Poem from the Olympic Winter Games Opening Ceremonies

We Are More by Shane Koyczan Read by Shane at the opening ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. When defining Canada you might list some statistics, you might mention our tallest building, or biggest lake, you might shake a tree in the fall, and call a red leaf Canada; you might rattle off some celebrities, might mention Buffy Sainte-Marie, might even mention the fact that we've got a few, Barenaked Ladies, or that we made these crazy things like zippers, electric cars and washing machines. When defining Canada it seems the world's anthem has been "been there done that" and maybe that's where we used to be at. It's true we've done and we've been. We've seen all the great themes get swallowed up by the machine and turned into theme parks but when defining Canada don't forget to mention that we have set sparks. We are not just fishing stories about the one that got away. We do more than sit around and say "eh?" And yes we are the home of the Rocket and the Great One who inspired little number nines and little number ninety-nines. But we're more than just hockey and fishing lines off of the rocky coast of the Maritimes. And some say what defines us is something as simple as please and thank you and as for you're welcome, well we say that too but we are more than genteel or civilized, we are an idea in the process of being realized. We are young, we are cultures strung together then woven into a tapestry and the design is what makes us more than the sum total of our history. We are an experiment going right for a change with influences that range from A to Zed and yes, we say zed instead of zee. We are the colours of Chinatown and the coffee of Little Italy. We dream so big that there are those who would call our ambition an industry because we are more than sticky maple syrup and clean snow. We do more than grow wheat and brew beer. We are vineyards of good year after good year; we reforest what we clear because we believe in generations beyond our own knowing now that so many of us have grown past what used to be. We can stand here today filled with all the hope people have when they say things like "someday", someday we'll be great, someday we'll be this or that. Someday we'll be at a point when someday was yesterday and all of our aspirations will pay the way for those who on that day look towards tomorrow. And still they say someday we will reach the goals we set and we will get interest on our inspiration because we are more than a nation of whale watchers and lumberjacks, more than backpacks and hiking trails. We are hammers and nails building bridges towards those who are willing to walk across. We are the lost-and-found for all those who might find themselves at a loss. We are not the see-through gloss or glamour of those who clamour for the failings of others. We are fathers, brothers, sisters and mothers, uncles and nephews, aunts and nieces, we are cousins. We are found missing puzzle pieces; we are families with room at the table for newcomers. We are more than summers and winters, more than on and off seasons. We are the reasons people have for wanting to stay because we are more than what we say or do, we live to get past what we go through and learn who we are. We are students, students who study the studiousness of studying so we know what as well as why. We don't have all the answers but we try and the effort is what makes us more. We don't all know what it is in life we're looking for so keep exploring, go far and wide or go inside but go deep. Go deep as if James Cameron was filming a sequel to The Abyss and suddenly there was this location scout trying to figure some way out to get inside you because you've been through hell and high water and you went deep. Keep exploring because we are more than a laundry list of things to do and places to see. We are more than hills to ski or countryside ponds to skate. We are the abandoned hesitation of all those who can't wait. We are first-rate greasy-spoon diners and healthy-living cafes. A country that is all the ways you choose to live, a land that can give you variety because we are choices. We are millions upon millions of voices shouting " keep exploring... we are more". We are the surprise the world has in store for you it's true. Canada is the "what" in "what's new?" So don't say "been there done that" unless you've sat on the sidewalk while chalk artists draw still lifes on the concrete of a kid in the street beat boxing to Neil Young for fun. Don't say you've been there done that unless you've been here doing it. Let this country be your first-aid kit for all the times you get sick of the same old same old. Let us be the story told to your friends and when that story ends, leave chapters for the next time you'll come back. Next time pack for all the things you didn't pack for the first time but don't let your luggage define your travels. Each life unravels differently and experiences are what make up the colours of our tapestry. We are the true north strong and free and what's more is that we didn't just say it we made it be. I really enjoyed this and wanted to post it for those who may not have heard him recite it and for those who wanted to experience it again. This was copied from The Vancouver Sun (online edition) Friday February 12, 2010. Thanks Shane. Yep, you summed it up alright!

