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Death and Dancing

Have you ever noticed how two people can look at the same thing and have vastly different perspectives? Sometimes one person can even have a major shift in perspective.

This describes my relationship with Niagara Falls. Growing up I lived twenty minutes away, and I had lots of opportunity to visit the Falls. Visiting became no big deal. In fact, I despised all the touristy glitz surrounding the natural phenomenon of the Falls.

As a young adult I moved about three hours away and rarely visited the Falls. After almost forty years, I saw the Falls up close again, and I was like a child in a candy store. What changed?

(reading time – 11 mins.)

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Familiar to Forgotten

Have you ever had an experience where someone whom you held in high esteem did or said something which resulted in the destruction of your esteem for them?  It could have been a leader, an elite athlete, or a close family member. Maybe one minute you would have heartily endorsed them, but because of their actions or words, you would now be embarrassed to be associated with them.

(Reading time – 11 min.)

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Show Me the Glory!

Have you ever been on a trip with someone you didn’t know very well at the beginning but became very familiar with by the end? Maybe you carpooled on a long drive with a fellow staff member to a seminar or training. Perhaps you embarked on a weeklong canoe camping trip with other camping enthusiasts. By being with someone virtually all the time, you end up getting to know them well. Some of your insights about them are pleasant surprises while others might be shocking revelations. At the end of the experience, you come away with a more complete picture of the person.

(Reading time – 12 min.)

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Things in a Box

Do you have a box to keep special things? When our daughters were growing up, we kept a clear bin or two for each of them and inserted little treasures for them to take with them when they left home. These were things like their favourite stuffies, first pair of shoes, first tooth, first piece of art, special cards, certificates of achievement or souvenirs.

(Reading Time 11 mins.)

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What a Parade!

What is the most memorable parade you have attended? Was it a large celebratory procession? Or maybe a community festival? What was being celebrated? What were you waiting to catch a glimpse of during or at the end of the procession? Was it a celebrated dignitary? Maybe your favourite sports team with their championship trophy or Santa Claus and his reindeer?

(Reading time 11 min.)

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Brokenness to Belief

Imagine having to leave a concert at the intermission, or a sporting event at the midway point while your team is losing. Imagine watching Part 1 of a movie trilogy but not seeing Parts 2 and 3. What if Tolkien would have ended Lord of the Rings after the first book, The Fellowship of the Ring. The Fellowship is dispersed. Gandalf, their leader, has fallen. Things appear hopeless. How will Frodo and Sam carry on the quest to destroy the ring without the rest of the fellowship?

Similarly at the end of the Psalms Book III, we found the exiled Israelite nation in a state of hopelessness. Where will they turn now? How will they respond to their current situation?

(Reading time 11 mins.)

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