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.