Servant Song

Pascal Moonrise March 2024

The full Pascal moon rose at dusk this weekend, the first full moon after the Spring equinox and thus the marker of the Easter season. This year it came the evening of Palm Sunday and the start of Holy Week. 

This year's weekly Wednesday Lenten services focused on the last Servant Song in Isaiah 52:13 through the end of the 53rd chapter. I memorized Isaiah 53 as a nine-year-old to win a prize in Sunday School. The language of the King James Bible obscured the full meaning at the time but the words stayed with me.

He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,

nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

He was despised and rejected by mankind,

a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.

Like one from whom people hide their faces

he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering,

yet we considered him punished by God,

stricken by him, and afflicted.    

Isaiah 53:2b-4 NIV

We still turn our heads away from human pain and suffering and look with pity, even horror on those with visible disabilities. Just as people consider the Suffering Servant "punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted", we look for reasons to blame people who have pain, weakness, deformity, mental illness, social disadvantage, and relational issues. In John 3, the story is told about the man who was born blind.  The disciples asked Jesus,

"Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"

"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, 

"but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him."

Throughout my career, I have worked with people who suffer injury and disability. Physical and Occupational therapists work together to help patients reduce their disability in a society which values beauty, strength, high functional performance, emotional stability and financial independence. Christian churches that preach a prosperity gospel, including physical healing, imply that a lack of faith or spiritual inferiority prevents a person from being fully restored. A "gospel" that offers health and wealth is more appealing than the gospel that invites us to share in the sufferings of Christ. In truth, this teaching offers an excuse to diminish the value of and discriminate against a person with a disability. Suffering eventually comes to everyone as bodies fail with age. We can become bitter, or learn compassion and generosity of spirit through our own loss and pain so that the works of God can be displayed in us. I love the verses in 2 Corinthians 1: 3-5 that read,

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 

who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble 

with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.  

For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, 

so also our comfort abounds through Christ.

I have learned much from people who have suffered physically and emotionally. They often offer authentic strength of spirit and wisdom from their experiences in a society that discriminates against imperfection. Physically intact people are not necessarily whole in mind and spirit or relationally. Pride needs pain to learn humility. I have enjoyed good health and functional ability and recognize my prideful tendency to judge others less fortunate than myself. I must be a servant rather than a judge, striving to see each person as the compassionate and merciful God sees them.

As we observe the death and resurrection of Jesus this week, I will remind myself of Paul's instructions in the ancient hymn quoted in Philippians 2:5-8.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!

Each year I read the devotional Seeking God's Face: Praying with the Bible through the year. This is the prayer for today, Palm Sunday.

Mighty God, we look for salvation and security in many different places. We confess we're tempted to seek out a pumped-up Saviour of power who would flex rippling muscles. Prepare our hearts to welcome our humble servant King, Jesus, finding in him all we need for our salvation. Amen     (Heidelberg Catechism 30)

 

Fossilized or Alive and Growing?

The Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa ON

We visited the Nature Museum in Ottawa, Canada at the beginning of the month with our grandchildren and daughters. The beautiful structure was the first building in Canada specifically designed to house a national museum. The Victoria Memorial Museum opened to the public in 1912. The first fossil gallery in Canada featuring the fossilized dinosaur bones of a hadrosaur named Edmontosaurus regalis opened in 1913. One mile away, The Canadian parliament buildings burned in 1916 and the Victoria Museum became the Canadian government's emergency headquarters for the next four years. The building was named the Canadian Museum of Nature in 1990 and it houses eight permanent galleries and various temporary exhibitions. 

Interactive dinosaur room, Extinct Passenger Pigeon, Fossilized dinosaurs, mounted Broad-winged Hawk 

My grandson's favourite exhibit was called Bugs Alive and he wanted to visit it twice. Our granddaughter loved the Arctic Gallery where large chunks of ice are displayed on a chilled floor. I was excited to see the Bird Gallery and the 500-mounted bird specimens arranged in interactive stations. I saw a mounted Passenger Pigeon which became extinct around the time the museum was built. 