Praising

I continue to read stories and see images of Haiti. Constant reminders of how different life is there, of how blessed I am here, of what we need to do as human beings and as Christians, well, too too many more to list. My heart breaks each and every single time I read a headline or a story related to what has been going on in Haiti. Tonite after dinner I was reading a story online about a father's desperation and frustration at trying to locate his missing daughter who went to Haiti as a missionary...to do good...to help those in need...and now she is missing and presumed dead. Today is her birthday. She would be 20. She told her parents via phone just one hour before the quake hit that she knew she wanted to do this for the rest of her life...to be a missionary...to put others needs before her own. And now...her family waits, and I wait, and the world waits to see what will happen next. And its funny or odd or however you want to word it but each and every time my heart breaks again and the tears roll down my face again I can only hear these words in my head; "I was sure by now,God, You would have reached down and wiped our tears away, stepped in and saved the day. But once again, I say amen and it's still raining as the thunder rolls I barely hear You whisper through the rain, "I'm with you" and as Your mercy falls I raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away. And I'll praise you in this storm and I will lift my hands for You are who You are no matter where I am and every tear I've cried You hold in your hand You never left my side and though my heart is torn I will praise You in this storm I remember when I stumbled in the wind You heard my cry to You and raised me up again my strength is almost gone how can I carry on if I can't find You and as the thunder rolls I barely hear You whisper through the rain "I'm with you" and as Your mercy falls I raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away I lift my eyes onto the hills where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth I lift my eyes onto the hills where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth" Those are the lyrics to the song Praise You In This Storm by Casting Crowns and although that song was written just after hurricane Katrina I find the words fitting for what has happened with Haiti. "The Lord who gives and takes away" I completely love, trust, have faith in and worship Jesus Christ and I always will and I trust and understand that all things happen by His will and His timing. So I trust and have faith that every single person in Haiti and around the world who has been affected by this devastation is all part of His plan in some way or another. I do not believe He caused the quake (our slowly destroying His planet is probably most likely the cause of the quake) but I believe that we will learn from all of this and hopefully will be moved to action, to great feats of human kindness and physical response. But it hasn't been an easy way to learn or be motivated to action. My heart is not the same today as it was an hour before that earthquake hit Haiti. I've changed. I hope you have too. But I WILL praise Him in this storm, and the next, and the next and the next for without Him I would learn nothing, be unable to act upon anything and be unwilling to do whatever it takes to do whatever is needed by anyone, anywhere. "The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.10 Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you. Psalms 9:9-10 (NLT) Amen

Heartbroken

I am absolutely heartbroken. The devastation from that 7.0 earthquake in Haiti is mind-blowing. I have trouble wrapping my head around what they are dealing with. Its so frustrating to hear reports from CNN that say "all they need is an electric saw to free people from the rubble. People who have been trapped for the last 48 hours". Its so heart wrenching to see photos and videos of children laying dead in the streets. Tonite we watched a surgeon tend to a 15 day old girl who had a head injury and we listened as the doctor told of how her mother was killed and they believe the child is now an orphan. Hearing people tell of what they experienced, what they've lost, what they need...and I sit here on a laptop eating my dinner in my nice warm home while the tv is on in the background. My kids are healthy and safe. Ceilidh and I cried together tonite during the evening news. We feel so helpless, so useless. The Canadian Government (I have heard....must look into this more) is apparently matching donations dollar for dollar to Haiti. We are donating what we can. We are praying night and day for these people and the aid workers who are trying to help. Please, please, please do what you can to help these people who literally have nothing. If what you can is donating, fabulous but if you can't don't sweat it but please pray. Even if you are not a "religious" or spiritual person, please just say even one little prayer of help and strength for these people. Wouldn't you want them to do it for you if the situation was reversed? Please

Hello 2010!

