Highs And Lows

I woke up this morning with great enthusiasm: on the agenda was nothing less than heading towards Whistler and hike to Garibaldi Lake.  Five us - Sanjit, Alfonso, his girlfriend Marilu, Shane, and I - met at my place at 8am, we piled into my dad's SUV, and away we went. We arrived at the trail head around 10am, and began hiking shortly thereafter.

Having hiked a few times in the prairies, I must say that I really enjoy the deep forests and lush greens of BC hikes.  I also like foot paths that indicate the direction one is to go, and finally, I do like the elevation changes.  Today's hike, for example, had more or less a 1km elevation change on the 9km hike up.

Hiking the prairies has a different feel to it, with vast open skies and flat lands all around and with less up and downs.  The panorama is always vast, immense.    In a sense it also has a more "wild" aspect to it, in that trails are not set.  The ranger at Nicolle Flats told us "Go where you want to go", so in other words, there's no set trail, you can make your own trail.  That aspect has its own appeal, I imagine, but at this point, I prefer walking paths.  There's something deeply satisfying in knowing where one is to go, it gives me a clear sense of direction.  There's something very comforting in following the footsteps of others...

At places such as Garibaldi I'm always struck by the delicate interaction and balance of creation.  In the picture below, there's a tremendous amount of trust the bird places on Marilu.  As she extended her hand with a morsel of bread, the bird came and landed right on it.  He didn't stay there for long, flying off just as soon as he'd grabbed a hold of the tiny piece of bread.  And I'm sure this bird's experienced similar hospitality from other hikers and that's why he took the risk and sat on her hand, but still, witnessing these moments is awe-inspiring and beautiful.

We arrived at the top around 1pm, ate our lunch, and then around 2pm we began our descent.  We hiked 18kms in total, arriving back at the parking lot around 5:30.  Tired.  The downhill portion was especially exhausting on my legs.

While the hike was good, I admit that overall, I was a little disappointed.  The water levels were much lower than I expected, meaning that we didn't see lots of waterfalls trickling throughout the hike; in particular, the big waterfall that I saw last year just upon arrival at the lake, was non-existent.  Furthermore, the colour of the water wasn't that rich teal either (I know, could it be any worse!?).  And overall, the hike just didn't have the same feeling of fulfillment as last year's did.  Not sure why.

In the evening Alfonso and Marilu extended great hospitality to us and invited us over for dinner.  Shane didn't come, but Sanjit and I went over and we had a nice evening of food and wine.

I managed to mess up what was otherwise a decent day, by visiting Jennifer at the end of the evening.  My intentions were good: I went in peace.  But I got derailed, badly.  Accusations.  Bitterness.  Anger.  Even judgment.  All towards her.  And as so often happens when you judge another person, you feel judged yourself.  Scales are lifted from your eyes and you're given a taste of your own hypocrisy; your own self-deception and self-righteousness is revealed to you. Self-accusations and self-hatred follow shortly afterwards.  Judging another person never accomplishes what we think it will.  It always leaves us feeling alienated: from the person, from ourselves, and from God.

So, what I accomplished this evening was alienation.  I felt low.  And I think I will feel low for a few days.   

Mi tristeza no tiene fin.

Days Are Too Short

God should've made days longer, perhaps 26 or 27 hours, or who knows, maybe even 30!  That's how I feel at the end of today, given all the things I "accomplished".

MEC - I went shopping for some outdoor gear, for my upcoming hiking days in the prairies; a swiss-made water bottle, a tent, and a cooking stove for my hiking friend John in Regina.

Al Watan - on the way out from the MEC store I met up with Benja, who's also in town from Toronto.  I was on the way to eat lunch with James and Scott, and since our stay in town is short, Benja came along.  It was so good to eat a good meal with 3 great friends!  As usual, Khalid was a stellar host, and the food was second to none.

Jennifer - I did what in the back of my mind I thought wouldn't be a good idea: visit her.  I dropped in to see her at work, because that way I knew it would be a short visit.  Inclusive, I brought her some lamb biryani from Al Watan and some homemade strawberry jam.  I went there in peace - so it was a positive visit.  But I'm really not sure what our friendship will look like in the future.

Claudia and Hugh - I met up with these two great friends and ate dinner at a new Italian pizzeria called Via Tevere.  The food was pricy and probably tastes good if you order the right thing, but I didn't.  I had the prosciutto e rucola pizza, and the bitterness of the arugula overpowered the rest of the food combinations.  During our meal I shared with both Hugh and Clau how difficult the last few months have been with me.  They listened intently and compassionately.  What would I do if I didn't have friends in faith to confide in and be encouraged by.

Games - in the evening a few of us gathered to play some more board games.  This time we went straight to Rook.  I faired a bit better, but Benja smoked us all.  I'll have to try it again in August when I return.

Soccer And Food Feasts

After a great evening playing some of my favourite board games, I spent the night at Ruth and Marty's place.  It was strange, sleeping as a guest in the living room of my old place.  A very strange feeling...