We rushed through most of the other displays as we had a time deadline, but it would be easy to spend at least four hours or more here. I enjoyed the Owls Rendevous, a special outdoor area featuring live owls and a Bald Eagle. All the birds have been rescued and cannot be released in the wild.

Alive! Bald Eagle, 6-year-old girl under ice, Goliath Stick Insect, Barred Owl

It is interesting to see things from the ancient past and near past. I do love history! Our world has changed in every era and continues to do so today. Our grandchildren liked the live displays best, the bugs, the ice, the live birds. I was surprised that they were not that interested in dinosaurs. As we age, we can become sentimentally enamoured with the past, losing interest in the present and resisting change. 

Grandma D. died peacefully 34 years ago today, just before her 94th birthday. She never became "fossilized" and maintained an active interest in the lives of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She seldom talked about herself but was a gifted conversationalist, getting others to share their stories and interests. She travelled widely and brought us souvenirs and books from around the world, stimulating our interest in other cultures and places. 

I am reading two books this month that explore our relationships with the past. Jewish theologian Abraham J. Heschel writes about religion in his book God in Search of Man: A Philosophy of Judaism,

"When faith is completely replaced by creed, worship by discipline, love by habit; 

when the crisis of today is ignored because of the splendour of the past; 

when faith becomes an heirloom rather than a living fountain; 

when religion speaks only in the name of authority rather than with the voice of compassion—

its message becomes meaningless."

Kate Bowler writes less philosophically about ordinary life in her book Have a Beautiful Terrible Day!,

"Lord, I couldn’t bear to lose any more than what’s already gone.

But then, God, the children wiggle out of favourite clothes with each passing year,

and there are boxes of Grandma’s things in the attic.

He left, and she’s gone, and my closets are stuffed to the ceiling with reminders:

we are losing the life we knew; we are gaining a life we didn’t imagine.

We are picking up and putting down.

So let’s take the china out of the cupboard, the baseball gloves out of the garage,

or whatever tells our story. And tell it.

We will not be lost. We will never be lost."

I think about Grandma daily and try to pass on the love and the life lessons we shared during our times together. My brothers and I always wanted to spend time with her. She set the standard for me now that I am a grandmother. I am also grateful for my current part-time job and good relationships with considerably younger co-workers. I see patients who have aged well, engaged and curious about the present and others who became more and more isolated as they got older. As Kate Bowler said well in verse, "...we are losing the life we knew; we are gaining a life we didn’t imagine,"...as long as we are not afraid of change.

Early March Nature Observations

FOY Great Blue Heron

At this time last year, I walked along the trail at the confluence of the Grand and Speed Rivers and stepped carefully through the snow and ice that still covered the ground. Spring is definitely early this year compared to last and the birds and plants are aware of this too. Yesterday, at midday, I briefly checked three of my favourite birding spots in the region.

Carolina Wren- A year-round resident here unlike its cousin the House Wren

I found one Carolina Wren a few years ago on the shoreline of Burlington Bay and haven't seen one since. Walking a local trail yesterday, I heard one singing but could not spot it in the trees. A few minutes later it landed close to me and sang its heart out. Wrens have big voices that are way out of proportion to their size and the Carolina Wren has a distinctive and more melodious song compared to the House Wren. I heard another loud bird song that I did not recognize and after recording it on the Merlin Bird ID app, discovered it was a Tufted Titmouse. The Tufted Titmouse is not widespread in our area but there are several in this park. Other birders and photographers had left seeds on the posts of the boardwalk, attracting the usual winter birds such as Juncos, American Tree Sparrows, Chickadees, Nuthatches and Northern Cardinals.

Red-bellied Woodpecker- another non-migrating species

I noticed another bird in a pine tree and when it came into the open, it was a beautiful Red-bellied Woodpecker. Its belly was more yellow than others I have seen. These three birds;- the Tufted Titmouse, the Carolina Wren, and the Red-bellied Woodpecker- are birds of the Carolinian Forest that have gradually extended their territories northward over the past few decades. Ontario has Carolinian Forests along the northern shores of Lake Ontario and Erie, as well as the southeast shore of Lake Huron. The Tufted Titmouse moved into our region in the past couple of years and has been nesting successfully.

