Everyone seems to be getting “Olympic Fever” around here.  We've only had about three years to get ready for the big show, so I guess there's no excuse for not hopping on board the bandwagon!

There's no question that British Columbia is a fabulous venue for this international event.  I don't get out there as often as I used to, but I've always been struck by the stunning beauty of our west coast.  Mild climate, limitless ocean vistas, snow-capped mountain peaks....what's not to love about such a remarkably beautiful area?  What is most amazing to me is the climate factor.  It can be mild and balmy in downtown Vancouver while the mountains of Whistler are buried in pristine snow.  It's a fascinating tribute to the wondrous beauty of this earth and all its regional diversities.

            As we begin to wind down our winter, it reminds me of the potential that spring will hold in only a short time to come.  The cycles of life as we see them in this province are really quite amazing.  The snow will melt away and the crocuses will emerge as early symbols of earth's new seasonal growth.  Farm communities will bound to life with field preparation and planting, and then before you know it, I'll be eating corn on the cob with too much butter!  What a great place to live!

            I look around these past weeks at the horrific events in Haiti and I am profoundly reminded of our good fortune in this country.  When I was there back in the 90's with our church group, busy helping local families build stronger homes and water collection systems, I was touched by the deep and heartfelt appreciation of the local Haitians who had so little and yet were so appreciative of what little they did have.  What a lesson for us Canadians to learn!

            No one will ever be able to explain to me why it is that in this world the  people of one region or nation can be so fortunate while another region's folk are so desperately afflicted, but it is simply our human reality.  Jesus Christ teaches us that we are able to make a difference in this global reality, and that by our choices and decisions we can go a long way to share and redistribute the blessings of a world that actually contains enough of everything so that no one need go wanting.  But will we?

            I invite you to think about this, and then to act in compassionate ways toward the lesser-fortunate of this world that reflect your true appreciation for God's many blessings.  As brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ, we should be doing no less than that.