A Wedding Medley

It was the biggest wedding for which I had ever played. The bride wanted a worshipful ceremony, with all her friends attending. The church was filled to capacity, which is 800 people. She knew and loved everyone because she administered the children’s program.  To assure full attendance, it was a holiday, Remembrance Day.

In planning the music, she asked the organist to play the introductory selections and the pianist to play for her singing group. The piper would play the bride and groom out of the church to the reception hall immediately after the ceremony.

The bride and I sat down beforehand in the sanctuary and discussed the piper’s music. She wanted it to be worshipful and to include recognizable hymn-tunes suitable to the occasion. My pipes were with me, so I began with, “Blest Be The Tie That Binds,” “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling,” and “The Love of God.” She was delighted and said she would love to have me continue the medley with hymns such as those, to lead the guests from the sanctuary into the reception hall.

When the time came, I played additional hymns to include, “When Love is Found,” “What a Fellowship,” “Standing on the Promises,” “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee,” “Hail the Glorious Golden City,” “Highland Cathedral.” and “I Am So Glad.”

Recently, I asked another piper what tune he played to bring in the bride. He answered, “Scotland the Brave,” adding that for most people, it’s simply the majestic sound of the pipes that they like to hear and that the tune itself doesn’t matter. Once, I heard a piper playing “The Road to the Isles,” to pipe the bride and groom out of the church. Appropriate tunes would have been “The Highland Wedding March,” Mary’s Wedding” or “Highland Cathedral.” Of course, it depends upon a piper’s repertoire.

To pipe in the bride, it is well to play classical pieces such as the ones to be found in “Wedding Music for the Church Piper.” Less formal music could be played to pipe the bride and groom from the church. For this recent wedding, I thoroughly enjoyed playing music that was familiar to everyone, having them stand around me, even singing, and taking pictures as I played.

Looking Back From the Future

My wife and I were asked to participate in a research project by a couple of university students. Their objective was to gather information from seniors, to help them in the design of an interesting environment for residents in a Seniors’ Residence. I don’t know how they will use it, but we will eventually receive their report.

We were each given a box that we were asked to decorate. Inside, were beads of various sizes and shapes. They were to be dropped into a glass jar according to our moods during the week. We were to draw a colored picture of our own choosing. Our imaginations were needed to complete the house for which an outline was given, and with the disposable camera, we were to photograph whatever appealed to us. Most challenging, was the request to write a letter that day, to our own self, who would be 20 years old.

Indeed, this boggled my mind, as did the movie, “Back to the Future.” Nevertheless, I imagined myself at 20, interested to read the letter and know something about our future and the decisions he must make for us in the decades ahead.

I congratulated myself on having achieved three years at university, with only another before graduation. I didn’t warn myself that one year would expand into another ten, before I could say I was trained for my vocation. I said he’d have the considerable task to decide what he was going to be in life and it would be as though he, the young person, was responsible for choosing the grown man’s vocation.

I mentioned that he and his brother Ken, who became a dentist, had taken up flying lessons after their final graduations and were taught to be careful pilots. Keith took his friends for flights and not long afterwards, two of them lost their lives, because they decided to do some low-level acrobatics even though they had been taught to be careful. This accident and another, in which I was driving on the highway and was cut off, made me a safer driver. I warned my young self to be cautious when driving. He was responsible for my life and for others. In the car accident about which I spoke, he would find himself in the ditch with only a slice in his back door. I know this would be a valuable warning to myself as I matured.

I advised Keith, not to be influenced by other students who would be having a great time outside when they should be preparing for final exams. There would be plenty of time for him in the years ahead, to enjoy glorious days outside, satisfied that he had prepared me well for my life’s work.

I advised him that he would be lonely in the early years of his professional practice, but that it would be worthwhile to wait until the right person came into his life, to get married and have a family. I told him that he could anticipate having two achieving children, a son and a daughter who would grow up and have their own families. He would have 5 grandchildren.

Although what transpired in my life will be exactly what my young self at 20 will still experience, there’s satisfaction in thinking that congratulating him for his achievements thus far and warning him about the dangers in life would be as helpful to him as if he was receiving a message from the future, to guide his way through life. In addition to the dangers that he would be wise to avoid, he would have good opportunities that he should not miss. By trusting God, he could be confident that he was doing what was right and that his life would be happiest.

I told him about my recent engagements playing the bagpipes for several weddings and funerals and that it would be worthwhile for him to cultivate this kind of diversion  from his work, for relaxation and the sake of developing friendships.

