whispering out loud

12,000km Trek for Autism

It's such a great day today and I thought I would share an inspiring story with you.  You may have heard of  a guy who is biking 12,000 km all over North America to raise awareness and funds for The Salvation Army Autism Centre here in Hamilton.  Matt Bursey is an amazing 23 year old who has embarked on this trek to learn, teach, raise awareness and funds for people with developmental disabilities.  Matt has worked for The Salvation Army Lawson Ministries for a few years and is really passionate about helping others.  He decided that he wanted to do something really big and the Far & Wide Bike Trek was born.   He has chosen to support the Autism Centre as he realizes the lack of supports that are available to people who have Autism once they leave the school system.  You can read about his amazing travels on his blog here. 

Sometimes the news in our country can be discouraging, but here is a young Canadian who is journeying for hope and advocating on behalf of those who are often overlooked.  I hope his trek is an inspiration to you today.  Please support Matt on his journey.  Check the blog.  Leave encouraging notes.  Donate on-line if you are able.  He is truly an amazing person who has inspired me.

Echo

A few weeks ago, I was asked the question "what do you love about yourself?"  I had no quick answer.  Well that's not entirely true...I gave my standard PR interview response which was met with a frank look and an even more frank follow up question to get at the truth.  I mumbled something about liking being a planner-head.  Here I am quickly approaching 30...'how can I not know myself?' I thought.  I guess I do like that I am a planner-head, but in actuality I am a bit embarrassed about it.  I don't love it and would gladly trade it for another more artistic talent.  Maybe singing.  Now that is something that I would really love.  Unfortunately I tend to sound like Marge Simpson when the music strikes me.  Don't get me wrong...my self esteem is OK.  It's just that this impending birthday has me being more reflective lately.

What I really like doing is helping people's dreams find a path to actuality.  Take Matt for example.  Here is a fantastic guy who had a dream of biking across North America for a good cause.  So we planned it out and now he is in Windsor on the Far & Wide Bike Trek.  This is part of a bigger dream to see an Autism Health Centre in downtown Hamilton.  I love that he had an idea and now it exists - in part because of what I do.

All of this has led me to the question of echo.  Is it possible that perhaps this tendency to stay behind the scenes and not the lead is in fact not necessarily a good thing?  Today I said to a friend "It would be a shame to live your whole life as an echo of someone else."  But isn't that what I am doing?  Instead of figuring out what I want, or my own dreams, I find someone else's and simply echo it.  Or maybe seeing other's dreams come about is in fact my own dream.  When asked "what do you want to do with your life?"  The immediate, instinctual answer is simply 'help people.'  That's all I want to do.  But I wonder if I will ever find an outrageous dream of my own to follow.

A brand-new person!

I have a nephew!!  My sister had a 10 pound 2 ounce baby boy today...he is beautiful and chubby and is the proud recipient of the gorgeous name Micah William.  My sis is tired of course but doing well. 

It was interesting to see the contrast of life's peaks and valleys while we waited at the hospital.  As we eagerly anticipated the new arrival of life, my Aunt's mother was admitted into emerge with heart complications.  She is refusing treatment and it doesn't look good.  Definitely a day of experiencing the highs and lows at each point in life's journey. 

We are all so grateful for the safe arrival of Micah...can't wait to hang out with him some more!!

home again, home gone

I am back from my travels in Vegas...and I have to say that I loved my trip.  The town I could take or leave, but the people that I met along my travels made this trip a particularly meaningful one.  I went to sin city and was spiritually renewed...I was surprised by the amount of dreaming and connecting that happened.  More on those stories later.

I flew home on the red eye and got a call in the early afternoon from my sister who let me know that her husband's parent's home had caught fire around noon yesterday.  No one was hurt thankfully, but it will be around 9 months before they are able to go home again.  In the short term they are going to stay at my sister's place - she is due next week by the way.  They think it was an electrical problem and they are insured, but they are still hurting over the sudden loss of their home and all of those little things that are actually big things that can't be replaced.  If you are of the praying sort, please offer up a little prayer for them to have peace and strength during this time.

more Guinness...doctor's orders

So apparently that really exhausted feeling that I've been having wasn't just February being gross.  The doc says that I have low iron and high cholesterol (yay for turning 30 this year) so now I get to have pills, more tests, vitamin supplements and no more bacon and cheese.  The good news is that I can have all the Guinness I want as it is a source of iron...no really...it's my medicine.

