December 23

Continued... Repelling down a waterfall was a little unnerving at first because I was in control of my speed.  As I neared the bottom of the falls, the water was pounding hard on my head.  Standing at the bottom in the falls with water crashing on your head is quite exhilarating.
I did two nature walks at the Bosque Resort.  My favorite was a night time walk with a resident biologist.  We observed spiders, frogs, snakes, scorpions, and all kinds of creatures of the night.  I learned there are geckos that are all females.  There are frogs that give live birth (skip the tadpole stage).  Banana frogs with the deepest croak attract the most ladies so soprano males hang around the bass section in hopes of getting the wingman advantage.  Scorpion shells show up fluorescent in blue light.  If you hold your flashlight at eye level, the light will shine directly into the eyes of little creatures so the sparkles that you see in the grass may not be dew.  They may very well be little eyes staring at you.

After four days of decadence at Bosque, we flew back to San Jose, rented a car, then drove to a valley southeast of San Jose.  We thought we could navigate using maps.  Big mistake.  We drove in a big circle through San Jose.  There are no street signs even for major streets and highways.  GPS got us to our destination at Cachi.  We stayed in a small resort where we were the only guests.  There were over three hundred species of birds in the valley.  Dave's goal was to photograph the motmot.  No luck, but we did see the other 299 species.  The valley was a virtual garden of Eden.  There were small pastures on the hillside.  I think the cows were velcroed to the slopes.  Crazy!  The resort had a series of small trout ponds oxidized by the flowing water from the mountain streams.  Of course, we had trout for dinner.

The next two days were spent in the central highlands in a biological reserve near Dota on the El Savegre River.  We had to descend several hundred feet on a switchback road to the valley floor.  Again, the lodge was quite posh and swarming with birders dressed in khaki cargoe pants, Columbia shirts, and pocketed vests lugging huge cameras and tripods.  The holy grail they were all searching for was the resplendent quetzel.  Look it up.  It really is resplendent.  I skipped the birding tour on this one because my belief is: one should be sleeping at 5:15 am.  I awoke at a reasonable time, enjoyed some delicious Costa Rican coffee, meditated, journaled, and went for pleasant walks. One evening, Dave and I went to a pizzeria 6 km up the hill in a tiny village.  There were two tables, everything was made from scratch, and the hummingbirds provided the entertainment (no TSN).  The owner, cook, and bottle washer, Viktor, made a delicious pizza and prepared a blackberry juice for us. Memorable.

We made our way back to San Jose on the last Thursday of our trip.  On the way, we stopped at a Carpentira Ziplining where I had booked a ziplining adventure.  I was the only patron that afternoon so I had three guides (Juan, Manuel, and Ebby) looking after me.  We laughed, hooted, hollered, sang, and yodeled like hyenas.  There were 11 zip lines and two long repels.  One zip line was 500 meters (short by Costa Rican standards).  Best experience of the trip.  I felt totally alive.

On our last day, we had to be in front of the hotel for 5:20 am because we were being picked up for white water rafting.  We drove over the great divide to the Caribbean side of the country to the Pacuare River Forest Reserve.  The guide was a pro.  He said he had not capsized a raft in ages.  Well, we capsized in a set of Class 4  rapids that day.  After 30 seconds of terror, I made it through the roiling water and between the huge boulders into the pool at the bottom of the rapids with a banged up elbow and a scraped knee.  Merely flesh wounds.  A meal was provided at each end of the journey.  First class treatment with a near death experience!  The trip back to our hotel was a long and arduous one.  There was an accident on the main thoroughfare in San Jose.  The highway was closed so buses and semi trailers were snaking their way through side streets that were as wide as our back alleys.  Our return trip to the hotel took four and a half hours to travel 72 km.

On Saturday, December 15, we flew back to Canada after sitting on the runway in San Jose for two hours with a mechanical issue.  It's all part of the deal with travel...delays, getting lost, and capsizing. Short story...I had a great trip to Costa Rica.

December 19

Ho ho ho.  It's only 6 more days until Christmas Day.  Really snuck up on me this year because I was in Costa Rica for the first two weeks of December.  The holiday was the trip of a lifetime.  Dave, my traveling partner was a wonderful companion.  He had been to Costa Rica five times before; therefore, he knew his way around.  We had long, thoughtful conversations, lotsa laughs, ate healthy meals, imbibed a little, and observed the abundance of nature.  Dave has a zoology degree and he is a birder so I was introduced at a variety of wildlife that I had not witnessed before...pacas, pazotes, Jesus Christ lizards, chacalacas, curusous, peccaries, toucans, red macaws, red eyed tree frogs, cari caris, coo coos, four varieties of monkeys... the list goes on and on.
We arrived in San Jose late in the evening of December 1 then flew to southwestern Costa Rican city of Puerto Jimenez on the morning of December 2.  We spent the first four days at an eco lodge ( Iguana Lodge) on Golfo Dulce.  The days were spent boogie boarding, taking long hikes along the beach, walking nature trails, and of course, enjoying siestas.  There was a group of 12 yoga experts having a retreat at the lodge.  They were from all parts of the US...very friendly and entertaining.  Our accommodation was a casita with a large deck, hammock,screen walls, and lounge chairs.  We were 100 m from the beach so I fell asleep each night to the sound of waves breaking on the shore.  Beautiful.  On our last day at Iguana Lodge, we went on a twilight luminescence kayak tour.  We paddled deep into a mangrove swamp, returned to the Golfo Dulce, paddled until to a remote beach, learned the proper way to crack a coconut, ate fresh pineapple, and then we donned snorkeling masks when darkness fell.  If you swish your hands in the water, the plankton light up like fireflies because of enzymes in the plankton.  We finished the tour by slogging about one kilometer over mudflats to the shore.  Walking calf deep in mud pulling a kayak in total darkness is an adventure in itself. The next four days were spent at Bosque del Cabos on the southern tip of the Osa Peninsula.  Bosque Lodge was quite posh.  No yogis at this lodge...there were 12 photographers participating in a workshop led by a famous National Geographic photographer.  Each photographer was sporting a camera with lenses the size of a stove pipe.  Then there was me with my iPhone 7.  Our casita was perched on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean.  The staff were super friendly.  They learned my name and it was, "Senor Alveen, can I get you a coffee?"  There aren't many Alvins in this world that aren't chipmunks, but there was a cook at the resort named Alvin so we had our picture taken together.  While at the Bosque Lodge, Dave and I rode horses to the top of a mountain and repelled 105 feet down a waterfall.  What a rush!  To be continued.  

