WAKENED BY KINDNESS

I was never required to write an essay for school about how I spent my summer vacation and I don’t think I’ll do that here. Besides, my holiday occurred from the middle of September to mid-October, and that hardly feels like summer even here in Oklahoma. In a nutshell, I visited my brother and his family in Ontario where I got to see a number of old friends. I then headed for New Brunswick to visit with my sister and her family in Moncton where I enjoyed:

~ quietly watching the sunrise and the sunset

~ going for a walk each morning and each afternoon

~ site-seeing in Saint-Louis de Kent, Richibucto, Bouctouche, and Sainte-Marie-de-Kent

~ seeing the Petitcodiac River from Beaumont

~ doing the dishes and then going for a walk around Victoria Park after supper

~ visiting the Farmers’ Market in Dieppe on Saturday and having a poutine râpée for breakfast

~ visiting the Farmers Market in Moncton on Saturday and having fish cakes for breakfast

~ going to Mass on Saturday afternoon with my niece

~ having dinner with old friends at my favorite restaurant, The House of Lam

~ writing two new songs (both of which mention molasses)

~ eating pork cretons with my great-nephew

~ attending early morning Holy Communion on Sunday at the Anglican Church of my youth and hearing a great homily from one of the finest priests I know

~ watching surfers ride the Tidal Bore

~ going for coffee at my favorite pizza café (Harry’s)

~ eating fish and chips with my godson who had been reading Plotinus earlier that day

~ eating my sister’s boiled dinner (pot roast)

As I mentioned, my holidays began in Ontario. I was there to attend a Memorial Service for a dear friend. I called her my godmother.

One Sunday morning when I was a teenager I was walking home from church when a doctor and his wife who were fellow parishioners asked me if they could give me a drive. (They literally came to me in “a sunbeam” – a Chrysler Sunbeam to be exact, the first car they owned as a married couple.) I discovered that they lived just around the corner and we quickly became the best of friends. They were mentors to me. I came to think of them as godparents, and I still do. They inspired me in every meaningful way one can imagine and I simply would not have pursued higher education without their influence and moral encouragement. Their great charity, patience, and hospitality revealed to all who knew them the deepest qualities of Spirit. The best way I can express the influence these wonderful people had on me is to quote an old hymn by Fannie Crosby.

Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter,
Feelings lie buried that grace can restore;
Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,
Chords that were broken will vibrate once more.

 In their company by God’s grace I was “wakened by kindness,” and I am thankful.