The Weekend in Black & White - March 8, 2018

Tourists visiting Canmore 

 

 

Happy International Women's Day to all of you women bloggers!
For The Weekend in Black & White

The plight of refugees in Bangladesh

I am a member of Amnesty International, which monitors and advocates human rights around the globe. As most readers know, the Rohingya people of Myanmar were forced by the military of that nation to leave and find refuge elsewhere, mainly in Bangladesh, which is one of the poorest nations in the world, and lacking in resources to meet the basic needs of the large numbers of Rohingya refugees. The following video was created by Amnesty to call to peoples' awareness the plight of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. The video ends with a tiny seed of hope, which comes through music. 

Polar vortex, retirement, growing older

Recently-as of January 1, 2019-I retired. Almost everyone I meet asks me the same question: How do you like retirement? My answer has always been the same: "It is too early to tell." 

   I keep thinking, when I wake up in the morning, that I should be going to work. As each day unfolds, it occurs to me that on such-and-such a day at such-and-such a time, I would be doing such-and-such. So, obviously, I haven't adjusted to "the retired life" yet. 

   Moreover, I'm still trying to discern what God is up to with regards to my calling as a now retired clergyperson. 

   In the meantime, I am realizing my age as we've been afflicted with polar vortex weather-this morning when I got up it was minus thirty-two celsius! The older I get, the less I like the cold. I don't mind moderate winter temperatures of minus ten or even minus fifteen celsius if there is no wind, as that is ideal weather for cross-country skiing. However this minus thirty or more makes my body complain.

   It reminds me of a Pete Seeger song, the chorus goes like this: How do I know my youth is all spent, my get up and go, has got up and went; But in spite of it all I'm able to grin and think of the places my get up has been!

   I like the last phrase of the chorus, since it awakens pleasant memories of the past, and makes one grateful to God for the life I've been given. 

   Hope you enjoy Pete Seeger's song!

Eclectic and Eccentric Music and Instruments

The dictionary defines eclectic as: Taking from different sources what seems most suitable for one's purpose; not confined to one source or one point of view. 

   The dictionary defines eccentric as: Someone who behaves unconventionally.

   I've always been curious about eclectic sources, and eccentric people--especially the best eclectic Source of them all, and perhaps the most eccentric person who ever lived: Jesus! He was not limited to one source of thinking and behaving. Rather, he challenged the status quo on numerous occasions in the course of his public ministry. And his willingness to associate with sinners and outcasts certainly qualifies him as an eccentric.

   An area of eclectic and eccentric interest for yours truly is the ongoing evolution of music. Recently I came across this interesting eclectic and eccentric inventor-musician. He has created a host of new musical instruments and sounds therefrom. Enjoy the video! 

  

The Weekend in Black & White - January 11

Dublin, Ireland: Guinness Museum Harp. For The Weekend in B & W.

The New Year, gratitude, and the longing for peace with justice

The following quote, attributed to Lord Allton, is worth our consideration as we begin another New Year:

   If you have never been in war, imprisoned or suffered from starvation, then you are better off than five hundred million other people. If you can read, then you are better off than two billion who are unable to do so. If you can attend a church without fear of harassment, or worse, then you are better off than three billion people in the world.

   If you have food in the fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, then you are richer than three-quarters of your fellow human beings. If you have money in the bank or your wallet or purse, then you are among the top eight per cent of the world's wealthy.

   NOTE: This citation is at least a few years old by now, so the exact numbers and/or percentages I expect may have changed since then. However, that being said, there is much prayer, thought, word and action required to change the unjust political, economic and religious systems around the globe for a better, more peaceful, just world in the future. This is especially true for Christians and Jews who live in countries where they are religious minorities. Even in North America and Europe, the growing number of antisemitic and anti-Christian incidents and sentiment are rather alarming.

   As we begin this New Year, may God help us all to pray, desire, and work for: "Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven!"   

The Weekend in Black and White - December 7, 2018

St. Anne's Church, Belfast, Northern Ireland For the Weekend in B & W