Jan’s Notes for A Message of Hope/Inspiration on StettlerLocal.com
June 17, 2020

This quote (pictured here) caught my attention as we’re at the cusp of Spring turning to Summer. The seeds have been planted. The season of abundant growth is upon us.


Here’s another quote–- which I saw on the Canadian Foodgrains Bank facebook page, that I hoped would speak to/for us today: You don’t have to be a farmer to Grow Hope!

Seeds of hope are certainly growing in our community in these “interesting times”!

I brought with me today – for show and tell – the sign I made to participate in the I anti-racism rally that was held at Stettler’s Football Field on June 12th. That event was organized by local residents within 5 days. Commendable leadership was/is given by Lyndon Norman & Catherine Robinson, and others who came alongside them. Similar to the quote with which I opened, in this case you could say: You don’t have to be black to say Black Lives Matter. These two women wanted to speak up, stand up, show up for justice even as – and (as many of us are newly learning or relearning or been invited) especially because – we’re/they’re people who have white skin.

Last Friday we gathered peacefully to listen & learn; with the hope that it’s one/another step that’ll lead us ALL into a new day of living out unity in diversity. While lounging on the grass, I met a couple who told me they were the parents of one of today’s guest speakers, Dax Williams – that “really tall guy over there” the white mother said of her black son! How beautiful! We then talked a little about my height… and my experience of living 62 years mostly in rural Alberta, in this tall body, which means I’ve received strange comments, not dissimilar to people who think there’s something very odd, or wrong, with the colour of another person’s skin. As if we can do anything about it?! As if it would be better to try and be invisible or act small!?!?!

As I talked with people in the crowd, we found lots of commonalities… but our shared concern for Black Lives Matters doesn’t end with exchanging niceties with people who all agree with one another. The guest speakers aren’t new to having conversations that go deeper; that matter. Each one spoke of having experienced racism the whole time they’ve lived in Central Alberta. It’s exhausting. The HOPE comes when they meet people who are really listening, some, admittedly, for the first time in their life… especially parents, teachers, ministers, health professionals, RCMP members, and political leaders who want to know how to talk with – and listen to – their children, hoping for a generation that’s more aware; more inclusive.

As a segue/compliment to anti-racism, with June 21st having at least two important designations which we’re using as themes in our virtual worship service -- Father’s Day and National Indigenous Peoples Day -- I want to share with you a story by Charlotte Zolotow. It’s called A Father Like That (click on the underlined title to gt to the video) and is found on page 79 of Free To Be… A Family: A book about all kinds of belonging, by Marlo Thomas and Friends. This story came to mind this week, when I was also thinking about an equation that I was introduced to years ago at a workshop at Naramata Centre. M.C. = F. P. + F. V. + F. S.
Motivation for Change = Felt Pain + Future Vision + First Steps

I don't want us to be shut down at this important point in history. I hope we're motivated to keep changing our communities by righting our relationships.