November 20

I just got back from parking court.  On May 5, I was given a parking ticket for spending over 3 hours in a 2 hour zone.  The reality was: I parked my vehicle at 4:49 pm and returned to my vehicle an hour later to find out I had been ticketed at 4:50 pm.  Fortunately, I had a printed receipt to prove when I parked.  I thought, "No problem.  I'll iron this out at City Hall."  The clerk at City Hall said she would report my case to the parking office.  I get a letter from the parking office saying, "Too bad. So sad. You were parked for over 3 hours in the same spot."  Then I was sent a summons in July.  I had to appear in court on a September date.  I showed up in court in September.  After standing in line for a while and going through a metal detector and sitting in the courtroom for half an hour I found out the sole purpose of the court date was to enter a plea.  I plead not guilty.  I was given a hearing date of November 20.  So...after making another trip downtown for the court appearance with metal detector and the whole nine yards, I get a chance to plead my case.  The attorney asks my name.  I tell her.  She replies, "Oh, we dismissed your case.  You don't have to pay the fine."  All this for a $30 parking ticket.  Thank God, I'm retired.

In other news, Mary and The Love Bug are off to Houston tomorrow.  Haley and Dustin leave for Nashville in a week.  I leave for Costa Rica in 10 sleeps. 

Today, I am leading a sing song at Prairie View School in Dalmeny and this evening I have been invited to lead an adult ukulele group.  It's a musical day.

Oh yeah, and because I know my readers are curious, I have a major two game goal scoring streak going.

November 8

As you know, Judy's tradition was to watch her first Christmas movie on Halloween night.  Mary has faithfully maintained that tradition this year.  Mary dressed the Luv Bug up as a bug and brought her over to my house for trick or treating.  The next event leading up to Christmas was Christmas baking on the November long weekend.  The girls have maintained that tradition too.  They are getting together at Haley's place tomorrow evening to bake Christmas cookies.  My nephew, Dustin, will be visiting my home this weekend...another event I am anticipating with a glad heart.  Luvisa is learning new things every day.  Her latest accomplishments have been to sit up on her own and crawl.  She is also eating apple slices, cheese, cucumber, carrots, etc.  When I say eat, I mean she gums the living daylights out of things then spits the spoils on the table.  Yummy!  She is also a master at making the raspberry sound.  Mary has her in swimming on Mondays, Mom's Time Out on Tuesdays, and Story Time on Thursdays.  She also goes to the gym with Mary at least twice a week.  Morgan is enjoying being a dad and working his tail off as Power Engineering student at SIAST.  Haley and Dustin are very busy.  Haley has been coaching volleyball this fall.  She received some lovely gifts and recognition from her players.  Dustin's business is going very well, but he puts in long hours to stay on top of things.  Haley and Dustin are going to Nashville at the end of November to take in some country music and an NFL game.  Mary is going to Houston with Luvisa in November to visit her friend, Samantha, for a few days.  I am only 3 weeks from my Costa Rica vacation.  I am really looking forward to the adventure and have already begun to pack.  Life is good.

October 25

October has been hockey, hockey, and more hockey with a smattering of volleyball thrown in.  Last week, I scored a hat trick on Wednesday and today I scored another two goals.  It feels good to see the puck go in.  Another thing that feels really good is to see my Luv Bug on a regular basis.  Yesterday, Mary and I took her for a long walk around Warman while Morgan studied and today I took Mary and Luvisa out for lunch.  On the weekend, I went to Regina.  I helped my oldest brother, Vince, with some flooring.  This weekend will be a special time for Haley.  She is receiving her Master of Education degree in Educational Administration.  I can't describe how proud I am of both my girls.  They blow me away with their dedication to the teaching profession.  The greatest blessing is: they are best friends.  Last Wednesday, Mary, Luvisa, and I went to Tisdale to visit my mom.  Mom was thrilled to see her great grand Bug and the Bug did not disappoint.  She showed great grandma how she could blow raspberries and how she could get up on all fours.  She gets around the floor backwards now, but she is really close to being able to crawl.  The countdown is on for the Costa Rica trip.  35 more sleeps.

October 9

Time to brag again.  Today, I played hockey.  We were up against a very good team.  One of the players is arguably the best player in the league.  I scored 4 goals! This is definitely my best production ever.  I scored a hat trick last year and I have had a few doubles, but this was a first. Yup, the puck was following me wherever I went.  I'm feeling very satisfied.

October 8

The Thanksgiving weekend is winding down.  It has been a good one.  Friday was a typical Alvin Kolach day.  I left for volleyball at 9:00 am, went from volleyball to hockey at noon, played hockey until 2:00 pm, then went to Mary and Morgan's to help Morgan install a drop ceiling in their basement.  I got home after 9:00.  On Saturday, I had to be up early to babysit The Luv Bug while Mary went to the gym, then Mary and I went shopping with Luvisa.  In the afternoon, Vince and Loretta arrived.  They were up in Saskatoon to attend Luvisa's baptism on Sunday.  We had a wonderful visit. I took Vince and Loretta to Mary and Morgan's so they could snuggle the baby, then we came to my place where I made them a meal of fresh salmon, jasmine rice, veggies, and a rhubarb crisp.  Vince and I finished the night by watching hockey, baseball, and football all at the same time.  On Sunday, Luvisa was baptized.  She was an absolute angel through the whole service.  She could hardly wait to get into the baptismal font.  After church, Vince, Loretta, Haley, Dustin, and I went out for lunch.  Vince and Loretta headed back to Regina.  After a long walk, I did my part in preparing the Thanksgiving meal.  I am the mash potato guy...always have been.  I also did the veggies.  Haley was the host for the meal.  We had my crew as well as Audrey's crew and Dustin's parents, Jae and Doreen.  Excellent meal.  Today, Haley, Dustin, Mary, Luvisa, and I went on the Annual Judy Walk at Cranberry Flats.  It was ccccold.  Luvisa was all bundled up in her snuggly; however, she wasn't impressed with the cold nor'easter.  I spent the rest of the day vegging in front of the TV watching the Rider game and the rest of the sports smorgasbord available at this time of the year.  Tomorrow is hockey and the usual coffee date with a good buddy.  Another Alvin Kolach day.