We got up around 9am, and almost immediately prepared for a soccer feast to come on tv: Spain vs. Italy, the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup in Brasil.

While watching the game, however, Marty put on a feast of a different kind: food!  Fruits and yogurt, toasted veggie bagels, coffee, and juice.  Marty is so gifted.  A philosopher, a photographer, a writer, in the process of becoming a self-taught wood craftsman, and a cook extraordinaire.  On top of that, a loyal, kind-hearted friend.  May God bless his soul!

Spain won the game, in penalty shots, 7-6, after a 0-0 draw in regular and added extra time.  It looks like the final of the Cup will be Spain against Brasil.  I hope Spain wins.  This may ruffle some feathers with friends or family who cheer for Brasil, but I find it hard to cheer against a team that plays such poetic fútbol as does España.  Add to this the arrogance of the South Americans, I choose Spain, hands down.  And, how ironic is this: to speak of Spain - not Brasil - playing beautiful fútbol!

The rest of the day was busy, too busy.

I went to Commercial Drive and bought a few slabs of focaccia bread.  Once my garden vegetables in Moose Jaw are harvested, I'm going to eat some mighty fine sandwiches!

Visiting the Drive brought back some very good memories: Abruzzo, Santa Barbara, Don's Market, Grandview, Marcello's, Joe's, all of these places bring memories of a good place back to me.

In the evening I went home to Abbotsford for dinner.  Family is so important.  And my family, in particular, holds such an important place in my life.  As I mentioned not too long ago, it's my family who's been most supportive the past 6 months.  

As good as my friends are - see yesterday's post on how much they mean to me - family is irreplaceable.  Some of my closest friends, and one in particular, has been furthest away from me in terms of support.  She has, for all intents and purposes, abandoned me.  That's how I feel, at least.

What I Miss Most About Vancouver

It probably sounds funny, but what I miss most about Vancouver is not the mountains, or the sea, or the moderate climate, or colourful Commercial Drive, or MEC, or the Whitecaps ... should I go on? .. or the Regent bookstore, or the VSO, or Milano Cafe, or the 99B Line, or the skytrain; what I miss most about Vancouver is not even Al Watan or Katzenjammer or Grouse Mountain or family!!

What I miss most about Vancouver is Wednesday night board games.  Food.  Music.  Wine.  Laughter.  Friendly bantering.  Exchange of ideas.  Friendship.  Community.  Belonging.  This is the stuff of life; and in my humble estimation, a small yet significant picture into the life of the Kingdom that is yet to come.

Tonight was games night, and it was therefore with great anticipation that I arrived at Ruth and Marty's place, the hosts for the evening.  And a good number of the wonderful souls that I know in this city came also.

We spent the first two hours basically catching up, eating dinner (thank you Ruth!), updating one another on the latest developments in our lives.  Then, around around 9pm, we got out the games and played; first, the "bean game" (Bean Trader), and then, just as on previous occasions, the plato fuerte of our games nights, Rook. 

The evening ended around midnight.  I said goodbye to some of my friends, as I may not see them again on this trip.  But a few of them I will see again in the coming days, either over a meal, or on a hike that I'm planning for Saturday, to Garibaldi Lake.

For the record, the evening was not without its challenges, particularly, spiritual challenges!  My humility levels were challenged, for one.  I didn't win either of the games we played.  Worse yet, we played Rook in a team format, and after amassing an enormous lead, our team imploded and lost badly.  I blame my teammates' inexperience....

Furthermore, my patience levels were tested too, not only in being gracious with my teammates, but also, by playing the bean game.  I'd much rather have played TTR or Settlers.  I'm better at those games, and my chances of winning would've drastically improved!  

Like I said earlier though, this night represents in a small way the stuff of life: learning to love God and neighbour in the presence of wonderful people.

I'm very fortunate to have such amazing friends.

 

 

In Vancouver For 5 Days

I arrived in Abbotsford a few minutes ago.  Mom and dad picked me up.

I've come here for a few reasons.

One, to take a few days from work.  Work is good, but it is stressful.  The "honeymoon" period seems to be coming to an end.  Over the next few days I want to indulge in the familiar: friends, family, mountains, and lakes.

Two, I decided to hand-deliver my first finished painting to my dad, as a (belated) present for Father's Day.

Third, I need to continue dealing with the Jennifer factor.  I need to visit this city and start putting my beautiful memories to rest.  I need to find a way to turn the page and start anew.  Excruciatingly painful and difficult.  Lord have Mercy!

I will spend more or less half my time with family, and the rest with friends.  Tomorrow night I'm going to attend games night at Ruth and Marty's.  I can't wait....

Below, waiting for my flight at Calgary Int'l Airport.

Nicolle Flats Hike

Two weeks ago I went hiking for the first time with a recently formed local hiking group.  Today we went hiking again, and this time, to the Nicolle Flats a short 30-minute drive northwest of Moose Jaw.

