Not the Greatest? . . . Maybe, but Still the Best! (By Peter A. Black)

The following text is an adaptation of P-Pep! article published in The Standard Guide Advocate June 30, 2016.

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Canada – the greatest country in the world! (Really?)

Having or being the greatest nation isn’t the exclusive claim of the USA; it is also said of Canada. Modest Canada lovers might be less effusive and counter: I wouldn’t go that far, but even if Canada’s not the greatest it’s still the best! Fair banter.

O Canada! O Canada!

Canada so free;

Bless’d jewel of the nations fair,

Our home of liberty.

Those lines are the chorus of a patriotic song I composed in 1997, marking the 130^th Anniversary of Confederation. Canada rode high in the international scale of the most desirable countries to live in, then. We’re not scoring so high now, but ours is still one of the most desirable countries in which to live.

National pride can be a fickle thing. The way it is expressed by any nation could be viewed as though on a spectrum from benign sentiments and benevolent creeds and deeds, to diabolical ideologies and destructive deeds and creeds.

A couple of basic examples: A mild form of national pride is expressed with benignity and benevolence through Canada’s granting religious and civil freedoms and striving for harmony and equality, while providing international aid and receiving refugees.

We recently saw an extreme, twisted form of national pride in the vicious murder of British Member of Parliament, Jo Cox – a wife and mother of two children. And why? Seemingly because she favoured and promoted Britain’s staying in the European Union (in view of the then pending “Brexit” referendum whether Britain should stay or leave the EU).

Jo Cox’s murder quickly faded into the background in the political upheaval that’s still unfolding in the wake of the “leave” side’s win – but not for her husband and children. No doubt their hearts continue to grieve deeply for their wife and mother.

Similarly on the negative, both WWI and WWII were to a great degree initiated by diabolically destructive expressions of personal and national pride. We also see despicable prideful expressions in mindless hooliganism, when violence and destructive looting break out at major league soccer matches (especially in the UK and Europe) or other major sporting events.

Let us keep our gaze raised to see and perceive the positive and wholesome. And now that we’ve entered our nation’s 150^th anniversary year, it would be a positive and worthy exercise to ask ourselves why we love Canada. What are we proud of in a ‘good national pride’ way?

Three Big Chips off the Small Block

Introducing and maintaining the element of gratitude helps me to keep pride in its place.

Someone might say, “Peter, you and May must be really proud of _____” (naming any of our three sons). Or they might refer to one of our grandkids. My response will often go something like: “That’s kind of you to say. Yes, I’m gratefully proud . . .” 

What I mean is that any pride I have on account of accomplishments or qualities in Jay or Chris or Jerome’s life, is tempered by gratitude. Grace and mercy are involved, so I don’t take the credit.

Tho’t: Gratitude is benign and leads to beneficence.

Now let us reframe the question:



Signing pose, after the crowd left! :)

a) Despite Canada’s many challenges and imperfections, for what aspects of our beloved country are you gratefully proud? (Gather a pretty big bouquet!)

b) What is greatness, anyhow? Or, in what should a nation’s greatness consist?

My Beloved and I are gratefully proud of Canada – still the best!

The concluding verse of Psalm 144 says, “. . . happy are the people whose God is the LORD” (NRSV).

A Happy and Blessed 150th Anniversary Year to you and your loved ones!

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~ Raise Your Gaze ... Mindful Musings of a Grateful Heart

~ Parables from the Pond

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A Gaze-Raising Anniversary - Peter Black

A young man and his obviously pregnant wife arrived at Toronto’s Pearson Airport. Between them they toted hand-baggage and lugged a couple of bulging suitcases. And like millions of young couples emigrating before them, they marshalled along a young family—an active toddler and a preschooler. 

That was June, 1974. Their relatives, who’d come to Canada eight years earlier, were waiting at the arrivals gate. Waving their arms they shouted, “Over here!” After hugs and excited greetings, the newcomers found themselves gliding down the 401 highway in the largest and longest car they’d ever ridden in. 

It was fully four decades ago, May and I, with Jay and Chris, set foot on Canadian soil. Jerome made his appearance three months later. These events are rather fresh with us just now. Canada is our home and adopted land and we are Canada’s adopted children.

 

We’ve lived much longer here than we did in the UK. Chris proudly sports a tattooed heraldic crest of the Black Clan on his upper-arm, and beneath it are the words, “Made in Scotland.” Oh, but he’s Canadian in pretty much every way. He was the toddler, and had his second birthday two days after our arrival. 

We thank God for this country and the blessings of political and civil stability, and for the opportunities Canada offers for personal growth, education and employment. We’re thankful also for ample food, a healthcare system, the right to vote and run for office and to practice our faith, among a host of other benefits. However imperfect our country might be (and the imperfections include ourselves), our lot is infinitely better than for the vast majority of the world’s population.  

One could extol Canada’s virtues ad infinitum. However, it is people who make a house a home, and it is people who helped make us feel at home in Canada. They include you.

 

F-18Courtesy:markbraye.wordPress.com

We didn’t plan anything special to celebrate our 40^th Anniversary here. Jay and Chris were caught up in their own communities with their respective families, and Jerome was busy, too (he’s everybody’s go-to friend in his extensive social and professional circles). And so, we all let our Canadian anniversary date sail by. 

But, surprise! The Government of Canada graciously marked the occasion with a stunning aerobatic display by an F-18 fighter jet. The pilot took it on a low fly-over with a deafening roar that shook our house to its foundations. And the famous Canadian Snowbirds also thrilled us, putting on a marvellous aeronautic formation display. 

Okay, so it was coincidental that our local airport convened the air-show the same weekend as our big anniversary in Canada. However, our gaze was raised—literally; we had to look up and crane our aging, creaking necks to see those sights.

 

This delightful display on our Canadian 40th was nicely followed by Canada Day, two weeks later; now that has also passed for another year. 

When we received Canadian citizenship, several years later, we assumed not only the rights and privileges, but also the responsibilities. And those included registering our vote in elections. Did you (Ontarians) vote in our recent provincial election? A federal election looms next year, I hope we will all exercise our privilege of a free vote. 

We may not like the results of some elections; nevertheless, we should value our privileges, won at the price of blood. We’ve been reminded of that, with a national focus on the 70th anniversary of D-Day. 

It’s now close to two thousand years since our eternal salvation was secured for us through the supreme sacrifice of Jesus’ blood, shed on the cross of Calvary. The forgiveness of all our sins and a restored relationship with God, with grace and peace, were won for us there.

 

Our ultimate citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20).  

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Peter’s new book, “Raise Your Gaze . . . Musings of a Grateful Heart,” is due for release in Fall, 2014.

 Peter A. Black is a freelance writer in Southwestern Ontario, and is author of “Parables from the Pond” – a children's / family book (mildly educational, inspirational in orientation, character reinforcing). Finalist – Word Alive Press. ISBN: 1897373-21-X. The book has found a place in various settings with a readership ranging from kids to senior adults.

His inspirational column, P-Pep! appears weekly in The Guide-Advocate (of Southwestern Ontario). His articles have appeared in 50 Plus Contact and testimony, and several newspapers in Ontario.

Raise Your Gaze     Family And Faith Matters

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