September 27

Last Friday, I attended the Keith Urban Concert at SaskPlace.  I don't really know any Keith Urban songs, but he must be a big deal because the place was packed to the rafters.  I must admit, he is a remarkable performer and his songs made me smile...they made everyone smile.  High energy and great musicianship.  Keith is just a real nice guy.  Totally enjoyed the show.  And when I called for more cowbell, they delivered.

I getting ready for winter in many ways.  Last week, I winterized my trailer at the lake and I blew out my sprinklers.  Even though the weather has been cool and nasty in September, my bedding plants continue to look good so I haven't emptied my annual pots yet.  They still look colorful. 

I got to see my Luv Bug twice this week.  On Monday, I had lunch at Mary's and yesterday, Mary came to my place for lunch.  I already had a swing for the baby in the living room and now I have a pop and jump in the kitchen for Luv's jumping pleasure.  Man, I love that little girl.  She is just perfect.

Sad to say, my scoring streak ended at three games.  Now I am concentrating on being a defensive specialist and a playmaker. 

The next session of hockey begins next week.  New team and new line mates.  Playing 60+ hockey is one of the highlights of the winter for me. Another highlight this winter is a trip to Costa Rica scheduled for December 2-16.  I am starting to get stoked for that one. 

Thank you to everyone who reads this blog.  Thank you to everyone who loves me and encourages me.  I am getting better.

September 20

The big news is: I bought my first new vehicle in 10 years...a 2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid.  I was looking for a vehicle that had Bluetooth before I got a ticket for using my cell phone.  I also wanted heated seats and all wheel drive.  Furthermore, I was paying a pretty penny to plate and insure two vehicles.  I was able to sell both my old vehicles very quickly.  My neighbor bought my old RAV4 and I sold the Camry on Kijiji.  The Camry was sold to the first buyer on the first night for my asking price.  In other news, I saw the band, Chicago, in concert on September 7 and I went to the Rider game on September 15.  Chicago was a winner, but not so with the Riders.  Haley is back into the swing of things at Delisle Composite School.  Dustin have very full and happy lives with work, going to the gym, attending concerts/sporting events, and looking after the grand dogs.  I get to see Mary and my Luv Bug often.  The Luv Bug is growing like a weed.  She is very active.  She loves to jump and she navigating around the floor by rolling over and over.  Mary and Morgan are having Luvisa baptized on Thanksgiving Sunday.  Hockey started on September 4 so I have 5 games under my belt.  You probably have read about my 3 game goal scoring streak in the Star Phoenix, but just in case you have not followed my hockey heroics, I thought I would let you know. 

September 10

The Labour Day weekend was spent at the lake.  On the Saturday of the long weekend, I attended a barbeque for Haley's father in law's 70th birthday.  I slept at Haley and Dustin's cabin on the Saturday night because I suspected the night would be cold in my wooden shed.  On Sunday, Mary, Morgan, and Luvisa came over to the cabin.  We spent the morning on the deck drinking coffee, then we watched the Riders vs. Winnipeg before I headed home.  On September 4, I played my first hockey game of the season.  I hadn't been on skates since April.  The lungs were burning, but my body held up well.  I already have three games under my belt.  Last weekend, I went to see Chicago(the band) in concert at the Center of the Arts in Regina.  Next weekend, I plan to join my brother, Vince, for the Rider game on Saturday...might need my rain gear.  The big news for today is: I just bought a new vehicle.  It's been 10 years since my last new vehicle.  I wanted a vehicle with Bluetooth, heated seats, and good gas mileage.  I purchased a Rav4 Hybrid.

August 26

My usual routine is to go to bed around 10 pm.  Getting to sleep is easy.  Staying asleep is another thing.  If I am lucky, I sleep until 3 am, then I am awake for a couple hours.  I use the time to pray, meditate, read, and nourish my mind.  Last night, I was inspired to update my blog.  What should I write?  Well, I was in a ball tournament this past weekend.  Our team came in 3rd place at provincials.  My groin is stretched 7 ways from sundown.  It's what happens when you get on base.  You run a lot.  Fast as you can.  I also had then opportunity to have supper with Mary and Luvisa on Friday night and Sunday night.  Morgan was in a golf tournament for the weekend.  The Bug is learning new things every day.  Yesterday, she was showing me how she can roll from her back to her stomach.  She brings so much joy just by being.  Mary is such a good little mama.  She is making Judy proud.  Haley and Dustin were enjoying the last week of Haley's vacation at their Memorial Lake cabin.  Last Wednesday, Haley and Dustin invited me to the lake to spend the day on their new wakeboard boat.  I love how my girls and their hubbies look after me.  I am thankful for my friends too.  People just seem to call at the right time to invite me out for coffee.  The conversations are rich. I am also thankful for my backyard, my deck, and my zero gravity chair.  Some of the most pleasant hours of summer were spent reading, snoozing, and visiting on my back deck.  I have spent many hours reading the books that Judy read in her last years.  Judy had the habit of sticking tabs on pages that she found meaningful.  Sometimes the books look like porcupines with all the tabs sticking out.  How I wish that she was here to discuss the ideas in the books that brought her comfort and meaning!  Her last books...Proof of Heaven, The Power of Now, The New Earth, Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life, and there are other books... I try to understand what gave Judy comfort.  I read the little side notes.  I have a general sense of the ideas that helped Judy find meaning in life.  But I don't really know, nor does it matter that I don't know.  We are all on a journey and our journey is like a snowflake.  No two journeys are the same.  God is with us on that journey.  He never leaves us.  nothing can separate us from His love.  When we die, love lives on, He is still with us.

