When you're pushing a bow wave and life seems like an uphill struggle, it may be time to...

A contrasting scene on the Toronto waterfront last week.

The "Hippo" was pushing a huge bow wave. It was meeting with heavy resistance. The boiling, turbulent water at its stern revealed its struggle to move forward. The yellow and blue amphi-bus looked (and sounded) "heavy". It was an uphill struggle.

The paddler, on the other hand, skimmed the surface...effortlessly, leaving no wake or evidence of his passage.

The paying passengers, inside the "Hippo", sat tightly squeezed together. They could exercise no control. The schedule and route were out of their hands - they were, "along for the ride".

The paddler determined his own course and timings.

The passengers were a "captive" audience to the commentary of the driver.

The paddler was singing - the rhythm of his song, matching the cadence of his strokes.

So when you're pushing a bow wave and life seems like an uphill struggle...it may be time to get out of the "bus" and "exercise" some freedom with a little self-propelled movement. Or talk with a good friend.

Both may take a little courage. But both work every time - at least that's been my experience. I wonder if it's been yours?

Duncan.


OK, so I adjusted the "horizon" on the image...just a little, just for effect. 

Love, hope, and optimism...a recipe, for something very, very good.

Pensive moments by Lock 21, Peterborough, Ontario.

Love is better than anger.

Hope is better than fear.

Optimism is better than despair.

So let us be loving, hopeful, and optimistic.

And we'll change the world.

- J.G. Layton

We went for a long walk the other night. On this occasion, we took some time to sit pensively by the quiet waters leading into Lock 21. The last "transfer" of the day had been completed and the highest hydraulic lift lock in the world, a majestic marvel of engineering, awaited the peacefulness of the coming night. As the sun began to set, the waterway reflected the sky, the trees, and the handiwork of skilled labourers, over a century ago. 


We thought about "Jack's" words, written shortly before he died last week. We didn't know Jack personally, but it was impossible these past years not to be touched by his warmth, his energy, his enthusiasm, and his passion for social justice. He was a different kind of politician from the usual caricature. He believed we can change the world - simply because that's the right thing to do. So many struggle with so much, and he believed that it shouldn't be that way. He was a "man for others" - most especially, those that society allows to fall "between the cracks".


The expressions of affection these past days, from people of every political stripe, would suggest that it is love, hope, and optimism...qualities of selfless living, that would, indeed, change the world.


Thanks for the reminder, Jack, and for the inspiration of your actions.


The Honourable John Gilbert (Jack) Layton was a Canadian politician and Leader of the Official Opposition. He died of cancer last week, at age 61.