A few weeks ago a gentleman from Victoria, B.C, a thinking 96-year old, retired farmer who knew Ed from Homewood/Sperling days, Arnold McCurcheon, sent me a series of questions. I am choosing to share his questions and my answers:

 

1. Is she a pacifist? Enough to deny her sons a military uniform if called up?

2. How do we Christians avoid killing a murderous intruder that comes to our door?

3. How does she reduce her footprint on the environment, knowing we have passed the point of no return as a civilization?

 

   These are questions I live and walk with.

 

   1. I want to believe I am a pacifist. If my goods were taken I could walk away, if my loved ones were hurt or were taken I would bear arms. 

   Would I want anyone to take another’s life? Never. Do I know that evil must be stopped? Always. May I never be the provoker, always be the defender. We know the scars left on people and places by the armed conflict in the past, and in the present. We (I) also know that the fragile freedoms we take so for granted were hard won, and worth it. I would not urge a loved one to wear a uniform, I would not fail to offer love and support, pouring out prayers for protection.

 

   2. How do we avoid killing a murderous intruder that comes to our door? I think of the martyrs of the past and the present. They held their faith and their values so dear that they willingly laid down their lives. That doesn’t stop the advance of evil... With the advance of technology and loss of privacy and threats to individualism, I see no secret escape... I think of Jesus’ last moments... he forgave the repentant thief, instructed his friend to care for his mother, and committed his mother to his friends’ care.

   Then, with a cry from deep within Jesus spoke to His Father and said— into your hands I commend my spirit... and gave up his spirit. I am contemplating those words for many scenes... when we have done all that we can, all that is asked of us, we can choose to give up our spirit as well. Defending my loved ones, the vulnerable, and disabled, when I have done with all my heart and body, then I can also commit my spirit to my God. Just my thoughts on that...

 

   3. How do I reduce my footprint? Small steps indeed, but the steps that I can order... compost and recycle are big ones. I am blessed to have a small garden, organic, and carefully save all things compostable and have a bin in the garden yard. I take recycling seriously, knowing that too many times the big bin is defiled and discarded— but not because of my actions! I borrow rather than buy when I need a one or two time tool, I shop thrift stores, and donate to them as well. The disparity between the haves and have not, or have not enough is beyond my imagination... I can only throw the starfish that I find on my beach back into the ocean...