August 8

I spent the last weekend at Memorial Lake with my gang. Mary, Morgan, and Luvisa in the trailer, Haley and Dustin in their new cabin, and me in the man cave (an 8x8 wooden shed behind the trailer also referred to as The Condo).  On Saturday evening, I enjoyed a potluck with the old Lake Family.  It was just like old times. I ate until my belly button flipped outward.  I laughed even when I didn't hear what was so funny.  The three days I spent at the lake are the most days I have spent at the lake since Judy died.  Funny thing...being at the lake makes me miss Judy more than when I am at home.  The lake was happy times, not that our home wasn't happy times, but memories of Judy and me the lake are more vivid probably because we were together there without the 10 000 things that usually went on in our everyday life at home.  Every little wasp trap and camping gadget remind me of Judy.  She loved lake time.  Drinking wine by the fire, trying to rid the world of flying insects, watching The View on farmer vision, lake clothes, and many other things are reminders of the lake experience we shared.  Another funny thing...grieving Judy's loss is more intense now that nearly 3 years have passed.  The first year was relief from watching Judy suffer for 7 years.  The second year was a little more intense.  This third year is crushing.  Feels like someone is standing on my chest some days.  I have to work at being excited about anything.  Grief comes in waves, uninvited.  Hard to explain, but you can't go over, around, or under...you have to go through grief.  No escape.  If you don't grieve, you are not human.  Everyone's experience is unique.  They say there are 5 stages of grief.  You go back and forth in the stages.  There is no particular order.  The journey is circular, not linear.  You never get over grief, but I am sure time takes away the sting.  That's life.  You have order, then something comes along to cause disorder, and finally you have to re-order your life.  I'm sure I will come through this stronger, but right now, I am just not that strong.  I do what I can.  I stay active.  I force myself to stay connected.  I eat healthy.  Every day, I give and I grow.  I read.  I meditate.  I contemplate. I openly share with people the struggles I am going through, and I pray.  Moreover, I try to shine light and love in the world.  I forgive.  I give thanks for my daughters, Luv Bug, my sons in law, my dear friends, my family, my home, my activities, my health, and every little experience that comes my way.  I have learned to be content with aloneness which is different than loneliness.  And while I breathe, I hope.  And I have faith which is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things yet unseen.

July 23

In the summer,  a guy shouldn't be indoors typing a blog.  He should be out in the great outdoors.  That's my excuse for not making an entry for 4 weeks.

Canada Day weekend was spent at the lake and at the neighbour's where we had a great Canada Day Party.  In fact, I have been at the lake for most weekends because I get to spend more time with my Luv Bug.  I also get to golf with Luv Bug's dad and spend quality time with my gang.
The one weekend, I didn't go to the lake was on July 7-8 when I went to the Ogema Fair and the Wood Mountain Rodeo.  Yes, they still remember me in Wood Mountain even though it was 40 years ago that I lived there.  I went to the rodeo dance on Saturday night and the rodeo on Sunday.

This past weekend, I wore one of my regular hats as a preacher wannabe.  I preached a shock and awe sermon at my home church, Resurrection Lutheran.  I am going to post my sermon below.

Sermon for July 22

 Jesus Love the Little Children:  "All" the Little Children of the World

I have chosen the epistle text for today’s sermon.  The verses in Ephesians 2 that intrigued me are: His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, ¹⁶ and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. ¹⁷ He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. ¹⁸ For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

One new humanity out of two.  I guess if you were a gentile, you were on the outside looking in.

In today’s sermon, I am going to shock you, confuse you, challenge you, hopefully, I won’t bore you.

I am not a theologian and I am not a spiritual giant.  I am a seeker who is trying to figure it all out.  It seems the more I learn the less I know.  I must confess that I have been on a journey lately.  A journey of faith.  I have asked some hard questions of God.  About salvation, gender, sexual orientation, what is heaven, what will happen to people who have never heard the gospel, what will happen to people of other religions, denominations, cults, sects.  Is God out there?  Is God in here?  What is sin?  Where is heaven?  Is there a hell?  I think if everyone here was honest with themselves, you would likely agree you don’t have it all figured out.  Furthermore, I am sure that everyone of you has a different set of beliefs about who God is and what he requires of us.  Many of you probably would be hard pressed to explain your faith to others even your closest friend or your spouse. Yes, we are all on a different faith journey.  We are all over the map.  Even though we are in a Lutheran Church, where we are justified by grace through faith,  I am sure some would say you’ll get to heaven at a future date if you keep the 10 commandments and live a good life.  Oddly enough, most of us could not recite the 10 commandments. I am sure you have a few ideas about who will get to heaven and who will burn in hell. Again, we have some very different ideas on heaven and hell. Some of us are able to recite a stock answer about our beliefs, but we doubt what we are saying and would not likely be able to defend our position with conviction.  We have a mind that divides people with walls. We sort people.  Saved and unsaved, sheep and goats, black and white, gay and straight, … the sorting is endless.  In the midst of this sorting, we have built walls between ourselves and others.

I would like you to think about a wall that you are experiencing in your life right now. Hold it in your mind. Now, I’d like us to think about conflict like a brick wall that is built between us and that person or group of people. How do you build a wall? One brick at a time. Each of those bricks are moments in time. They are actions taken, words spoken, love withheld.. Brick after brick is laid down until, sometimes the wall is so high and so thick that it seems impossible to change.

Can you see that wall in your mind? The question for us today is, “How can we break down this wall?”

Our Epistle lesson is Ephesians 2:11-22.

The Apostle Paul wrote this letter from prison. It is important to note this fact because the reason he is in prison is directly tied to our topic. Paul was in trouble because he was accused of breaching a wall.