Peeves About How Tunes Are Played

In the playing of music, I’ve encountered those who gain speed in coming across a dotted quarter note such as in “The Dream Valley of Glendaruel.” After stopping a chanter practice at that point, to say that this note must be given two beats, I heard someone say, “a dotted quarter note has the value of one and a half beats.”

This was a wise answer, because that is what he had been taught. But, how does one count that extra half beat? The time given to the dot must fall into the next beat of course! Some will continue to have difficulty understanding the need to hold a dotted quarter note for two beats. With practice, everyone will eventually accept the right way, assisted by a teacher’s kind instruction. Beginners learn easily, knowing their teacher is striving to help them to improve. Long-time players on the other hand, are often engrained in sloppy habits and find it difficult to make the changes that will improve not only their playing but that of the band.

Some believe that to be able to play a tune fast causes them to be recognized for their excellence in playing. Inaccuracies because of speed can have the opposite effect. A tune such as “The Black Bear Hornpipe” for instance, should not be played fast, but instead, with clarity, articulation, distinction and precision of time. One should hear the introductory notes and appreciate the emphasis given to the two quarter notes at the beginning. From there on, there is a beautiful cadence emphasized by the drum section. The second part can become a jumble of notes if care is not taken to enunciate them. In contrast, when that part is well played it’s as if the music is being lifted into the air by the drum section.

And what is it that gives music its quality that makes a person want to listen? It’s a nice melody with excellent timing, on a well-tuned instrument, having notes emphasized, which are on the beat. If two pipers are playing together, then they should be listening intently to one another, to sound as one, being in tune with one another. Correct pressure on the bag assures that this is so. Insufficient pressure by one player will cause his notes to be flat and out of tune. This is a pet peeve, for I’ve played alongside pipers who are not inclined to keep proper pressure on their pipe bags or listen to the piper next to them, consequently losing quality in their playing and in their time. It’s not enjoyable to play with this kind of piper and less enjoyable to be a listener.

I particularly don’t like to hear pipers playing a six-eight march without emphasizing the beat notes, but instead, sliding downwards, always giving the third and sixth notes the emphasis that should be on the first and fourth notes. It would make all the difference in the world to hear the tune played with every beat sounding like clockwork. I have similar thoughts for the tune, “Highland Laddie,” which is a two-four march. In the second part, the tune is lifted up by emphasizing the beat notes rather than sliding downwards to give emphasis on the third and sixth notes.

Whenever I hear and watch the two retreats that are commonly played together, namely, “The Green Hills of Tyrol” and “When the Battle’s Over,” I am disturbed to observe the whole band out of step. These retreats and many more have been incorrectly written and adopted to begin with the left foot on the two introductory notes. Any suggestion that the band should play them correctly is met with the retort that all bands play them like that, so one band should be ready to play with another. Besides, I am assured by their pipe-majors, that the arrangements for side drum would have to be changed. However, the retreat, “Kilworth Hills,” has been written properly and adopted, so its drumbeats could be used for “The Green Hills.” There is another good reason to play these retreats properly and that is that when they are played properly in a medley, the next tune will fall naturally into step. It won’t otherwise.

I have another pet peeve about the playing of pipe music. It pertains to “The Flower of Scotland.” Arrangements are being played that detract from this beautiful anthem. I secured the composer’s permission to write it as he did, and it is in “More Songs of Scotland,” volume 12B of The Church Piper.” It should begin with three introductory notes. Then, “Scot-land” should fall first on the left foot and then the right, with the “turn-arounds,” falling on the right foot and the long-sounding notes on the left. Arrangers have done nothing but spoil this outstandingly beautiful piece of music, which is in actuality, one of Scotland’s National Anthems.

These are some of my pet peeves about the way in which pipers play carelessly. If you have pet peeves, they will be welcome, not for the sake of making negative comments, but to bring these weaknesses to the attention of pipers who will make a difference by helping those who need help. In a similar way, we can expect to comment positively on what we really enjoy about playing in the band.

Pet Peeves About Writing Pipe Music

In general, pipers are enthusiastic musicians, yet some are satisfied while writing their own music by hand, to bring down the tails on the right side of the note. Because this isn’t the way pipe music is presented in books, the suggestion was made to a stalwart elderly piper-teacher that the tails should go on the left of the note. His reply was that his way was preferred because he was “writing” music and not “printing” it.

The lesson I learned was to excuse myself and allow his obstinence to overrule. At least, he was accepting that all the tails in bagpipe music are drawn downwards to accommodate space for embellishments.

