Power Flower

It is very apparent that COVID-19 is disproportionally affecting recent immigrants and people of non-Caucasian ethnic backgrounds in Canada. At our hospital, the first wave in 2020 devastated elderly people who lived in long term care facilities. We had various outbreaks in our community throughout the year associated with workplaces, particularly meat packinging plants, as well as clusters in social groups, including Old Order Mennonites. The Greater Toronto Area currently has high numbers of hospitalized patients, some of whom are being transferred to other ICUs and medical units in hospitals around the province. The majority of these patients who have come to our hospital are originally from India, South-east Asia, the Middle East, Central America or they are Black Canadians. And there are a few middle class, white patients who have been infected and hospitalized as well.

New immigrants to Canada and other people of colour make up the bulk of the essential work force in southern Ontario. They work in stores, warehouses, factories, hotels, restaurants, delivery services, health care, transportation and child care. These jobs are often low paying contract positions, without benefits, and many people I know in health care work have two or more part time jobs. The workers tend to support multi-generational families who share a home together. It is a perfect storm for contagion. 

The "power flower" above is often used as a classroom activity that demonstrates the social advantages of belonging to particular groups in Canada. It can be adapted to any country and other petals can be added. The more petals a person can colour in, the more advantages they are likely have in our society. I identify with every petal other than age and gender and must recognize the often unconscious benefits I have enjoyed throughout my life. I try to understand the back stories of the COVID patients I see, and the majority of them would be able to colour in only two or three petals of the flower.

This pandemic has demonstrated how vulnerable this working class is in regards to health, economy, and social security. There are people demonstrating against current government mandates closures and the rules around face masks and social distancing. From my observations, these protests are led by white people who inherently have the most privilege. 

There are people, particularly younger, educated Canadians who also have to work at low paying, part time and contract jobs. Getting a full time job with benefits and a pension was almost a certainty when I started working, even for people with no more than a high school education. The power flower is not a perfect representation of success, but it does identify challenges that some groups consistently face. 

COVID news is consistently discouraging right now, so here are some flower pictures from this week that brought me joy!

Left to right, top to bottom:

Beautiful bouquet from my Ottawa family to celebrate our 46th wedding anniversary this week

Tamarack flowers. I love watching these dead looking deciduous coniferous trees come to life in the spring.

Fleur-de-lis or Blue Flag Iris bouquet from my husband.

Pulmonaria (Lungwort) blooms from a plant I took from Grandma's garden in the 1980s.

Corvids I have Known

American Crow

I rode my bike to work early this morning and watched a pair of American Crows foraging in the grass beside the trail. They are members of Corvidae, a branch of large passerine birds including Crows, Ravens, Magpies, Jays, Nutcrackers, and other species. I knew that once I got to the hospital, the buzzword would be COVID, but thinking about Corvids was more enjoyable. Corvids are highly intelligent birds who outsmart many mammals with their problem-solving abilities. Some species live in large social groups and are able to discern emotional cues and display empathy. 

It is difficult to take a really good picture of completely white or black birds. I don't pay much attention to crows unless I notice them being pursued in the air by smaller birds who are protecting their nests. 

Common Raven

Ravens are rarely found in our area of southern Ontario, but are common to the north and across the Canadian Shield. The only way I am certain that is bird is a Raven and not a Crow is by its call. The bird to the right was in Ottawa ON and was making its unmistakable croaking call. Again, this picture shows the difficulty of taking a really well exposed photo of an all-black bird. 

Who is not drawn to the beauty and gregarious nature of the Blue Jay? These birds frequent our bird feeders and are common throughout our province. I have seen other Jays in Mexico and Western USA exhibiting similar behaviours. When I worked in Home Care, I met an older couple who fed a Blue Jay on the balcony of their apartment. In time, the Blue Jay would come right into their living room for a treat if the balcony door was open. They made sure I met their feathered friend on one of my visits. 

We have to travel three hours north to find the Canada Jay, also nicknamed the Whiskey Jack. This one ate from my husband's hand in Algonquin Park. It is very similar to its cousin, the Clark's Nutcracker, a bird of the mountains which we have seen in Banff, Alberta. 

I don't imagine there will be opportunity for much spring birding around the province this year due to stay at home orders that remain in place until May 20th. Maybe I will work on getting a really good photo of an American Crow.  

Unity vs Uniformity

I came across a book called The Bible Illustrator which is large compilation of scripture commentary by editor Joseph Exell. It includes content from hundreds of famous authors of his day such as Dwight L. Moody, Charles Spurgeon, J. C. Ryle, Charles Hodge, Alexander MacLaren, Adam Clark, Matthew Henry, and many others. 

Psalm 133 begins with,

"How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!"

I enjoyed the commentary on this psalm by an anonymous speaker. I have added some of my photos to illustrate the points made. 

