof onto the side walk. Thank God no one was walking underneath when it happened! Now the already fragile stained glass window is exposed to the elements, but I see no way of protecting or repairing it that doesn't involve scaffolding or fall arrest harnesses, or general danger and mischief. It's not something I want to take on, but I will have to figure out some solution or the stained glass window will not make it through the winter, of that I am sure.

So let me know what you think. Encourage me. Pummel me. Do what you will....