There are comparatively few today that write their music by hand, but will use a computer. It is because of the incorrect spacing of notes for which I have a pet peeve. I am peeved because it’s the responsibility of the music writer to see that the notes are properly spaced and assure that some are not squeezed into a space that’s too small for their value. Most pipers who write music should acknowledge that the bar designates a unit of time and it should be divided according to the time signature. For two-four and six-eight marches, as well as six-four marches, bars should be divided in half and for retreats it’s three, just as they are in nine-eight marches. The unit should be divided in four for four-four marches. Significantly, one should be able to see at a glance that dotted notes, quarter notes, and half notes have the space they require. One could be enabled to sight-read much more easily. It is because there are many who use the computer to write out the music for their pipe bands, and do not conform to the need to space the notes to facilitate sight-reading, that I have this pet peeve.

Another method by which sight-reading could be aided considerably, but isn’t, is to have the beams slanting up or down- grade according to the ascending or descending nature of the notes. In most programs, all the beams are horizontal, and this doesn’t suggest either an up or down trend in a melody. It certainly would help.

Lastly, when writing music, one should provide first endings with a closure, while extending the line for second endings. This brings up another pet peeve in that much of pipe music requires first and second endings and yet they are not written as they should be. Proper writing requires an understanding of what is correct and what isn’t. Much of our band music has been written with repeat signs indicating that one is to repeat all that is written between them, including the introduction. The correct method is to put the repeat sign after the introductory notes, which will be included in the first ending. On repeating, the second ending should include the introductory notes for the second part, and so on throughout the tune. My peeves are that those who are writing the band’s music don’t understand that there are definite rules for writing and if they were followed, the music would be much easier to sight-read.

Another peeve is that an error incorporated into the writing of three-four retreats has been carried out from teacher to student ad-infinitum. It causes those tunes to be played out of step, and prevents a pipe major from assigning a three-four as the introductory tune in a medley; but this will be discussed in a subsequent blog.

Electronic Bagpipes

I have recently become aware of electronic bagpipes.  To me they don't sound authentic and the positioning doesn't look comfortable.  Maybe this is a valid solution for people who want to practice but live in an apartment.  If any of you have had experience with these please let me know.  One model is demonstrated in the video below.  Do you know of other makes and models?

A Raging Prairie Fire

Can you imagine living and ranching on the western prairie and witnessing a raging prairie fire forced by the wind, approaching and devouring everything in its path, fed by tall prairie grasses and bush.  Your home and those of your neighbors are the inevitable victims, along with all your personal belongings and your livestock.  You can’t just stand there watching the advancing smoke and flames in the distance and do nothing.  If you have disking equipment you will hitch it to your tractor and be out there making a firebreak.  You’ll enlist all your friends around to do what they can too, with wet sacks, and you will call the municipal offices to send their graders, bulldozers and fire trucks.

This was the experience in October, for our nephew and his parents who are ranchers along the west side of Lake Manitoba.  He told us about the horrifying four days that he and his fellow ranchers spent fighting the flames that were threatening their homes, buildings and livestock.  On the first day, they were instructed by the fire marshal to stop work because bears would be forced ahead of the fire and would be in a frenzied state, likely to attack anyone they encountered.  In the following days and nights, everyone worked feverishly, grading, bulldozing and fighting the fire with water hoses from municipal fire trucks. 

Our nephew witnessed many small animals being devoured by the fire while attempting to keep ahead of the flames and smoke.  Birds flying above would plummet from the sky.  Those in the midst of choking smoke could barely see because their eyes were smarting.  With their lungs polluted by smoke, breathing was painful.  While they fought the flames that arose here and there, our nephew’s wife was emptying belongings of value from her in-law’s home and loading them into a farm truck.  At her own home, she put prize pigeons into cages and loaded them as well.  They were the evidence of years of devoted care and breeding, and were recognized by pigeon fanciers far and wide.  She also rounded up cattle and horses and led them to the roadway out of the fire’s way.  You can imagine our nephew’s deep appreciation for his dear wife’s thoughtfulness in trying to save what was near and dear to him.

On the fourth day, everyone was worn out and suffering from smoke inhalation.  The fire was within a quarter mile of our nephew’s folk’s home when the wind subsided and a light rain came, followed by a heavy downpour.  The fire was quenched.  The reaction of those who stood there watching, was “Thank God for that!  We could have lost everything!”  Though our nephew stated that he doesn’t consider himself a religious person, he does, nevertheless, admit that there has to be Someone up there who cares for us and has control over things that are beyond our abilities. 

