Canada’s Collection and Contrast

I struggled with proper title for this posting… too much was happening as I prepared my thoughts for today… we traveled across Canada to get home again. The best way is to point at the words “collection” and “contrast”.

Some of my Chinese or African friends that read this will have a hard time relating to these words I am sure. Your worlds and mine are very different. But then if you were to try to describe your world to some of us – you might have some difficulties to try and get us to understand.

Start here…
We rose very early to get the flight from Regina, Saskatchewan to Toronto. It was 3:35 AM with the boarding to take place at 5:30 AM. The weather outside was like a crisp fall or spring day in Canada. There had been a light drizzle of rain and the windshield of the car that we were to ride in had some ice on it. Cool but nice outside.

It was cool enough and the rain that was falling was freezing – so they needed to de-ice the airplane… spraying it with a large firehouse apparatus that covered the airplane in a pink fluid. It was better to be safe than sorry.

Then it was off to Calgary. Calgary you say? That is west of Regina. Toronto is east of Regina. Well in order to get to Toronto from Regina with this airline you need to fly one hour to the west at 500 miles per hour, land, change aircraft, then fly back over Regina on route Toronto. Then it is another three and half hour flight to Toronto. And I didn’t mention that this is the cheaper flight. The direct flight from Regina to Toronto via another airline was 50% more money. Duh? Something is wrong with this picture in my mind.

Calgary… wow what a welcome! We landed in a violent blizzard. The aircraft shook as the high winds blew across the tarmac. There was at least 12 inches of snow on the ground! It was the same country, same day as Regina’s fall/spring feeling. But oh so different!

In Toronto… 3 and half hours later… there was sunshine, warm weather, green grass and the weather was almost too hot! Go figure it was Canada.

When we awoke the next day we saw green grass in our yard. When my friends and relatives woke in Alberta the next day there was 20 inches of snow and they couldn’t get their door open! Go figure – it is Canada – we are a country of contrasts!

The greatest contrast is not the weather – it is our people! Let me explain further.

In Regina there were two older men traveling with us. They were likely from the farming/rural area of Saskatchewan. Their language indicated that they had rural accent and probably Ukrainian in origins. These men were fun… and funny. They were fun to watch. Where they were going I had no idea. We parted in Calgary. Maybe they were headed for Hawaii?

In Toronto we dropped into a “Licks” hamburger shop for something to eat on the way home. As we ate our food two tall black guys walked into the restaurant. Their clothing shouted who they were. Baggy blue jeans, sunglasses, long shirts over their pants that were hanging low on the hips…. These were Toronto Black dudes. These guys were “cool” – the way that they walked told the whole story…kind of a “cocky bounce” that shouts out – “Don’t mess with me!”

Now each guy had two cell phones. Each pulled out the cell as they entered the restaurant and were working the people on the other end of the line. Then the second phone would ring… they would at times take that call as well as talking on the other phone. As they lined up to give their orders for hamburgers etc. they had to drop out of line to take another call on one of the cell phones.

As sure as I sat there I am convinced they were not talking to people about such as their mothers…these were major drug dealers working from the restaurant that I was sitting in.

Two older Ukrainian farmers and two young black dudes…what a contrast in one day. But this is Canada…. And we are all really different.

Our weather is very different from one place to another – so are our people.

Now on that day two older Ukrainian farmers and two young black dudes probably looked up to see “one old white haired guy” with a funny smile on his face looking at them steadily. I mean I cannot look and not look closely… I suppose it is a stare…. And if you see the old white haired guy –looking at you closely that is me! – I don’t mean any disrespect – it is just that you are so interesting.

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~