"Let a difference be observed between "unity" and uniformity. The one is a Divine, the other a human thing. Acts of uniformity are the product of man. God only can make us the subjects of sacred "unity." 

Uniformity, we get in trees and hedges hacked, cut, and clipped, so as to reduce them to a common size and shape. 

"Unity" without uniformity we get in the trees of the forest, all growing according to the course of nature, of diverse shape, and size, and worth, but dependent for their wild strength and beauty on the same genial influences of nature, as they stretch out their thousand branches and myriad leaves to catch the light, and air, and dew, and showers of heaven. 

Uniformity we have in the classified assortment of flowers, arranged in pots or plots of ground according to their size and colour, no one sort allowed to mingle with another. 

"Unity" is the gathered bunch, worthy of the admiration of every beholder, whose difference of form, colour, and odour only adds to the loveliness of the flowers, which are all bound by one cord, enclosed in the one vessel, and made to drink of the same vital element, — the liquid stream of life. 

We are told that it is highly probable that in the wide domain of material nature there are to be found no two things alike, not even two drops of water, or two flakes of snow. Who ever knew two human faces alike? or two voices with precisely the same cadence? or two human forms identical in every particular? Is it, then, a thing of astonishment that in the mental and moral world there should be differences of thought, and judgment, and feelings? 

The world's diverse population has many ethnic, cultural, sociological, political and religious variations. Even within Christianity, there are differences in theological, liturgical, spiritual and canonical traditions. Pope Francis gave a speech in 2014 saying,

"if these traditions are genuinely rooted in the apostolic tradition, they are an “asset, not a threat” to the unity of the Church. If we let ourselves be guided by the Holy Spirit, the “richness, the variety, diversity” do not become a source of conflict, but are instead a point of enrichment."

There are those who prefer uniformity, but diversity is far more appealing to my sensibilities. We must embrace our differences. To quote Pope Francis once more,

...Unity is not “absorption,” but a unification around the same center, the Lord.

Fond Memories of Mom

Mom has been gone eight years ago today. My sleep last night was as fitful as it was her last night when my daughter and I kept vigil in her hospital room. In Dad's last years, as he struggled with a progressive illness, he frequently expressed his wish to die. But Mom would have loved to stay around for another decade or two. She enjoyed the incredible beauty of her surroundings in south-west Mexico and thrived on contact with family and friends. The five new great-grandchildren she never met would have brought her much joy. She would think it unfair that Queen Elizabeth is still going strong after her 95th birthday yesterday. She had a strong faith in God, but had not crossed off everything on her earthly bucket list. She had an optimistic, grateful joy for living all her life. 

Mom was exactly my age when she had her first cancer diagnosis. Eleven years later she had a second type of cancer which she fought valiantly for the next four years. My brother and his family provided her excellent care and support and I was able to visit her a couple of times a year as she had ongoing treatment. We often sat outside the house enjoying the flowers and watching an amazing variety of bird life. The sunsets over the valley were spectacular. As her world became smaller, she grasped technology, calling daily on Skype and monitoring her Facebook feed closely for updates on family and friends. My memories of those times are very special.

Today is also Earth Day and like Mom, I take pleasure in what this physical world has to offer. The love of nature that Mom absorbed from her parents was passed on to me. I am also a recipient of her example of faith and trust in God. Each of us have a unique path in life, our respective journeys forming our relationship with God and others. 

Psalm 84 is one of my favourites and these verses always remind me of Mom.

Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.

As they pass through the Valley of Weeping,
they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rains also cover it with pools.

They go from strength to strength,
till each appears before God in Zion.

Morels

Wild Morel

My husband was puttering in the back yard and picked this fungus that was growing along the border of the garden. I have never found a morel, and here was one growing in our yard! I am seeing posts on Instagram about spring morel hunts and was very curious to see what would make people invest so much energy to find them. 

"Morels are one of the most desired wild mushrooms in the world. They are not farmed like most grocery store mushrooms, but gathered in the wild. Even people who say they don’t like mushrooms often fall in love with morels. These people generally find the texture of mushrooms slippery, slimy, or otherwise off putting. Morels are unique with their meaty texture and an earthy and nutty flavour." (source)

I would be hesitant to harvest wild mushrooms without a guide, but morels are so unique that it is difficult to confuse them with a toxic mushroom. Toxic false morels do exist but they are easy to distinguish from a true morel. They are hollow inside so slicing them open and finding a hollow centre in the cap and stem confirms their identity. (This site shows pictures of false morels)

I was very confident that my identification was correct. Morels need to be cooked but it only takes a few minutes to pan fry them in butter. 

I was roasting some vegetables in the oven and added my single sautéed morel and the cooking juices to the vegetables. Delicious!! I may have caught the wild morel bug.

Everyone Wants a Good Ending

Part 2 of 2 posts on controversial  medical/social issues.