    

Take Up Your Cross

I’ve wondered what it means to say, “Take up your cross;” whether it means doing something similar to what Jesus did when He carried His cross to Calvary, or if there’s another meaning. Being forced to carry it, He suffered beyond comprehension. He had already endured a cruel beating. Now the heavy timber lay upon his injured body and it was almost impossible to carry it all the way to Golgotha. Simon of Cyrene helped Him. Being crucified was a horrific torture. Scripture alludes to carrying one’s cross as somewhat comparable to Jesus having had to bear His to Calvary. Whatever it means, it is not something to be done easily.


Mark 8:34 tells us that Jesus said, “ Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” Consequently, asking us to follow Him would mean we are not be indulgent upon our own comforts, but to help others first and that to take up one’s cross is to lead a life that denies self-indulgence. He cared more for everyone else in the world than for Himself, and that’s why He took our sins upon Himself. He received our punishment so we could be forgiven.


Again, in Matthew 10:38, Jesus advised us to take up our cross and follow Him. Those who would follow Him must inspect their crosses and take them up. In so doing, an individual must follow Christ’s example and “bear his own cross” as He carried His. All of us will surely meet with “crosses,” of one kind or another, and we are to be encouraged to know that Christ bore His own cross. In bearing "crosses," or “hardships,” we follow Christ who showed us the way. If we follow Him faithfully, He will lead us through sufferings just as He was able to go through suffering Himself, to His glory. Similarly, it will be to our own glory to trust in Christ to carry us through times of hardship. He will not only give us the ability but the reward of eternal life for having put our trust in Him.


From Luke 9:23, we must become accustomed to self-denial and be patient, not indulging in comfort and appetite because that will make it more difficult to bear toil and fatigue. We frequently meet with crosses in the line of duty. When they are laid before us, we must take them up and carry them, as did Christ, making the best of the situation. An example is a friend of ours, who lovingly cares for his dear wife who has cancer in her bones, and we have another friend who, for years, devoted his attention to the needs of his wife who was invalided by multiple sclerosis. Friends of ours have a son with Down’s syndrome. From the love and care his parents have given him over the years he has grown up with such self-confidence that he can hold a job in a grocery store, stocking shelves. These are examples of the crosses people have to bear and they have done it with the strength with which God has enabled them.


Taking up one’s cross can also mean the extent to which we will support our faith in Jesus in times when others are denouncing and berating Him. It means professing the reason why our standards are high and that we will not allow ourselves to degrade them so we will fit in with sinful society.

It Takes Practice

It takes practice to be proficient at anything. Playing the pipes well requires many hours, all with an effort to have accomplished something in every session.

A concert pianist told about a member of his audience who came to him after his recital, saying, “I wish I could play like that!” The artist’s response was, “No, I’m sure you really don’t wish that, for if you did, you would be able to play as well as I.” The person was embarrassed, for he realized that by having given into so many distractions in his life, he had not allowed himself time to practice.

Another musician had a banner hanging on his wall near the piano which read, “Some say, “I’d love to be able to play well, but as for me, I just get up early and practice.” Obviously, that was a person motivated to practice regularly. In fact he was passionate, having his objective to be an excellent pianist, motivated to persevere through difficult passages, repeating the drill until what had been difficult at first, eventually became easy and enjoyable.

The principle of practice can be applied to artistry just as well. For 10 years, Leonardo da Vinci practiced drawing various parts of the anatomy in different positions. When he was satisfied, he began to paint pictures like photographs. Whether one is an artist, an athlete, musician, or surgeon, greatness will come only with diligent study and practice.

Practice is like a rehearsal. A few simple songs to begin loosens the fingers of the piper or the vocal chords of a singer, then the way to go is to play a few familiar pieces, review the last practice to include some exercises, and play a couple of new selections with concentration. Afterwards, one will make a definite plan for review in the next practice. This is the method for keeping one’s practice time organized and efficient. The main endeavor is to set a definite time aside for practice. In a university Psychology class, we were taught that the plan for study is to have a time, place and attitude. It is the pathway to success.

With Aspiring Hymns, a music book for The Church Piper, on which I’ve been working, my efforts have been to encourage pipers to develop their techniques of playing, along with characteristics of Christ that will be a tribute to our Lord. One way to do this is to attend church regularly, listen to the messages delivered by the minister and understand their intent, to sing with the congregation and learn the words to those songs. Then diligent practice on the pipes will prepare them for the opportunity when it arises, to lead the congregation in praise with call to worship on the pipes. The invitation should be accepted graciously, as a deep honor. When a well-practiced piper begins to know God better, and benefits from the lessons taught at church on Sunday, he or she will be ready to lead the congregation in worship when invited.

