by Pat Asling
A week into a new year already! Looking ahead it seems the world is in a bit of a mess and will get messier but we have to carry on.
The world lost a good and great man last week with the passing of Jimmy Carter. My recollection of him, as the president of the United States, is that he was laughed at by his opponents yet he did accomplish a number of good things for the country. But it was as a citizen that he really made his mark, working with his wife of 76 years or so, well into his 90s, building houses for Habitat for Humanity and many other charitable works. His is a legacy we are not likely to see again. Here is a poem written by Howard Thurman in 2002 which Jimmy would have acknowledged!
Peace, not Apartheid
When the song of the angels is stilled,
when the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
when the shepherds are back with their flocks,
The work of Christmas begins!
To find the lost, to heal the broken,
to feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
to rebuild the nations,
to bring peace among all,
To make music in the heart!
Jimmy Carter himself said “My faith demands, this is not optional, my faith demands I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can, with whatever I have, to try to make a difference!”
A lot of things happened over the last couple of weeks. The Festival of Lights was a blazing success although curtailed a bit by storms. The Christmas Day dinner at the Seniors, put on by the churches was also a great success with probably close to 100 in attendance. The dinner at Egypt Hall was also a success with about 60 attending and several meals sent out to those unable to get out. Thanks to Pastor Laura Kay for organizing this event. There were several events at the Music Hall including “The Nutcracker” and Leah Daniel’s wonderful concert. The Messiah and other musical events brought real meaning to the season. Sandford Zephyr United Church (SZUC) also held a Christmas Eve service with about 40 participants who enjoyed the songs, scripture readings and candle lighting. Several other area churches also held special services. SZUC was to hold service On December 27th North Durham Nature held their Christmas Bird Count. For those going into the field it was a better day than usual weather wise and because it was relatively warm I thought maybe the count would be small. However my personal count was astounding with 72 doves and 39 starlings and a good selection of the usual hangers-on! I was told early on 50 species were seen but this could have increased when all counters had submitted. No numbers yet but the Beaverton count was also successful.
Over the long period a lot of people had a birthday including Isabel Clark, oldest of Marcie and Hugh’s girls. Nancy Bierema Harsell who, along with her husband, assist sister Mary Evans in her catering business. Michelle Viney, enjoying her newest career, Derek Kokkinen, always a busy guy, Gloria Ross, involved in her volunteer work, the fantastic Jill Howsam - Adomeit, Community Care treasure, Randy Wilson, award winner and local volunteer, and Bev. Northeast, volunteer extra-ordinaire! Ruth Cordingley Bacchelier, Marion Meyers, sorority sister, golfer and amazing quilter, and Doug Ferris, United Church minister and Ferrisport band leader.
Happy 36th anniversary goes out also to musician and painter Walter Campbell and wife Lynn Rhodes Campbell, writer. A big congratulations also to Mike Risebrough and nephew Jamie Risebrough and Maplebrough Farm on being declared breeders of 2024 Reserve All Canadian Holstein heifer. This is not the first award nor will it be the last.
The Toronto Star had a section on Saturday asking writers to say what gave them joy in Toronto. One of these gave a universal answer. Sonia Day is a writer, and a horticultural expert. I have one of her books. Her answer to finding happiness was to buy a deep red amaryllis bulb, plant it up, set it in your window sill and watch it grow and finally bloom with these, in her words, honking big flowers! Well, I have one of those too and even better, it is from a bulb I saved from several years ago. Certainly it, and the several others I have, have been a joyful sight in these bleak days of early winter. Try it!
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