Thursday 9 February 2012

Thursday Retreat

Good Day!    Thursday.    Today is work,  Church,  school,  and 26 Field Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery Pipe and Drum Band practice in our lives today.     Old Son is a Reservist with 26 Fd Regt and has a speciality with the Pipe and Drum Band. Old Son is a Drummer.    This Pipe and Drum band is the oldest Artillery Pipe and Drum Band in the Commonwealth.    How neat.   The band members are awesome.  Never have I been a part (or on the fringes of) such a caring band with each of the members having a great sense of humour and joy.   It is delightful to hear of a Pipe and Drum Band that has been enthusiastic and encouraging for 62 years!

Today our Museum is waiting to see if we are the new owners of a FN FAL rifle from Wolverine Supplies.   Wolverine Supplies is an awesome firearms store in Virden MB.  If anyone ever gets an opportunity to be in Virden... this is a must-see shop!   Their website is equally as awesome   http://www.wolverinesupplies.com/     Our Museum does not have a FN FAL rifle in our collection (see us rubbing our hands together in glee over this acquisition).   FN FAL  (FN C-1) was the rifle du jour of the Canadian Forces from the 1950's  through to the 1980's.   

Since yesterday our neighbourhood has been the host of a lot of birds.   I don't know if these
birds are migrating somewhere or just "in town" for some different food.   They sound either like some sort of sparrow or cedar waxwing.   Very beautiful call.     Our temperature today is supposed to be dropping to -38C by evening.   So the birds are already well fluffed.  This is a photo of some of the birds perching in our neighbour's  big ol' tree.



A full day today!    But sometimes the day goes a little off centre and we get unbalanced and cranky and then comes the retaliation.    Thank goodness the Devotional today is about how to God helps us to re-balance.  Phew!

Devotional......
Prayer:  Holy God,  Holy Mighty,  Holy Immortal One You know exactly how I was made.  You know me inside out and You know every bone in my body.  When I get angry at others,  remind me that I only have eyes for You.  In this I rejoice all the day long.  Amen.

Read:  St. Matthew 5: 38 – 41

I”ll get even with you!    How often in your life have you heard these words,  either coming at you from someone or coming off your own lips?    Retaliation.   In verse 38,  Jesus is quoting from Exodus 21: 24.  “An eye for an eye,  tooth for tooth,  hand for hand, foot for foot….”   The disciples knew this passage but we who only read one portion miss out on the understanding.   While it definitely is about retaliation,  it isn’t talking about every single time someone damages your eye or your tooth or your hand.  The Exodus passage is teaching that  If men who are fighting hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman’s husband demands and the court allows.  BUT if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for would, bruise for bruise.   Humm,  this puts this law into a new light doesn’t it.   Jesus then continues teaching the disciples that retaliation is not a part of loving God.  If someone strikes you on one cheek,  turn your cheek to present the other side.  If someone wants your tunic, let him have your tunic as well. … And why do we extend ourselves to help others?  Out of our love for God.   Simple isn’t it.   This day,  find opportunities to extend yourself to help others.  

Prayer:  Great and Holy God,  in You we live and move and have our being.  In You we live our out days.  In You we find love… the love that we will share with others today and always.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Many blessings!

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