Do Be Careful!

If we only had the foresight to consider the extent to which our lives would be altered from having had a fall, we would be more careful. The thought came recently because of instances in which several of our friends were injured. Their futures were seriously jeopardized.

Take Ray for instance. He has been in the hospital for several months and I have visited him there. A retired minister, Ray would frequently meet with a few of us from our church for coffee on a Tuesday morning to “shoot the breeze.” For many years, he preached in a small church in Southern Saskatchewan. His mind is clear, but he used a walker when he was downtown. One day he encountered a pebble on the sidewalk and it caused him to fall. His collarbone was broken and would not heal. He lay asleep when I went in a few days ago, and I awoke him after a while and we visited. However, he didn’t display the same happiness nor have much energy. I wonder if he will ever recover. He will not regain normal action in his shoulder because it will be “frozen;” but he will have action from his elbow to his fingers. Ray’s life will be greatly affected and shortened as a result of this accident.

I am fortunate not to have broken my own collarbone in Florida a couple of years ago. My sandal caught on a rough place and I stumbled when I ran across a busy highway. While falling, I realized I’d be projected chin or nose first, into the asphalt, so I rotated myself in the air, to land on my right shoulderblade. I was bruised and bleeding and my side was black and blue for weeks. No bones were broken however, and I was fortunate not to have gotten run over.

I could have suffered a worse injury, and I should not have undertaken to go alone or to run across the road. When my wife returned to find me bleeding at the shopping mall, where she had left me to read, she explained that if I had been taken to the hospital she would not have known where I was.

I also think of Audrey. She was our neighbor, a lovely elderly person who regularly took her little dog for a walk in the community. One day she stopped on the sidewalk to visit some friends. Her dog, having nothing better to do, ran around her, entangling her legs in its rope. She took a step and fell, breaking her leg. In the hospital the wound wouldn’t heal. She could not endure the suffering and consequently died within two weeks. Up until then, she had been enjoying life.

My brother’s friend was high up on the ladder, which was against his house. It slipped sideways. He crashed to his driveway, breaking his wrist. Recovery was long and arduous.

An elderly neighbor lady from our church was staying at a hotel in the States while attending a wedding. A door wouldn’t budge for her so she gave the handle an extra pull causing the door to swing abruptly toward her. She was knocked over and landed on her back, which broke two vertebrae, causing her intense pain. It was an unusual accident, but most are.

A lady recently told me that she hadn’t been to church for a few weeks because she tripped on the sidewalk because of a slightly uneven surface. She cut her face and it required stitches. She reminded me of one of my patients, who years ago, tripped over a parking lot abutment and nose-dived into the pavement. Her glasses were broken. The lenses were safety lenses, hardened to protect her eyes. (That was before plastic lenses were introduced.) The pavement was covered with tiny “stars.” The lenses saved her eyesight. Everyone’s glasses should have safety lenses.

I received a video with the title, “Why men don’t live as long as women.” The pictures were of the dangerous positions into which men will put themselves when painting and cleaning windows. Individuals were seen high up, standing on windowsills, without safety belts or scaffolding, either painting or washing windows. They were experienced, but one slip and they’d be flying, no falling to their death. The scenery from up there would be breathtaking but it is only imaginative that they could sprout wings on the way down. One fellow was painting while standing on some boards placed across a corner, supported by the windowsill on either wall. A slight wobble in a board could upset his balance and over he’d go. A painter painting a stairwell while using a stepladder ignored his precarious position, with the legs of his ladder braced against the banister’s lower railing.

Ingenious methods of raising their cars to enable work to be done underneath, were examples of how those contrivances could give way and crush them to death. We had a friend named Matt, who raised his car up high enough so he could crawl under it to make a repair. The jack failed and he was compressed between the car and the ground until his car was raised sufficiently for his son to extricate him. Meanwhile, it had taken effort for him to breathe because his chest was compressed by the transmission.

Hanging Christmas lights on the gable of a house is always challenging. I hung them on the high gable when we lived in Winnipeg. In BC our house is just one story, but nevertheless, over-reaching from a stepladder is as dangerous as trying to over-reach from an extension ladder. I’m not very tall, so last Christmas, I hired a tall fellow to help, and will do the same again.

