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REAP OR SOW
Monday Oct. 12, 2015
Thanksgiving started, I believe, in this country as it did in others – celebrating bountiful harvests, sharing gratitude in our communities.
What is it now?
I like the meal. The company. Many things are good in my life. I don’t really have problems. Most of us have nearly none.
Meanwhile, we feast. Self-congratulate. Greet friends. Feast. Untold millions starve. In corridors of power and from pulpits of pomposity Canadians self-congratulate (our American neighbours will do the same in a few weeks) ourselves for doing – both individually and collectively – very little to solve problems of our fellow citizens. We vote with ballots, not our feet. We guard our wallets and our willingness. Why?
We reap magnificent yields from everyone’s plantings who has gone before us, our pioneers, our farmers, our soldiers, our founders – but enough about bounty, what are we planting?
Are our governments leading peacefully at home or anywhere or faux-fighting terrorism abroad while badmouthing every contrarian idea at home? Is there any new politics for 21st century realities, or same old flavours painted with new names, as if everything might be new and improved?
Why aren’t we doing more, while we can with what we have? With our voice. With our work. With our wallet.
Invisible ones – among us, neighbours and friends, strangers too – endure excruciating difficulties, pains and loss. Stoic, silent, don’t draw attention to themselves, to their problems. They shun pity, grit teeth and carry on bearing burdens most of us cannot imagine. Not temporary inconveniences, but real troubles, and we don’t notice.
I am grateful for their lessons, for their example. For their decency.
What are you thankful for?
Mark Kolke
P.S.: happy turkey day to all – I roasted my little bird yesterday. SB came over with dessert and 5-hours of cooking led to 20 minutes of eating and a long rest to recover …
written / published from Calgary, AB
morning walk: 5C/14F (our Chinook is gone!), chilly, overcast, streets are quiet – everyone tryptophan snoozing I expect … I went light on the gravy! Gusta is happy, with visions of licking plates and pots from left-over warm-overs today …
Reader feedback:
NO PEAKING
Great blog today. Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving, CB, Calgary, AB
Just to note to let you know how much I am thankful to have friends like you in my life, and may you have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day tomorrow!, MI, Calgary, AB
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