The Temple that sat in the heart of Jerusalem was a series of walled in courtyards and in the center was the Temple itself. Only priests were allowed inside the Temple, because this represented the very presence of God. Even then, only one priest was allowed to go into the Most Holy Place, and that only once a year. Then the next courtyard was called the Court of Israel. Which meant that only circumcised male Jews were allowed to come in here. The next courtyard was the court of women. Again, only Jewish women were allowed here.

Then, way out here, on the side, was the Court of Gentiles. If you were not a Jew, you were not welcome here.

Imagine what our worship space would be like if it were under these rules. We’d have a big curtain around the altar, and only Pastor Then only male members of this congregation would be allowed to sit in the pews. Female members of the congregation could stand in the Narthex and look in. Everybody else could stand outside if they wanted.

Enter Paul. He had been out traipsing around the countryside, interacting with Gentiles. He even brought some Gentiles back with him. He was accused of bringing one of the Gentiles into this space. That’s why they wanted to kill him.

When Paul speaks of a wall of hostility, he is not just speaking in the abstract. He’s talking about this physical representation of the division and exclusion of people from the community of God’s people.

Let’s look at what he says. This passage can be broken down into two main parts. A before and an after.

In the before part he says:

So then, remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth, called “the uncircumcision” by those who are called “the circumcision”—a physical circumcision made in the flesh by human hands—remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

Here’s the key phrase in the whole passage: But now

Something has changed because of Jesus. Look at how central Jesus is this section. Notice the passage reads:

in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father.

You see, this is the Gospel. This is the good news. Jesus has put to death that hostility through his death on the cross. You know we say this all the time, but have ever asked how that works? What really happened?

Think about it this way. The biggest wall of hostility in the universe is the wall built between us and God. If anyone had the right to be hostile toward us it would be God. But God looks at us. He looks at you and says, “I have died to the wall. I have died to your sin and the many times you have hurt me and others. I forgive you, and I love you.”

And as he looks at us with that eternal love, all the bricks just vanish.

And then Jesus looks at the walls of hostility that still remain between us and says, I’ve knocked this down. I have proclaimed peace. What about your wall today? Look at each of those bricks. Each of those hurtful things that you want to cling to. Once you were defined by them. Once there was the other person far off on the other side, and you on this side. But now. Because of God’s love demonstrated in Jesus, and through the power of God’s Spirit moving between us, we can let go of the past, forgive the bricks, and work toward the future of peace in the presence of God.

Many times we hide behind these walls and use them as an excuse for not loving the way Jesus called us to love.

 We need to remove the walls between people.  Unfortunately, the Christian Church has rebuilt the walls that Christ tore down.  We have not solved the problem already resolved by God.  Humans have never really done diversity very well.  We see people in terms of good and bad, sheep and goats, saved and unsaved, black and white, … But we need to see our foundational oneness. Ephesians 1:4  For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love ⁵ he^[b]predestined us for adoption to sonship^[c] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will. 

“For it is by him that we have life and we move and exist; so also some of the wise men among you have said: “Our lineage is from him.” Acts 17:28

The goal of the spiritual journey is to move toward connectedness and relationship while honouring diversity, not by building walls. 

Certainly, we need to make connections with:

1.   Family and friends

Then even deeper connectedness with people outside our immediate circle such as people of different:

1.   Races

2.   Religions

3.   Economic classes

4.  Gender

5.   Sexual Orientation

Ultimately, we can and will experience full connectness as a union with God.  Without connectedness, we don’t exist as our true selves.  Becoming who we really are in Christ, is matter of learning how to become more and more deeply connected.  For the last 2 years, I have been reading daily meditations from Richard Rohr, a Franciscan monk and mystic.  According to him, God in us has to see God in others.  Jesus is the living icon of this integration.  He holds all things in unity.  God is one.  God is whole.  Everything in creation is holon a Greek word meaning: something that is simultaneously a whole and a part.

A part that mimics, imitates, replicates, and includes the whole.  As humans, we have been unwilling to see the divine image in those we deem to be inferior or unworthy…so called sinners, heretics, LGBTQ, people from other races and ethnicities, the poor, those with disabilities, and non Christians.  Once the Great Chain of Being is broken or denied, and any one link is not honoured and included, the whole vision God intended collapses.  Either we acknowledge that God is in all, or we lose the basis for seeing God in anything, including ourselves.  God is for everybody and the divine DNA is in all or God would not be God.  In Christ, humans are driven and drawn to higher levels of conscious union and the ability to include, and to forgive others for being other. Jesus did away with a stingy, excluding view of God.  We are created in the image and likeness of God from the moment of our conception.  The Creator gives us our core identity as sons and daughters of God from the beginning.  Again Ephesians 1:4-5 Life gives us opportunities to discover our image and our likeness to God and furthermore, our soul finds its fullness and we are consciously connected to the whole. Yes, Richard Rohr certainly gives us something to think about.  I will leave your response up to God to determine whether you accept his faith perspective.

To conclude, I challenge you to think about the walls you have built in your life. Ask God to give you the strength to smash it. Jesus has smashed it already. Just let yourself see it dissolve. One brick at a time, let’s let the walls fall down.  

June 26

Every Tuesday and Thursday, I play slow pitch in the Plus 55 league.  The league is great fun.  Players range in age from age 55-85.  There are four teams that play a 6 week schedule, then the teams are shuffled for a new schedule.  There are nearly 20 players on each team although the average attendance per team is usually less than 15 and everyone plays.  Sometimes there are 8 or more outfielders.  Everyone bats every inning; however, when there are three outs, the bases are cleared and the inning continues.  A runner is placed on second for the last batter of the inning.  The last batter is usually the best long ball hitter who tries to get the runner home from second or hit a home run.

Many of the players are the same people who play volleyball with me during the winter months.  Let me tell you...some of these 70 and 80 somethings are still very good players at an advanced age.  They are my true sports heroes.