One of the best buys we ever made was a small stepladder, one with two steps and a bar right where it should be, and this week we were using it while painting the laundry room. It was handy too, when having to step over the washer and drier. In such compact quarters, being careful was a necessity. Accidents happen, but they’ll be less likely when we’re careful, and we will not be jeopardizing ourselves from having a happy future. One of the safest precautions is not to be looking around when walking, but to keep our minds on where we’re going. We will be less likely to trip and fall. Do be careful.

Wedding Traditions

As long as I can remember, weddings have begun with friends and family gathered in the church sanctuary awaiting the ceremony while enjoying beautiful organ or piano music. The groom and his best man entered unannounced from the side. They would assume their places before the minister and await the strains of the organ playing “The Bridal Chorus,” or some other classical selection such as, “Trumpet Voluntary,” which would announce the entry of the beautiful bride and her ladies, making a stately and colorful procession down the aisle.

Apparently, this tradition has changed because grooms also want the spectacle of being announced. At recent weddings, my invitation has been to pipe the groom and his groomsmen down the centre aisle, immediately after the minister has welcomed everyone to the ceremony.

Selecting the appropriate music is of course paramount in importance, and it would not be cool to play a selection such as, “Trumpet Tune” by Henry Purcell or “Trumpet Voluntary” by Jeremiah Clark if the organist is likely to play one of these pieces to announce the bride. It is well to confer with the organist well beforehand, to assure there won’t be duplication. Depending upon the piper’s proficiency, he or she, along with the groom, can make a wise choice. “Wedding Music,” volume 6 of The Church Piper will provide a diversity of selections from which to choose. They range from, “When Love is Found,” a traditional English melody, to the classical, “My Heart Ever Faithful,” by Johann Sebastian Bach.

For a recent wedding, which took place in White Rock Baptist Church, White Rock BC, the music we chose was “Highland Cathedral” and it proved to be a wise choice; not a selection the organist was about to play. Acoustics in the sanctuary were absolutely ideal. The music had such beautifully resounding tones that it filled the sanctuary with a spirit of majesty and reverence, perfect to announce the dignified groom and his groomsmen.

At the signing of the register, a quartet composed of family members sang to piano accompaniment, a beautiful song in the form of a prayer. The bride was delighted.

Although the couple, now married, could have been announced with “The Highland Wedding March” as they exited from the church, the piper had fulfilled all that was required. A few moments were spent with the couple, their friends and family. Then I left to meet them later that afternoon at their wedding reception at the Golf Club

Once again, the right-sounding music had to be played. Because I hadn’t played a selection specifically written for weddings, I piped the couple and their entourage into the hall with Henry Purcell’s “Trumpet Tune,” which would announce to everyone around, that this would be a wedding party. I led them the length of the room, then once around the balcony where most of the guests were enjoying refreshments. I concluded with “Let’s have a Ceilidh.” The groom’s father spoke the grace and several said a few words of congratulations.

When the wedding guests are predominately Scottish, it is appropriate to add a few more piping selections such as reels, jigs and hornpipes, but in this instance, it was well to leave them having enjoyed what they heard, and still wanting more.

Good Neighbors

“Which of the commandments is the greatest?” is a question someone asked Jesus. He replied, that “To love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself, is the greatest commandment of all.” I appreciate the reality in His statement. Our neighbors’ love comes to us through their thoughtfulness while our response comes from loving God and a desire to express it in some way.

Ed and Marie are retired from the farm and are our new neighbors. Ed. is quite inventive and likes to invite us to enjoy the backyard games he made. One game consists of two golf balls fastened together by a piece of rope a foot long. Competitors thrown two of these about 20 feet, to wrap around any one of three horizontal plastic pipes. Scoring is three points, two or one, for the top, middle or bottom bar, respectively. The couple that makes 21 points wins the game.

The other game is also one in which an object is tossed. Each participant throws two three-inch washers to land in a box about fourteen inches square and six inches high. Inside the box is a pipe about five inches in diameter and six inches high. Scoring is three points, two or one, for getting the washers in the pipe, in the box, or within six inches of it. 21 is also a couple’s winning score. Considerable skill is required and friendly competition is engendered.

There is always lots of friendly encouragement and excitement when either the balls wrap around the bars or the washers fall where they have been intended. This is a great opportunity to get to know one another and build solid relationships that make one’s neighbors more than acquaintances; actually good and reliable friends. After a few games, we will enjoy an evening of visiting and some refreshments, either at Ed and Marie’s or at a neighbor’s home.

We enjoy having Ed call on us to say there will be a game at his place that night. He anticipates that everyone in the neighborhood who he invites will enthusiastically accept his kind invitation and Marie’s. It takes friendly folks like Ed and Marie, to make friends of one’s neighbors.

