HELLO!

Early in the morning I met a foodbank volunteer. I love to hear stories, even ones that include hard times. This man grew up in several foster families. He received good supervision, there was plenty of food, spiritual direction and generous accommodation. However, affirmation was in short supply. In hindsight, these adults thought they were doing him a favour, warning him of how challenging life can be, to be realistic about one’s prospects, and fortify one’s self for the tossing and turning of one’s circumstances. At one point, getting ready for a “dressed up occasion” one of his foster moms turned his head toward her nearby face, and spoke sternly to this 10 year old boy, “You’re no oil painting”. Her message was not subtle, he would need to reply on his brains, hard work and resiliency to get ahead. It was a message he never forgot.

The good news is these words did not traumatize him. In fact, he laughs about it now and credits his grit and upbeat nature for his good life. Part of the reason he offers his time and talent on these early mornings is a sense of being blessed. He is a strong Roman Catholic, quotes scripture, Luke 12:48, “To those whom much is given, much more is expected.”

On my television I watch YouTube, podcasts, interviews, documentaries. The topics are evenly divided: sports, religion and politics. After a certain length of time come ads, many ads. I am too frugal to pay a fee to remove this annoyance. And what is the focus of these ads? Beauty. Specially, how not to look like you are aging. Pills, creams, make up, hair products, all the ads designed to me us feel inadequate, less than, in need of…When my Dad took 10 year old me to various rural farms to buy barn boards for the walls in his renovated home, I had the opportunity to see many old buildings in disrepair. On one occasion a farmer looked at his barn, literally falling apart, and proclaimed, “No matter how many coats of paint I use, it does not change the fact everything gets old.”

Way back in 2001, not long after 09/11 I received a very strange call. A Presbyterian Church in Santa Monica/Brentwood CA was looking for a new minister. Would I be interested in being flown out for an interview? It turned out many of those on the Search Team worked in Hollywood, a few were Oscar winners for their production work (behind the scenes). I remember walking into the interview as one woman said, “Oh, I thought you would look younger”. A man spoke up, “We can help you with that.”

Like the volunteer I met this morning, “I am no oil painting”. But life has been very good to me. I like to walk, exercise, play sports. I am reasonably fit for a typical 62 year old. But as for my appearance, it matters not. I am reminded of former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien’s response to an attack ad that mocked his physical appearance and partial facial paralysis, "That is the way God made me." I feel likewise. I so wish those who spend countless hours stressing about their appearance, the effects of aging, could feel likewise. Peace, Kevin