In other news, I have been having fun baby sitting the Luv Bug.  Mary and Haley like to go to the gym at noon; therefore, I babysit Luv from 11:30 until 1:30.  She is like a small motor...you know, if it doesn't start, it's usually an ignition or a gas problem.  Well, with Luv, the problem is usually hunger, sleep, or poopy/wet diaper.  Look after those three elements and she is usually a happy camper.  I love to take her for long walks in her stroller.  She sleeps like a baby. I know...Captain Obvious.  Luv is now 11 weeks old.  She is a squirmy worm, constantly in motion.  She is entering the phase now when she makes some eye contact and breaks out into a big smile when you cuddle and coo.  Such a thrill.

My heart is thankful to see how Mary and Morgan work as a team to parent The Peanut.  They are loving, patient, enthusiastic, and supportive.  Truly heartwarming.  Of course, Mary has the Judy gene - totally organized and efficient.  The child is well cared for and Mary is on top of everything.
Of course, Morgan is totally smitten.  He just can't get enough of his girl.  As a grandpa, I couldn't ask for anything more.

June 13

On June 30, I had a mission to accomplish.  Mary was in the Fireside Singers production of Hunchback of Notre Dame.  She is nursing Luvisa; therefore, she needed me to look after the baby while she was onstage.  I showed up before the performance, took Luvisa for a long walk around downtown/Meewasin Trail, and returned to the auditorium in time for intermission nursing time.  I waited in the Green Room until the show was over and Holy Cow!  I didn't realize the young ladies would be peeling off their costumes with an old man present.  Needless to say, I scrambled outta there with Luvisa before I saw too much.  The next evening, I took in the performance while Judy's sister, Audrey, looked after Luvvy.
I spent the last week in Kelowna on a mini vacation.  The highlights were wine tasting at Quail's Gate and Thornhill Winery; hiking Glen Canyon, Myra Canyon, and 4 other trails; and Dancing at the Blue Gator to the music of a live band.  Good times.
 I am off to the lake on Friday with my girls for a Father's Day Weekend.  I think I'll smack a few golf balls in the bush just for kicks.

May 30

I was reminded last night that I have been negligent AGAIN in keeping my blog up to date. Since last entry I have hosted the family reunion. This year, the attendance was 44. On May 10, I drove to Tisdale to pick up my 90 year old momma. Mom had baked 5 batches of cookies in preparation for the reunion. When we got to Saskatoon, I took Mom to visit some old friends who used to live in Kelvington.  On May 11, Mom and I baked 4 dozen cinnamon buns. Mom claims that my dough is too heavy...critic!  I had 12 people staying at my place for the weekend so I did my usual trick. I slept somewhere else. Haley and Dustin took me in. The reunion started with a barbecue on Friday night. Saturday turned out sunny and warm so we were able to visit, play games, and enjoy the evening potluck in the back yard. I am very grateful for my family and the way they all pitch in with everything that needs to be done to make the reunion a success including the clean up they perform on Sunday before they leave. The Thursday after the reunion was memorable because I went to an Eagles concert in Regina. It was 7 degrees, raining sideways, and the wind was 40 km/hr. I couldn’t stop shivering so I bought two hot chocolate. I drank one and poured the other one down my pants. But seriously, the concert was amazing. Great performance and to me, the highlight was seeing Joe Walsh. He’s my guitar hero. On the May long weekend, my whole gang was at the lake. My plan to sleep in the shed may have been a little naive. The temperature on Friday night was a whopping 2 degrees. Even with a heater blowing in my face, I was chilled to the bone. Fortunately, I had conditioned my body at the Eagles concert. Haley brought me a duvet on Saturday and the effects of hypothermia subsided. The weekend was a time of joy...walking my grand dogs, taking Peanut for a stroll, golfing with my son in law, preparing meals for my little chicks, and attending a baby shower/barbecue at Mary’s in law’s farm(beautiful people). Now the Luv Bug has even more cutey patutey outfits to wear. Unfortunately, I picked up a flu bug to finish the weekend. In a one week time frame, I had a torn toenail, pink eye, flu, and an abscessed gum that had to be treated with antibiotics. I’m better now. Thanks for asking. Next on the horizon is a one week trip to Kelowna for wine tasting and hiking. When I return, I the girls (including the Luv Bug) and I are presenting the third Judy Kolach Memorial Scholarship to a student from Martensville High School who has shown perseverance in overcoming adversity. Yes, life is good. It’s good to be alive. And, yes, I am still a full time athlete. I went 4/4 at the plate on Tuesday. Now all I have to do is remember how I did that.

May 7

Little Luv Bug is nearly 4 weeks old.  I am truly in love with that little girl.  I try to get out to Mary and Morgan's place as often as I can.  The routine is for me to pick up a Tim's Ice Cap for Mary on my way.  As I drive to Warman, I can hardly wait to hold my precious grand daughter.  She is so beautiful to behold.  I love every little coo and cry.  I also love to hold her against my chest while she sleeps and I love to cradle her in my lap while I gaze into her sweet little face.  Yesterday, Mary came to my place to rest before she went to Fireside Singers practice.  I took Luvisa for a walk around the neighborhood while her momma slept.  I also took her through my house and showed her pictures of her Grandma Judy.  I am going to keep on telling her stories about the grandma she never got to meet.  By faith, I am confident Judy looks upon Luvisa every moment of every day.  What a beautiful thought!  Today, Mary and I took Luvisa for a long walk in Mary's neighbourhood.  Being a grandpa is everything my friends have said it would be.  I am truly blessed.  Life is good.