My experience today was thoroughly enjoyable.  Great people.  Good weather.  A pleasant and challenging walk.  We hiked nearly 16kms, going around the Nicolle marshlands, as well as along some of the coast of neighbouring Buffalo Pound Lake.

Below is a picture of the road to the Flats.  Very interesting clouds: thick dark cotton balls in the background, easy-breezy blanket sheets in the front (I should be a meteorolgist):

We met around 9:30 in the morning, and began hiking shortly afterwards.  There were six of us.  As is often the case, we started off fast, probably covering 12kms in 3 hours, and then slowing down to 4 kms covered in the last 2 hours.  By the end of the day, we were all hot, tired, and at least in my case, dehydrated.  I  didn't prepare properly.  I didn't bring enough water.  Shame on me.

Near the beginning of the hike, we were surrounded by ominously dark clouds.  This meant that there wasn't much sun, and the hiking was quite pleasant.  The skies did open up for about 15 minutes.  I enjoyed walking in the rain.

Having passed the marsh, we walked up a gravel road, along a meadow overlooking the lake, and then down through a mucky wooded area, before stopping for a quick lunch, lakeside.  I had a fruit salad and a focaccia bread sandwich, with provolone cheese and prosciutto.  Mmmmmm.

 

After lunch the sun came out with a vengeance.  Within 15 minutes, I was hot and sweaty.  I think I prefer clouds while hiking.

We finished the hike shortly before 4, and after saying good-bye to everyone I made my way home, westward, while the rest drove east.

I arrived at home exhausted, and after a nice cool shower took it easy for the rest of the evening. 

If I am going to thrive living in this new city, I am going to have to have more experiences such as the one I had today.

Thank you Lord for your faithfulness.

They're Up!

Three weeks after I planted my vegetable seeds, the plants have found their way up, the've broken ground!

Here's what they look like.  Potatoes:

Watermelons:

Peas:

Corn:

Here's what my plot, "N2", looks like.  Note my workplace in the background, immediately in front of the highrise in the centre of the picture:

The tomato and carrot seeds have not yet sprouted.  I hope they're coming up soon!

Hiking The Flats

I joined a hiking club in Regina, and today was my first hike with the group.

We walked about 8K around some cross-country ski trails 15 minutes east of Regina.  It rained overnight so the weather was cool, the ground was wet, and since the trail hasn't been mowed in a while, the grass was waist-high in some spots, and wet. Not ideal.

Still, it was nice not only to get outdoors and walk (the terrain was as flat as a board, so I'm going to have to adjust my definition of the word hike), and much more so with people.  There were 8 of us in total, from a variety of backgrounds.

After the hike I went to an outdoor sports store to pick up some bug lotion; there were many mosquitoes on the trail.  I also met up with two other hikers for lunch at a Vietnamese restaurant.

Next weekend I can't go hiking as I have a spiritual direction appointment and I'm also getting a car tune up, but I hope that the following week I will be able to join the gang again for another outing.

This is good.  The badlands 3 weeks ago, and the ski trails this week.  Hopefully there are some hills - not mountains, even just a few hills - in the area that I can go to and "hike".

A good day.

PS - funny anecdote: halfway through the hike there was a warning sign that read: "Warning.  Steep hill ahead."  As I approached the hill, it turned out to be an "incline" of about 10 steps.  The incline was grade of maybe 10%, maximum.  Good thing there was a warning sign.  Pheeeeeeew!  - this was added on Friday, July 19, 2013.

Beauty And The Incarnation

I've always been attracted to the arts, music and photography in particular, but painting also.  Visiting the Louvre in Paris and the Museo del Prado in Madrid in 1998, as well as the Uffizi in Florence in 2006 and the Vatican in 2010, gave me a good introduction and appreciation for great art.  But I don't think I needed to visit any of these great centres of art for me to appreciate it.  I've always appreciated good art.

Perhaps part of the reason I like good art is because, like C. S. Lewis and Roger Scruton argue, I believe that beauty is objective (this is why Lewis states, for example, that people go for vacations near beaches with beautiful white sand and crystal clear water, rather than an industrial scrapyard) and worthy of our pursuit.

But more than that, I think that being drawn to beauty is just part and parcel of being human: being made by, for, and in the image of a Creator who made the universe a beautiful place, because He himself is all that can be described as Beautiful.  So being attracted to beauty is normal: to be human is to be drawn to beauty.

Where am I going with this?  Oh right, my painting experience.

I've had two lessons in painting, and have really enjoyed both.  I felt renewed, refreshed, and re-energized afterwards.  Something spiritual happens inside of me when I express myself on canvas.  I don't understand it, but I believe it.  

I wonder if it has to do with the Incarntation: God created matter.  Matter was created good and after the Fall, it was redeemed by God in Christ through the incarnation.  Matter is the means for an encounter with God (thus, the sacraments of the church).

Anyways, here is my very small contribution thus far towards appreciating God's beautiful world.  Here is my contribution towards beautifying it.  Here's my expression of soul-healing and intimacy with God.