Man what a crappy year 2009 was. Soooo glad its over. Praying God has wonderful things in store for us in this brand new year. I get to start my new year with getting hooked up to a holter monitor to wear for 72 hrs to see why I keep getting palpitations. I say I don't need the holter, I know why I keep getting palpitations, its because I'M OLD!! So just leave me alone and let me revel in my oldness! I also look forward to the office where I work changing locations. We will be moving to a new building in April or May and although I don't welcome all the work that will be involved with that move, I do welcome the change of scenery just for the adventure of new surroundings. Brad is going back to school and the kids will be soon as well. Its back to the old grind. Oh well, I do look forward to seeing what God has in store for us and I pray whatever happens He gives us the strength to get through it all, good and bad! God bless you everyone now in 2010 and always.

New Post

I just realized this evening that the last time I posted a blog was almost 2 1/2 years ago when I was hired to work at the Ophthalmic Surgeons office that I no longer work for! Phew that was a mouthful. So here is an extremely brief update. 2009 was an absolutely horrible year no ifs ands or buts about it. In February we lost Brad's dad to a stroke and my mom had a very slight stroke as well in February. Brad was going to school full time, working full time, pastoring at a church and trying to manage a family. His stress level was very high. I was very stressed at my former job to the point of being diagnosed with IBS and travelling through various doctors offices to try and find some sort of treatment that would work. Ceilidh struggled for much of the year with recurrent fevers and stomach pain that to this day were never diagnosed. Noah continues to struggle with patching his eye but Ceilidh did well enough with it that she no longer has to wear one. Brad finished his placement with Facer in August and we re-joined First Baptist Thorold which was a true blessing. I was soon voted in as a member of the directors board there and I am also involved with Sunday morning worship once a month which is really cool. Due to ++ stress at my former job and a few other reasons I decided to quit and did so without the safety net of another job to go to. Because I was out of work Brad dropped out of school just until I could find a new job to help us financially. I searched for work for 4 months and was unemployed for 3 months. I finally was blessed to receive a full time job at a doctors office here in Niagara and I love, love, love it there. The work is terrifically stress free and I love my co-worker/supervisor Mina. Together we are M and M! Brad's status at the newspaper changes pretty much daily. Lots of cut backs and layoffs and job dissolution within SunMedia. It gets scarier every year. We have also seen lots of our family members and friends lose their jobs or be cut back etc during a very volitile and unstable recession this year. I have also noted a huge number of my friends getting divorced and each time I hear of such things my heart breaks a little more. Various family members and friends over the year have had lots of health problems and our prayer list seemed to grow leaps and bounds each and every day. But God is good and I trust in the Lord with all my heart. He continues to see me, my family and my friends through each and evey day whether they be good or bad. As long as I know He is with me (and I know He is) then I can continue to sleep at night and not fear. "because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children." Romans 8:14-16 After all tomorrow is another day and I have no idea what He has in store for me but I do know that I can trust Him to see me through it. And there is no point in complaining because no one really wants to hear it anyway and what doesn't kill us makes us stronger. I'm just praying that 2010 is a little better for everyone. Happy New Year and God bless you all. Mich

FINALLY... I've waited soooo long to post this...

I FINALLY GOT A NEW JOB and no it's not at Timmy's. I start Aug 13 at an Optometrist's office in the city. I will be an Opthalmic Technician and I'm sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks to everyone for all your prayers and support over the last 6-7 months. It is greatly appreciated. This is a full-time job (yay so Brad gets to stay in school). God is great!!!!! We are so amazingly blessed. He completely has opened a new door for me and I can't wait to go through it. Thanks again everyone...well, anyone who reads these anymore...Thanks :-) So the "eye" profile shot is very fitting. Who knew!! Mich

Anyone read these anymore?????

Just a quick note. I had a really good job interview today and it's for a full time job that I think I would really enjoy. Please keep me in your prayers. Much appreciated!!!!!