L-R, top to bottom: Skunk Cabbage, Red Maple flowers, Crocus, Snowdrops, Pussywillow, Snowdrops

I checked out early spring flowers which are blooming about three weeks earlier than last year. Skunk Cabbage blooms were emerging out of the swamp and a Pussy Willow bush hid an American Tree Sparrow. Red Maple trees are in full bloom. Driving home I spotted clumps of Snowdrops (Galanthus) and Crocuses which are not native North American plants but have become harbingers of spring.

Spring and winter usually battle for supremacy in March and April but clearly, spring is a winner this year. We will undoubtedly see more snow, but I hope there are no dry frosts during the crucial budding season of our fruit trees. The ground is very dry and today's rains are most welcome. 

Birds seen or heard: I did not count prevalent birds like Canada Geese, Mallards, Starlings, Crows, etc.

FOY:                                               OTHER:

Turkey Vulture                                American Robin

Song Sparrow                                 Red-winged Blackbird

Carolina Wren                                Great Blue Heron  

Common Grackle                           Bald Eagle

Eastern Bluebird                             American Tree Sparrow

                                                        Black-capped Chickadee

                                                        Red-bellied Woodpecker

                                                        Tufted Titmouse (very loud calls)

                                                        Northern Cardinal

                                                        White-breasted Nuthatch

                                                        Junco

International Women's Day 2024

Women of Strength

Today marks yet another observance of International Women's Day, a day to celebrate the women's rights movements of the past 125 years and to encourage ongoing focus on gender equality, abuse and violence against girls and women. "Women's Day" has been observed in some form since 1909, becoming a global event in 1977. One hundred years ago, Grandma D. was passionate about women's rights and while she filled the role of wife and mother capably, she also had a career and was a community leader. 

Our mother ran for class president when she was in high school. The photo in the top left corner shows her on a tractor with Dad as a teenager and a wagon-load of supporters (including Aunt Lois) as they drove through town garnering support for her election. She grew up capable and confident because of the strong women who mentored her. The picture on the top right is of Mom and her best friend, Ruth Knowles, for whom I am named. The photo on the bottom right is of Grandma and her sister Dorothy (on the right) with two of their friends in the 1940s. Women around the world proved their capabilities during WW1 and WW2 and moved forward in the paths forged during the Suffragette and Women are Persons movements at the turn of the 20th century. 

I feel that ground was lost in the 1950s and 60s as many women stayed at home and raised the Baby Boomer generation in city suburbs. Gender stereotypes were reinforced and it took the second feminist wave of the 1970s and 80s to bring calls for equal pay, equal economic opportunity, equal legal rights, and the prevention of violence against women. I completed my education, starting my career in the mid-1970s and have observed both women and men providing capable leadership in various roles. No one in the Western world is surprised to find women excelling as lawyers, judges, educators, researchers, politicians, artists, musicians, as well as being leaders in medical and scientific endeavours. While struggles continue, Western society has generally accepted that women can choose to be what they want. There is still much work to be done to ensure that women around the world enjoy the same privileges.

It is troubling to see how various conservative religions have increased efforts to push women into specific roles, denying them the chance to choose their own path and exercise any inherent leadership abilities. Some Christian churches, in response to increased legal and social rights for women, have doubled down on enforcing societal standards of the first century AD that keep women subjected to men. Abuse is easier to hide when women have their voices muted and are made to submit to men in authority. Women are different than men and healthy, equal relationships in marriage and career settings bring strength and balance to our families and communities.

Grandma D. was every bit a lady. The picture on the left is her graduation photo from Medicine at the University of Toronto in 1918. The picture on the right is of her equally feminine great-great-granddaughter in 2023. I want her to grow up to be whatever she wants, confident in her abilities and relationships, and an equal partner domestically and in her world. 

1918                                                                               2023

“My career has been one of much struggle

characterized by the usual persecution which attends everyone

who pioneers a new movement or steps out of line with established custom.”

- Dr. Emily Howard Stowe, First Female Doctor to Practice in Canada