The Back Page
By Sue Ferguson
Welcome to another season of transition my friends. How was your summer? Most everyone I speak to agrees that the summer went way too fast, but according to my research, summer is actually the longest season, believe it or not. “Astronomical Summer” lasts roughly 93.6 days. Winter is the shortest season lasting 89 days. Winter only seems longer because we don't all embrace the cold and snow. Summer invites us to relish in the warm sun filled days, and we want it to go on and on. As a kid, I loved summers spent with my Gran on the tobacco farm running around the kiln yard picking up fallen tobacco leaves and hearty lunches of chicken and dumplings and fresh canned peaches. At that age, eating a big lunch followed by eating any number of cookies or goodies didn't matter, because I would burn it off running around the farm. Those were the good old days. Now I am at the stage of my life where I have to be intentional about when I eat, what I eat, and the effects of cortisol.
What was a defining moment of your summer? Maybe you took a trip or did some camping? Our trip to Calgary was a highlight for us, and seeing the Canadian Rockies was pretty incredible, not to mention Kaitlyn's success at the Special Olympics national swimming competition. Our son won the club championship at Norfolk Golf Club this summer as well. I praise God for blessing us in this way. We are lucky to have so much support for our family from you, our church family, and from above.
Another defining moment late this summer was the loss of dear Dolly Parton. She is one of those people that I just felt would live forever. Eighty is not that old! I guess God was ready to all her home. She was an amazing woman in so many ways. Beyond the success of her music career, Dolly is being remembered more for her kindness, generosity, and her open and inclusive faith. Jesus calls us to love everyone. One of Dolly's most famous quotes that I love says this: “If you see someone without a smile, give 'em yours.” I love this, and have been trying to practice that more lately everywhere, but especially at work, when I see a street person come in looking sad and not necessarily wanting to make eye contact, or a guest who is having a bad day and is mad at the world for reasons that I would never know. A smile goes a long way. Dolly loved people and she gave back, investing in children through her Imagination Library project. I wish we had more Dollys in the world. I saw a meme the other day that read “In a world full of Donalds be a Dolly.” We all need to be more like Jesus, and Dolly was a good example of just that. How do we do this? Just follow what Jesus commands of us. Treat others how we would like to be treated, love our neighbours, forgive, feed the hungry, encourage the broken, show grace and compassion, and love, love, love. Even if you disagree with someone, you can still love them. Be like Dolly. Be like Jesus. Share love out in this broken world.
