People who Help

Here are Shannon and Beth.

Two or three times a week I go to the local civic fitness club. Not only do they have great senior's rates, they also have excellent,qualified staff.
Both these girls took a personal interest in my well being when I signed up a couple of years ago.

Back in the 1950's gyms were chilly, dimly lit places where there were a few barbells, medicine balls, punch bags, climbingbars and ceiling ropes.

Now they are warm well lit halls stacked with  every sort of cyber-machines all calibrated to to the last ounce, with read outs on calories burned, kilometers travelled, muscles worked ad infinitum.

That's where these two young ladies came to my help in the nick of time before I jammed myself in the machinery.

 Shannon and Beth are highly trained people and stellar characters. While they surmount their own personal challenges to make their monthly budgets, they also reserve a cheery smile and a special word for creaky seniors like me.

That's why they get their occasional coffee treat by way of my appreciation. They deserve it.

I was wondering whether you can think of any of your own unsung heroes this Christmas season; maybe give them a card or a small gift to tell them they are special to you.

Jubilate.

Ian

People who help

I have a feeling that I would not be enjoying the health I do today if I had not met Max and Joan Carter.

That was over forty years ago when I lived in England.

Back in those days I thought I could thrive on a hearty diet of good old English grub: fish n' chips, steak and kidney pies, jam roly-poly, bacon,eggs and black-pudding and all things salt and grease.

Then I met Max who, after discussing the scriptures, got down to his second favourite subject, food reform.

Until I left England to emigrate to Canada, Max was faithful to preach against the evils of white sugar, bleached flour, processed foods, M.S.G, fried foods, french-fries and dumplings and just about everything else that I enjoyed. At the same time he upheld the merits of fresh fruit, nuts, whole grain bread and Omega oils.

Max himself ate enough oatmeal to keep a race-horse in trim.

About the last words he said before I got on the plane were:

"Good diet, good drainage and plenty of exercise, Ian"

Well Max, the good seed that you sowed did not fall on stony ground. Today I had my oatmeal and berries for breakfast, I have just got back from the gym, and for dinner tonight it is salmon from the BBQ........ and yes, my drainage couldn't be better.

Jubilate.

Ian

People who Help

Alice has been my barber for many years. When I pastored a church in Barrie she was one of my faithful flock.

If I needed a trim I would pop in to see Alice and she would get a second sermon and I would receive my grooming which is important for a 'man of the cloth'.

Even when I was travelling I would see my lady barber, catch up on the news at home, give Alice my "tales from the trails" and always finish with prayer before I headed out to regions beyond.

Alice refuses to accept any fee for her hairdressing, but one thing she appreciates is the occasional orchid that I bring her.

She has the most amazing collection that has thrived under a her green thumb and, no doubt, their growth has been helped by the hymns and Christian music that pervade her home.

I have less hair these days and what I have left has turned grey.

But Alice and I have an understanding: she will make sure that I a real good trim before they put me in the casket!

Jubilate.

Ian

People who Help.

Want a mechanic who is as handy with an A.K 47 as he is with a set of wrenches?  Meet Alex.

He won't be around at his workshop this week: he is out hunting in the Nottawasaga Swamp. He was headed there this morning with half a sack of corn and some apples to spread around the deer-hide for Bambi's last breakfast.

Some people don't care for Alex's right-wing politics or for his predatory hobbies, but Alex is the best Import Mechanic in the city and has looked after my vehicles for years.

He also is scrupulously honest, a characteristic of his Serbian Orthodox faith.

Feeling lonely at 30 years old, Alex hopped on a plane to Belgrade and brought back Mina. They never dated. He simply went to his mother's church, saw Mina, presented her with a proposal of marriage and awaited the outcome.

The answer, after a few days of suspense, was in the affirmative and like Rebecca of old, Mina packed up and followed Alex to Canada.

I'll probably be visiting their home this Christmastide and will see their beautiful daughter Freya and share the wonders of Christ's birth with a truly Serbian flavour.

Jubilate.

Ian

People who help.

We take a welcome break from the turmoil and trouble of the Middle East to come a little closer to home; my home.

I was thinking the other day that none of us can get through life without the helping hands of others. Even Jesus had a company of loving helpers who took care of His earthly needs.
This week I will mention five people who make regular contributions to make my world an easier and happier place to be.

Here is Sandra, my personal physician. She is a special person. She is the first female doctor who has looked after me.

She is also the first of the NEW order of doctors that have graced the Canadian medical field in the last ten years.

My old doctor, who I had for twenty years, would welcome me with: "How are you young man?" He would take my blood pressure, look in my ears, stethoscope my heart, tell me I was fine and say "Look in next year."

Sandra is different.

If she hasn't heard from me I get a call from her secretary asking where I am. She has a computer in which are stored my records from day dot. I can't fool her. When I didn't take my full course of anti-biotics she gave me a lecture on why super-bugs multiply.
Three years ago she said "I won't be satisfied until your blood pressure is 129/80" For the past three months it has been. Now she is on the trail of my blood sugar and creatnine.

If I live to be ninety I have a feeling she will be meddling with the axles on my wheel chair.    But isn't it wonderful to be cared for?

Jubilate.
Ian