Al is another good neighbor. Several times, as I worked in the yard, he soon became involved. Several overgrown columnar cedars had to be removed, and he wrestled them to the ground, making it easier to remove their roots with his axe. Together, we worked, continuing by chopping a large cedar stump to pieces. Success was measured by having saved the juniper growing between its roots. His long steel bar was indispensable in removing large blocks of concrete buried along the patio where Japanese Holy was to be planted. When he needed a section of his own yard re- sodded, we collaborated, after my wife delivered the necessary trunk-load of sod. Al appreciated our help and we enjoyed reciprocating with ours. He also didn’t mind receiving a plate of freshly baked muffins.

When I mentioned to Paul that I intended to make two drawers for our kitchen cabinets where only the fronts existed, he immediately replied by asking when it would be convenient to come over and survey the project, draw up a plan and select the materials. He revealed that he had been a cabinetmaker trained in Germany and loved doing woodwork. Paul promised to instruct me as we proceeded. We worked well together and got to know each other and our wives. Our friendship has continued by attending church together and dining out on occasion.

I had to replace a plastic deflector on my car. The original was broken off from having been scraped on the curb. I bought a replacement and happened to mention to Ewalt that it needed to be installed. He responded, “Bring it over and we’ll put it on.” I discovered his workshop to be well equipped. He had a hoist and pneumatic wrench, and when I said that I had given away most of my tools when we moved, he replied, “One doesn’t undress until he goes to bed.” He was so familiar with his tools that he needed only to look at a bolt and know the size required for the wrench. I haven’t found a way to show my appreciation, but our conversations easily reveal that there is respect and love for one another from having the same faith in Christ, our personal Saviour. We’ve enjoyed an evening’s visit along with other friends and neighbors at Ewalt and Ruth’s home.

After church one day, we were invited along with another couple, to lunch at a restaurant. The conversation was lively and we learned much about each other. Enduring friendships were established. Our feelings for several others not there, ones suffering serious health concerns, were mutual. Love for those people was evident, just like the trust we have in God for their care.

When our neighbor, Margaret, suggested to me that it would please her father exceedingly, to surprise him with a piper and Highland dancers on his 90th birthday, I immediately consented. Her plan worked beautifully well. The dancers were piped into the backyard to the tune of “Let’s have a Ceilidh,” and then “Happy Birthday.” The dancers sang it on the second time. The sunny day and shady backyard made the setting most enjoyable. “The Northern Lights of Old Aberdeen” followed a dance of a similar name, just as the other Scottish songs played on the pipes reminded everyone of places in Scotland. “Scotland the Brave,” “The Road to the Isles,” “Mull o’ Kintyre” and “O Flower of Scotland,” sounded beautiful in the backyard. The well-planned program concluded appropriately, with “Amazing Grace.”

Remembering Robert’s birthday with his favorite music was endearing to him as well as satisfying to those of us who contributed to this wonderful family occasion. When God gives us a special ability, it is only right to share it for the enjoyment of our friends and neighbors. Robert will remember this birthday celebration, and so will Margaret and her family. I will too. I loved being able to play for this most appreciative family.

Interaction with our neighbors has proven to us the truth of Jesus’ statement that the greatest commandment is to love our neighbors as ourselves and to love God from the depths of our hearts.

A Week of Kids' Camp

Kid’s Summer Camp at White Rock Baptist Church was scheduled the first week of July 2011. Registered, were 110 kids from Nursery School to Grade 6, with 34 of them not otherwise associated with a church. The 40 volunteers consisted of teachers, musicians, leaders, craftspeople, kitchen workers, security officers, and registrars. I volunteered to do kitchen duty for five days, as everyone, both kids and workers, needed a nutritious snack each day. I assisted half a dozen ladies in preparing those delicious snacks, and in addition, became an expert operator of the automatic dishwasher.


On my first break, I went into the recreation hall to watch the program. I stood for a few moments with another worker, commenting on the exciting time the children were having as they listened intently to two young people performing a skit. The lady asked if I happened to know the “beach bum” with green hair, his hat on sideways, wearing a rubber surf suit and dialoguing with the lifeguard. I looked intently and was attracted by something familiar about the “beach bum’s” actions. Suddenly, I realized that “Crazy J” with the mop of green hair was our very own dear daughter, lost in the character of the “beach bum” she was portraying.