April 16

Today is Mary's due date, but Peanut had other ideas.  Luvisa Judy Battersby was born on April 12 at 3:41 pm in Royal University Hospital.  7 lbs/ 6 oz.  Ginger hair.  Perfect skin.  The Opheim chin.  She's perfect.  Mary started getting labor pains around 7:30 am.  Haley went to pick her up.  She was 4cm dilated when Mary arrived at the hospital.  An epidural was administered.  Mary was fully dilated by 1:00 pm.  While Dustin and I waited in the waiting room, Morgan and Haley attended to Mary.  Haley had the honour of cutting the umbilical cord.  As far as births go, Mary's was text book.  She was up on her feet minutes after giving birth.  She had prepared well and had a healthy pregnancy.  In fact, Mary had gone to the gym the day before giving birth.  Mary and Luvisa went home on Saturday.  Luvisa got the breast feeding thing down in short order.  Mary has lots of milk.  In fact, she seems to have enough to lend to the neighbors down the block.  Today, I had the privilege of snuggling the little bug while Mary had a nap following a night of minimal sleep.  Luvisa fell asleep on my chest.  Oh what a feeling to hold that precious little girl!  I also had the chance to help Mary out by doing a few little household chores.  Tomorrow, I will do the same.  Life is good.

March 28

I forgot to mention that I have diversified my portfolio from being a full time athlete.  For many years, I have been a part time preacher.  I preached on March 11, the day after I returned from Cancun.  My next sermon is on April 8.  Preaching is so different from teaching school.  People listen politely. Still feels odd.

The other profession I have pursued is teaching dance at Preston Park One Retirement Village.  I have taught old time waltz, jive, fox trot, the butterfly, and square dance.  I really was doing well until  I started teaching square dance.  I totally blew the allemande left.  There was nearly a fist fight, but I calmed the situation before it got out of hand.

Of course, I continue to teach ukulele.  Yes, I worked one day last year teaching ukulele at a music event organized by Prairie Spirit School Division.  This year, I taught 1.25 days.  I'm still recuperating from the stress of a my workload.

April and May will be busy months.  On April 13, I am going to Regina to celebrate my oldest brother's 50th wedding anniversary.  On April 21, I am going to Tisdale to celebrate my mom's 90th birthday.  I will be hosting the Second Annual Kolach/Sick Family Reunion May 11-13.  It will be a great time of eating, visiting, telling jokes, teasing, sing songs, hugs, picture taking, and a new feature this year...karaoke.

May will also be the time when I open up the trailer at Memorial Lake Regional Park.  My plan is to make the shed into my man cave so Mary, Morgan, and Peanut can use the trailer.  I'm thinking I will get more sleep in the shed than in the trailer.  Just guessing.

I am still looking after the neighbours chickens.  The chicken operation has morphed into an online business.  Just tonight, I found a flyer in my mail.  RENT THE CHICKEN.COM  "Enjoy fresh eggs daily from hens in your own backyard!"  It won't be long before the neighbourhood will be overrun with chickens.

March 14

After taking 5 short holidays since October, I am happy to be in Saskatoon, on the ground, for a few months.  My latest getaway was to Cancun for a week at an all inclusive.  I thought Spring Break was in late March.  I was wrong.  I saw things that you wouldn't believe.  Luckily, senior citizens like me were housed in the upper floors with the crazies below, but you could still hear people yelling in the hallways at all hours of the night.  All kidding aside, the week was great.  There was only one torrential rain on the last night of my stay, but there was sunshine through most of the days.  The routine was coffee on the balcony at 7, walk on the beach at 8, breakfast at 9, pool time from 10-4:30, shower and change, walk the hotel zone from 5-6, then dinner at one of the a la cart restaurants.  To finish the day, back to the balcony to observe the goings on.

Hats off to my wonderful neighbors who shovelled my driveway.  On the day that I went to Mexico in January, Saskatoon received 15 cm of snow.  The day I left for Cancun marked the beginning of the snowiest weekend of the winter.  So while I sat in a hammock in Cancun, my neighbors worked like beavers to shovel my driveway again.  The shame I feel is unbearable.

The excitement around the birth of my first grandchild (Peanut, as he/she is being affectionately named) is mounting.  Mary continues to have a healthy pregnancy.  Mary and Morgan have the crib set up and Mary has all her ducks in a  row as you expect from any daughter of Judy.

Haley is enjoying the course work in her master's program.  She should be finished her masters by Christmas.

I am back to being a full time athlete.  Hockey will be continuing to the end of April.  Although I hate to wish my life away, I can hardly wait for summer when I can play ball, golf, bike, kayak, and hike.

February 15

Today was a banner day of hockey for me.  I have had several occasions when I have scored two goals in a game, but today I had the joy of scoring my first hat trick.

Tomorrow, I have my second guest appearance at Preston Park Retirement Community as dance instructor.  My last appearance was so successful they wanted me back on a bi-weekly basis.  During my first session, the seniors wanted to learn the jive and old time waltz.  It was funny because after the instructions, they wanted to party.  "Put on some music.  Let's dance," they said.  Then it was, "Dance with Ethel.  She's really good at the waltz."  "Dance with the old gal with a striped shirt.  She can really jive."  I was a mercenary dancer.

Tomorrow's dances will be a review of the waltz and jive, then we will learn the fox trot and a simple western line dance.

Life is good.

January 9

January was a month of hockey and volleyball.  My usual routine is to play hockey or volleyball in the morning, return home for lunch, have a beauty sleep, enjoy a cup of tea, and then go for an hour long walk by the river.  In the evenings, I usually visit friends, phone my mom, or take dance lessons.

On January 26, I flew to Huatulco for a visit with my dear friends, Tom and Anita McDermott.  They have a lovely condo overlooking the ocean.  I never grew tired of sitting on the balcony watching the waves of the Pacific Ocean crash onto the rocks below, fishing boats criss-crossing the bay, baby buzzards stretching their wings on a rocky perch, and humpback whales sending plumes of vapour into the air.  I also got to experience an earthquake/tremor.  It wasn't a big one, but I got the general idea.  Everything shook.