New Orleans

 

Last week I had the opportunity to go down to New Orleans for my work with The Salvation Army. There was a conference on fundraising that a company was hosting for us...so I took full advantage and invited my talented photographer friend Krista Jefferson to come along.  We had a great time eating powdery Beignets at the cafe du monde in the french quarter.  Got to experience some of the infamous music on Bourbon street which didn't disappoint. We walked everywhere and got to see some amazingly beautiful homes and walkways.  We also got to see some of the remaining devastation that contrasted sharply with the old beauty of the city.

As part of the conference, the officers who were involved in the Hurricane Katrina emergency response told their stories and what is happening now.  It was an extremely emotional retelling of their story as you can well imagine.  Hearing first hand from the people who were struggling to rescue, feed, support and shelter victims (who were in many cases victims themselves) was a powerful experience that I will never forget. 

As you can see from the photo that Krista took, there is still much to be done.  2 1/2 years after the storm, many houses are still abandoned - completely untouched since the storm/flood.  In many cases, people had to walk away from their homes as they were denied insurance claims.  As Krista and I walked through neighbourhoods away from the touristy areas, we felt like we had stumbled into a ghost town.  For such a large city, it felt very empty.  Many of those who left the city have planted new roots in new places.  Those who have returned have struggled to make ends meet and to rebuild their homes.  One woman that we met shared her story.  At over 65 years of age, she is starting again.  She has been living in her FEMA trailer in front of her home - and is still working on her house.

away...

I am retreating this weekend with some of my favourite people.  I am really looking forward to a relaxing and restful time enjoying company of people that I like.  The past few weeks have been a whirlwind and I am looking forward to an opportunity to be still and listen for the whisper.

Best Aunt Peg Story Ever

When my Aunt Peg was just a young lass in St. John NB, she was madly in love with a boy.  They soon became engaged and continued on in this state for 7 years without so much as a hint of an actual wedding date.  Keep in mind that times were different, and there was "no shacking up together back then."  Being a modern working woman of the 40's, she finally talked with her young man and said ("and sorry for the language, dear")  shit or get off the pot.  That's right.  She said it.  And he chose not to follow through.  She picked up her belongings and set off on her own to make a new start in Hamilton, where 5 years later she married the actual man of her dreams at the age of 30. 

I am so happy that her heart got broken long ago in NB or else I never would have known her like I did.  Sometimes the best answers that we receive are a big NO.  Painful at the time, but a blessing in the end.  I will surely miss her.  I loved her sharp mind and directness, her strength and her compassion for others.  Her faith was expressed  by her actions - she was welcoming and kind to everyone she met, taking a real interest in their life.  She said "we are here to show God's love and we show it by helping others.  Plain and simple."  I want to be like her when I grow up.

magic

On the suggestion of a friend I rented Pan' Labyrinth - a fairy tale for an older crowd.  Such a beautiful story of imagination and wonder set against the horrors of humanity's depravedness.  It's a story of a daughter's separation from her true father who has been awaiting her return to the magic realm where no pain, death or sorrow can touch her.  In her journey, she is faced with many tasks including being locked into a room with no exit.  It is at this point that she is almost overcome.  "The door is locked" she say defeatedly.  Her guide, Pan -the Faun, hands her a piece of chalk and says "then create your own door." Creating your own door sounds like a good idea.  We are busting on out.

Sometimes I forget the magic.  As you get older it's hard to believe fairy tales and see beyond the superficial presentation of life.  It's easy forget to look deeper to the real world of mystery, hope and magic that exists if only we would pay attention.

tails from my house

My house.  Ahhhh....I love it - even though it brought me to tears yesterday.  My kitchen had a leak in the ceiling, so being the responsible home owner that I am, my dad and I are fixing it.  We had to pull down a square in the ceiling to get at the pipes...only to discover that the wood in the plaster had rotted through.  This is clearly not a new leak.  We ended up having to take down the entire ceiling.  Now I am going to fix the plumbing, shore it up and then drywall.  Have I mentioned that we already stripped the walls in there?  And to think it all started with a simple paint job to cover the lime green.  stupid vanity.

In other news I caught 3 mice today.  Peanut Butter is good. Cleaning mousetraps is gross.  I came home and found a that a garden elf has been working away.  My front yard looks great AND I was treated to a wonderful chalk drawing on the sidewalk by one of my favourite boys.  Thanks! After the nastiness of yesterday's ceiling discovery and the tails that are inhabiting my home, it was so nice to see beauty.