In this beach scene, the lifeguard Hector the Protector demonstrated his life-saving skills. Crazy J, our daughter, made good use of her acting and singing talents to teach the kids about Jesus and it brought tears to my eyes. Often on Sunday mornings, she has led the church congregation in worshipful songs, so it was a surprise to see her acting this different part. A few minutes later, Crazy J was leading the kids in their actions and singing.


Occasionally, I’d go into the recreation hall to enjoy the many kids and their leaders singing and acting the words of Scripture as the amplifier beat out the rhythm. Crazy J kept the kids attentive to actions and words. It was a delightful way for children to learn verses such as “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” By week’s end, they were singing many Scriptures while dressed in tie-dyed shirts, which they had made in crafts’ time. Their numerous Scripture verses were performed for parents and grandparents.


Every day provided something new and different. Activities included tag games, relay races, water balloons, and crafts. Bible lessons were about Jesus when he was twelve, the Prodigal Son, the Widow’s Son restored to health, and on Jesus’ command to go and tell the world about the Messiah having come. Well-performed skits by High School students illustrated the lessons.


It was thrilling and exciting for the camp staff to hear about one little seven-year old girl who seldom spoke at home and who wasn't inclined to speak to others. Her neighbors, who regularly attended White Rock Baptist Church, had invited her to the camp because she and her family did not attend a church and they thought this would be a good experience. It was unusual and rewarding for them, when one day during the week, she ran over to their place and exclaimed, “It’s all about Jesus.”

The Rest of the Story

Most of us know the story of The Prodigal Son, and consider it complete when the father saw his lost son in the distance, went out to meet him and arranged a banquet in his honor. The story seems to end with the father standing just outside the house beseeching his older son to come in and join the celebration.


The older son had reason to be angry with his brother who squandered a large part of their father’s estate. He was the hard-working son, who stayed at home and “slaved,” for his father, as he described it and he believed their father should not have accepted the return of his younger son. He may even have had reason to be jealous of his brother, who was being treated so royally though he squandered his part of the father’s estate. Are we unlike the older brother? Could selfishness be greater than love for our brother who was lost and is now found? It could have been a joyous time for the older son if he had been forgiving like his father.


Granted, it was unusual for a son to ask for his part of the father’s estate when his father had not yet died. He was in effect wishing that he was. With the younger brother’s return, his older brother would have to share the remainder of their father’s estate. He was indeed angry and spoke disrespectfully to his father, saying, “Look, I have slaved all these years for you and never disobeyed any of your instructions, and yet you haven’t even given me a goat, so I could celebrate with my friends.” He didn’t acknowledge the younger son as his brother, but indignantly referred to him as “your son,” who spent all his money on prostitutes, and for whom the fatted calf was killed. The father tried to tell him that his brother, who was lost, was now found, while he the older brother, had always been at home with the family. He told him all that had been the father’s now belonged to him. Could he please join in the festivities and welcome his lost brother home?


Jesus was not telling the Pharisees a story to entertain them. He wanted them to understand the loving nature of their Heavenly Father and about Heaven. They were much like the older son, who worked in the fields for his father, not because he loved him, but for the sake of getting what he believed his father owed him through his efforts. They believed that God, their Father in Heaven, owed them salvation because they kept all His rules and tried to satisfy Him. They would have been angry because they believed salvation came by satisfying their Father in Heaven, not by evidencing their love for Him.


Jesus had just told two other parables in which a sheep and a coin were lost and were found after a genuine search. If the older son loved his father and his younger brother, he would have said to him that he wanted to find his lost brother and bring him home, knowing he would have learned his lesson after wasting all his money. The older brother could have brought him back to the family at his own expense.


The lesson given by Jesus to the Pharisees is just as applicable to us. To believe that God can be maneuvered into doing what we want Him to do just because we’ve devoted ourselves to work for Him, is incorrect thinking. By not evidencing genuine love for our “younger brother,” we would remain outside the family of God.


The “older brother” would be one who, in his various undertakings is convinced that only his way is correct. “Slaving” at his duties, he would find his efforts joyless, and his numerous tasks without reward. They would be performed with fear-based compliance for God, his exacting boss, more of duties than offerings accompanied by love for those whom he serves. He operates from the standpoint of self-satisfaction in being recognized for his morality and he expects God to bless him because he is virtuous and charitable.


An “older brother” would be happier if he invited his “younger brother,” with motivation initiated by love for him and for God, to work with him, so that together, both might serve their loving Heavenly Father with love rather than duty. The “younger brother,” by being included, would know he is appreciated as a partner and want to contribute, as he is able.