I am an employee at a Catholic hospital for the first time in my career. I was a physiotherapy intern here for two months before my graduation when nuns still lived in the building. 

"Staff at St. Mary’s continue to live the mission of compassion and respect that is the legacy the hospital’s founders, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Hamilton. During the early years at St. Mary’s, the sisters lived onsite, held all key administrative roles and ran the kitchen, making butter tarts and jam and serving a hot breakfast to staff at the end of a night shift." (source)

 There is a lovely chapel on the third floor and I sometimes sit there during my break. Masses are on hold during the pandemic but the chaplain's office is at the entrance.  

Canada legalized Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) in 2016 and broadened the criteria for voluntary euthanasia further this year. Like abortion, this provision under Canadian law is very controversial and it met significant resistance from faith groups in its inception. Faith-based hospitals are exempt from providing either of these procedures, but must refer people to other doctors or hospitals at a patient's request. Since 2017, three of my patients have requested and received MAID, and the circumstances of each person has been unique. Two of them would have died if the machines they depended on for life, breathing support and renal dialysis, had been removed. They chose an injection over a slower death and it is not my place to judge them for their decisions. There were 13,946 reported MAID deaths in Canada between 2016 and 2019.(source)

It is vitally important to make a living will and designate a Power of Attorney for personal care before they are needed. My husband and I have done this and have had discussions with our daughters about our wishes in the event we become critically ill or incapacited. No one wants to exist without some quality of life, but there are options for care outside of MAID. 

This is my favourite stained glass window in the hospital chapel. It brings to mind the words of the psalmist in Psalm 91. 

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”

Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence.

He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge...

A recent patient had MAID this week and their obituary was in the paper yesterday. It spoke of a supportive family, faith in God, and lifetime accomplishments inspite of a life-long progressive disability.o This person did not come to their decision lightly, and whether I agree with that decision or not, I see them in the nest under the wings of the Almighty.

Thoughts on Abortion

Part 1 of 2 posts on controversial medical/social issues.

A boulevard in our neighbourhood, situated between two churches, is a sea of yellow daffodils this week. The bulbs were planted years ago by students at the local Catholic school to  commemorate lives lost to abortion. Most people living in the area now do not know this history and I could not find the small plaque describing the display this year. 

The hospital where I worked until my "retirement" had an abortion clinic. Protesters would stand outside the entrance of the property from time to time, but were not allowed on the grounds. While I did not work in the clinic, I had several  encounters and conversations with women who accessed this service over the years.

Abortion is nothing new. A direct relative of mine had more than two illegal abortions in the late 19th and early 20th century. When my mother told me this bit of family history I wondered at the risks taken. What would make a married woman so desperate to terminate a pregnancy? Before 1869, abortion was legal until "quickening" according to British law, but for 100 years after that, it was illegal in Canada with severe penalties for providers as well as patients. Women, including my relative, continued to find ways to terminate pregnancies with huge risks to their health.

I think about my paternal great-grandmother whose mother had over 20 children during her reproductive years. How exhausting it must have been to have another child year after year because there was no birth control. Women had no property rights, no legal personhood, and were usually financially dependent on their husbands. My relative who had the abortions had rheumatoid arthritis, no reliable birth control, and an unfaithful, ambitious husband who possibly encouraged her to have the procedures done. She successfully raised three children and was not a bad person. She met me as a baby, but I never knew her and will never know the reasons for her decisions. 

Over the years, I have met many women who have had abortions. Statistics in Canada indicate that approximately one fifth of annual pregancies end in abortion, although this number is dropping slightly each year.  Some people perceive that teenage girls and single young women make up the majority of those seeking abortions. But women with husbands and partners, new immigrant women, and women with physical and mental illnesses also have abortions. I've talked to promiscuous women who grew up being sexually abused and continue to have multiple partners in socially unstable, abusive relationships. Women carry the blame for unwanted pregnancies even though there is always a man involved. 

While I think that abortion is a tragic event, the reasons women seek them are often complex and personal. I have heard people speak from a pulpit denouncing abortion, likely unaware that perhaps up to 1/5 of the women in the congregation have had one. It is hypocritical to think that church attenders, including parents and men, as well as men in ministry, have not arranged for their pregnant daughters, wives and girlfriends to have abortions. 

The daffodils are a good reminder of our need as a community to be "pro-life" in ways that support marginalized families, single parents and children in poor and abusive social situations. Rather than condemning women who have abortions, we need to provide viable and loving options that span decades, not just a moment in time. Making abortions illegal again is not the answer! 

