It’s an old expression, one I grew up hearing, some­times in a rather derisive tone; it’s an admonition to oneself to calm down when overly excited. It can be used in romantic situations, it can also be used in very day ordinary occurrences. I used it twice this week.

    In our evening walk Arie and I paused to speak to small gatherings on the street. The first grouping was painting the pride colours on the sidewalk outside of the Arts Forward Building. Some were long time trusted friends, some are reactively new trusted acquaintances. We spoke cheerfully, lightly and with respect and ap­preciation for each other and the reason for the need for pride colours to become normal. Just a bit further down the street we stopped to chat with the group working on the new green space, between the Gill and Schmall office and our MLA Jodie’s office. This group is creat­ing a place where folks can sit, share lunch, rest, chat..a safe public space honouring the Dream Team and it’s purpose. At both cites ordinary people, my neighbours and friends were working quietly and diligently to make our town, our community, our world a better, more caring home for all. For all. People with differing goals and aims, people with differing hopes and fears, people from differing cultures and creeds, people with differing genders. For all. My heart came near to bursting with pride. Be still my heart.

    And then, just days later, I read, and re-read a letter to the editor by a person who grew up in this community, who holds dear their faith and creeds, and under smooth words cloaking personal beliefs, with smooth words creating a visible and damaging rift in our community, and my heart first hurt intensely, and then came near to exploding with grief. Be still my heart.

    Too often I am silent when I have an opportunity to speak. Partly because I am often in public view, partly because it can be challenging to speak as in individual not being the voice of my family, my faith family, my community or my world. I am speaking in my own voice, for myself, for I cannot be silent. I can no longer be silent. My closest friend and travel companion is married to a wonderful woman who likes and trusts me. I have learned the cost they have paid for their love for each other and their marriage. One of my grandsons is engaged to an amazing man and they have entrusted me with their marriage celebration- okay, I get to of­ficiate their vows, there is no way I want to plan more than that! One of my nearest and dearest is bi-sexual. It’s no big deal. IT’S NO BIG DEAL!!! Each one of these beautiful people love me, respect me, laugh with me, cry with me, encourage me and plain accept me. What more could I possibly wish for. Each one of them carry their creeds and beliefs, sometimes the much the same as mine, sometimes very different. It’s no big deal.

    Be still my heart….it truly can burst with pride, and be crushed my injustice, all in the same week, all in the same place, all in my home community.