Tom and Anita's daughter, Erin, was staying with them for the week.  She is an amazing young lady and a wonderful conversationalist.  Tom and Anita took me to a different beach everyday.  I had a chance to boogie board and snorkel on multiple occasions throughout the week.  I also met many of the McDermott's friends during the week.  Tom, Anita, and many of their friends support a small school in the mountains near Huatulco. On the second day in Huatulco we attended a fundraiser/festival in the town square.  I also attended the grand opening of the school kitchen and met the wonderful children/parents of Los Olivos.  The children were loving, enthusiastic, and happy.  I am so glad I had the chance to see Mexico of the beaten path.  The McDermotts were the ultimate hosts and it goes without saying there are definite advantages in spending time with people who know the area.  We saw wonderful places and enjoyed wonderful meals in restaurants I would never have discovered on my own.  For instance, one day we drove an hour up the coast to St. Augustine, sat on beach enjoying margaritas, ate lunch in a treehouse restaurant, and enjoyed a few cervasas on clothes optional/hippy-friendly beach.  And yes, I chose the clothes option.

Next year, I would like to take my whole gang to Huatulco so they can enjoy the many wonderful things I enjoyed during my holiday in Huatulco.  It was one of the best weeks I have spent in my entire life.

And now, well, I am back on the frozen tundra. I am back to playing hockey and volleyball and sleeping and walking and dancing and spending time with my friends.  As Judy would say, "It's all good!"

January 10

Christmas 2017 was a good Christmas.  On December 22, I attended Fireside Singers Christmas concert to see Mary performing.  Yes, there were many talented singers and musicians, but I go to see my little girl perform.  The concert was fantastic, as usual.  My favourite memory from the concert was seeing a profile view of Mary on stage.  Her little tummy is fast becoming a lovely bump containing what our family is referring to as "Little Peanut Kolach/Battersby.  Mary has had a very healthy pregnancy.  She gives me regular reports of Peanut doing acrobatics in her womb.  Many people ask me whether Mary knows whether the baby is a boy or a girl.  Thankfully, Mary is waiting until birth to find out.

Mary and Morgan went up to Morgan's parents' place near Shell Lake on December 23-26.  There haven't been many Christmases in Mary's 30 years that she has not been home.  Mary and Morgan had fun with Morgan's family playing cards, eating, and ice fishing.

Haley and Dustin helped me as I hosted a Christmas Eve party, carrying on a tradition initiated by our beloved Judy.  We also attended the Christmas Eve service at Judy's childhood church home, Christchurch Anglican.  Our family has wonderful memories of Christchurch, especially Judy's mom singing "O Holy Night" and Judy's dad tape recording everything on his boom box.  Click.
After the service, we had about 15 guests attend our Christmas Eve party.

On Christmas Day, I went to Haley's inlaws, the Bartsches, for gift opening and lunch.  I went to Judy's sister's new acreage home for Christmas Dinner.  My role has always been to prepare the mashed potatoes.  I had only one job and I nearly blew it.  I realized at 10 pm on Christmas Eve that I forgot to buy potatoes.  Finding 5 lbs of potatoes on Christmas Day is no easy feat.  Luckily,  I live next door to a major potato producer.  Yes, Bridget bailed me out with a five gallon pail of spuds.  It's a small price to pay for keeping their laying hens in my garage.

The Christmas decorations came down on Boxing Day and I put the house in order because we had to be at the airport by 5:30 am on December 27.  The highlight of our travel to Orlando was a young lady at Pearson Airport.  She had a combination of autism, OCD, and Tourette's Syndrome.  She was quite loud and kept on repeating, "Roar!"  We wondered who the lucky passenger would be that sat in front of her.  Wonder no more...out of 44 rows of seats, she sat in the seat behind me. "Roar!"  The roars intensified especially as we circled over Manhattan on our way to LaGuardia Airport in NYC.  Hilarious.

Our first day at Disney was at Wild Animal Kingdom, then we went to Epcot the next day.  On December 30, we spent the day at Magic Kingdom.  On New Year's Eve, we went to an NFL game in Tampa.  We took in the tailgating experience and enjoyed an amazing game between Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New Orleans Saints.  The Bucs pulled out a win with 8 seconds remaining.  To add to the excitement, I lost the key to our rental somewhere in the 60 000 seat stadium.  Getting in touch with the rental company on New Year's Eve was a challenge, but my prayer was answered when the company came through with a spare key.  Praise the Lord!  When we found out a key was available, we were able to celebrate New Years.  We actually found a Smoky Bones restaurant that was still open on NYE.  We got back to our rental at 11:50 pm, did the countdown, hugged, and then went to bed.

On New Years Day, we went to Cocoa Beach on the Atlantic.  We shopped at Ron Juans Surf Shop, walked on the beach, and ate an amazing seafood meal at the Cocoanut Restaurant.  The entertainment was a young man playing Ed Sheeran, Jack Johnson, and Jason Mraz tunes.  It was a moment to polish and keep.

We went back to Magic Kingdom on January 2 to use the last day of our 4 day pass.  The kids really enjoyed the Disney experience.  Although Disney is expensive.   Mickey Mouse headbands are 25 bucks; Mickey Mouse helium balloons are 15 bucks.  Hot dogs are 10 bucks.  Smoked turkey legs 12 smackers.  Of course, the crowds were horrendous because of the time of year.  But it didn't matter.  We were in "the happiest place on earth".  The girls used the Disney App to organize our days.  We had a ball.  Everyone got along.  We laughed.  We soaked it all in.  We made great memories.

Our last day in Orlando was spent shopping.  We made a haul at the nearest factory outlet store, then toured Celebration, Florida.  Thursday was a bit of a downer.  Because of the storm on the east coast, lineups at the airport were long.  Haley and Dustin got on the plane.  I could have got on the plane, but I chose to stay back to help Morgan and Mary because they missed the plane.  They were held up in the screening line.  Once we recovered from the disappointment, I rebooked our flights.  The earliest we could return to Saskatoon was Saturday.  We rented a car and booked a hotel for two days.  After a stop at Target for clothing and toiletries(Mary and Morgan's luggage was on the plane. I had carryon so I was okay), we went golfing.  On Friday, we went to Gatorland.  Darn, stuck in Florida for two more days!  When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.

So now we are home, happy and satisfied.  Haley is on educational leave.  Mary, Morgan, and Dustin are back to work.  I am back to my occupation as a full time athlete.  Life is still good.  Next adventure for me is Huatulco at the end of January.  Life is still good.