Day 106, 2021

 This year is almost one third gone, yet it is not really much different from the last 13 months in terms of daily routine and ongoing restrictions due to the pandemic. We are well entrenched in the third wave of COVID-19 with added shut-downs in the past week as well as new school closures. Ontario hospitals are cancelling elective surgeries and our Post Anaesthetic Care Unit is once again being converted into a third ICU. It is expected that we will be receiving patients from the Toronto area into the expanded Critical Care units. My work contract was extended for a third time last week and goes until the end of September. I am grateful to have something useful to do and appreciate the opportunity to interact with people when so many others are isolated in their homes. Hopefully by the time my contract ends in the fall, enough people will have been vaccinated to bring transmission of the virus under control. 

Today is a day off work and spring is in full swing. After several warm days, we are experiencing a gentle mixture of snow, sleet and rain with temperatures just above the freezing point. The local trails have been overly busy as indoor activies remain restricted, but few people were out in today's weather. And the woods did not disappoint, with a fresh green haze and spring ephemerals beginning their short flowering season. Bloodroot blooms were at their peak with their large leaves curling around the delicate flower stems to protect them from the cold. We found one blooming Trout Lily and a few Wake Robins as well as one Spiderman!

Nature demonstrates its resilience each year as new life springs out of death. Eilene Zimmerman wrote an article as part of a series on resilience for the New York Times last year. She defined resilience as 

"the ability to recover from difficult experiences and setbacks, to adapt, move forward and even experience growth". 

Stress and loss is not all bad and can be a starting place for building strength and experiencing personal growth. Resilience comes from within ourselves as we dwell on the positives and remain flexible in our thinking. 

The pandemic will end and I am optimistic that there will be ongoing positive changes in the future as we reflect on the lessons learned during this time. 

Capricious April

 

April 8, 2021

The forsythia bush in our garden came into full bloom today. I cannot remember it flowering this early in the spring.* We have had a few warm days between cold spells the past couple of weeks, but today the temperature rose above 20 C by noon. Mom loved forsythias and hoped that they would be blooming for our wedding on April 26, 1975. But it was a cold April and they were not out yet that year. In our region, early blooming of  fruit trees can spell disaster for farmers if a frost comes when the flowers are still out. Much as I enjoyed being outdoors today, this is too early in the month for this kind of display. 

The saying, "April showers bring May flowers" is often inaccurate. The ground is very dry and while there has been some rain, it is well below average. Wasps have been buzzing about, and as they usually build a nest in one of the mature trees, we are trying to discourage them this year with a decoy nest. Time will tell if the false nest is effective in staking our territory in the garden. Pollinators are important but I can do without wasps. 

We went for a walk along the Grand River yesterday. The river is at summer levels and is flowing slowly in this section. Coltsfoot was blooming along the trail, an introduced plant from Europe that has taken hold in North America. The usual April birds, other than Red-winged Blackbirds were scarce which is surprising, as this is usually a good location to see a variety of water birds.

May 11, 2020

This photo was taken last year on May 11, 2020 in the same yard. April was much cooler and the forsythia came into bloom slowly at the end of the month. We seldom have snow that stays on the ground this late in the spring. Climate change is occurring but it is hard to judge its speed by looking at the month of April which can be wintery, summery and everything inbetween.

*Looking back on my older blogs posts, I saw that 2012 had an exceptionally early spring and our forsythia bloomed on March 21! The warm spring that year saw 70% of the apple and stone fruit crop in Ontario lost to frost damage that occurred when the blossoms which came out early were frozen. We can expect night time frosts until the middle of May.

Sacrificial Love

 I will sing of the Lord’s unfailing love forever

    Young and old will hear of your faithfulness.

Your unfailing love will last forever.
    Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens.

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne.
    Unfailing love and truth walk before you as attendants.

Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship,
    for they will walk in the light of your presence, Lord.

Psalm 89: 1-2, 14-15 (NLT)

The sun is rising in the east these mornings when I ride to work and this week, the Pascal moon was setting in the west at the same time. God's faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens. As we celebrate another Holy Week and Easter season, we remember that Jesus was the epitome of righteousness, justice, unfailing love and truth.

John 1:17 states, "For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ."

I love the imagery in Psalm 89 which personifies Unfailing Love and Truth walking ahead as attendants of Righteousness and Justice. As humans we often demand justice without love and transparent truth. We are inclined to deny forgiveness, mercy and justice to those we deem inferior to ourselves or to those who we feel have wronged us. We sometimes struggle to forgive a brother or sister in our families or in our faith. Our own self-righteousness expressed in legalism, judgemental attitudes toward others, and feelings of superiority is not the righteousness of God.

As we observe another Easter, let us demonstrate the love of God expressed in Jesus Christ and extend unconditional love and forgiveness to others. 

1 John 3:14-18 summarizes this well.

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. 

Anyone who does not love remains in death.

Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that 

no murderer has eternal life residing in him.

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. 

And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 

 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need 

but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 

 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech 

but with actions and in truth.

Have a Blessed Easter Weekend!