Ensuring Religious Knowledge

Odd titlle, but an odd topic.

I grew up on a farm.  In a small village.   Neither of my parents were really religious.   Mom was Jewish, Dad was some flavour of Christian (Anglican?  United?).

We didn't go to church on Sunday, neither did we go to shul (synagogue).  In fact, aside from Christmas and Chanukkah, I don't remember much religion around the house.   We had Easter off from school, and I remember that there was a lady that came to our school (public) a few times a year and used a felt board to tell us bible stories.

I knew the basics of Adam and Eve, and of Moses and the Ten Commandments (though that may have come from the movie on TV).  I knew of Noah and the Ark.  But I think it mostly stopped there.

I can still recite the Lord's Prayer, but that's only because we said it every morning from the time I was in kindergarden to about grade 5 when they removed religious component from the public school system.

I had a friend in highschool who took me to church one Sunday.   He wanted me to come with him, I was simply curious what the fuss was about.

What reminded me of all of this is the random thoughts that run through your head while you putter around the house, alone.   Tonight, I was scrubbing baseboards.  (Glamourous, eh?)

I was thinking back to highschool.  And my OAC English class.  We were reading 'One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest'.  We were doing group work when the teacher came up and asked me why I wasn't participating.   The group work question dealt with how Randal Patrick Murphy and the other patients are similar to Jesus and his disciples.

I wasn't sure how to respond.  I had no idea how they were similar, as I only knew of Murphy and the patients, and nothing about Jesus.  (Aside from the born in the manger thing.)   I was granted a pass on that assignment as there had been no requirement to read the bible as a supporting text.   I still can't figure out how that question (and others) remained a part of the curriculum.

It does bring me back to thinking of my kids though.  How do I make sure that they aren't as ignorant about other religions as their father was?

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From the Mouths of Kids

From my daughter, the Toad, this morning, while putting on deodorant.

Daddy, does that put hair under your arms?

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Life Catch Up

I've been meaning for weeks to sit down and throw some thoughts together.  But sometime I feel like life has been dragging me along, rather than me being in control for the last little while.

The Turtle and the Toad are doing well.  The Turtle is able to sit on his own now, and is much more interested in the world around him.  We have him on solid foods, three meals a day.  He seems to like parsnip the best so far.  He's also had turnip (good), squash (not so much), carrots (good), sweet potato (good), bananas (good), apple sauce (good).   He'll be getting green beans tonight, and peas later in the week.

The Toad is doing well at preschool.   We tend to have issues on Wednesday nights though.   (She's in preschool Tuesday, Wednesday and Fridays) She's up frequently (4 times a night) with night terrors.  We think we have it tracked down to the teachers at preschool not giving her her corner blanket until after she settles.   Except she uses her corner blanket to settle.

The Turtle is taking naps well.  Sometimes up to 3 hours in the morning, and again in the afternoon.  (Like he should be.)   He is a bit of a light weight though. He didn't gain any weight in the past month, only height.   The doctor was a bit worried.   

Work has been busy for me.  Some nights I've been putting in up to 4 extra hours.  I suppose I should be glad to have a job, but...  It gets tiring...

Our sleep schedules went to pot during the Olympics.   The fact that everything started at a decent time on the west coast meant that it started late on the east cost, and we often went to bed long after midnight.

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Special Day, Special Man

I've know Al Griffin for many years.  I'm guessing in the 15 year range.  I met him while I was a youth member of Scouts Canada.  I was a bit in awe of him.  Al was in his 70s at the time, and I was amazed that he still still slept on the floor/ground whenever it was called for.

Al was a big supporter of my wife-to-be and I dating.  He thought it was great that two of 'his rovers' were so happy together.  My wife and I invited Al to our wedding.  There wasn't even a second thought.

I don't know all of Al's storied past.  I do know that he was a fighter pilot in World War Two.  I know that he was originally from the UK, and has been a member of scouting since his youth.   That's something special.   He also was a major part of the setting up of the Scouting Museum at Scouts Canada headquarters on Baseline Rd.  (Worth a visit if you've never seen it. If you're lucky, Al may be there to give you the tour himself.  Tell him Flip sent you.)

In honour of the extensive service that Scouter Alan Griffin has given to Scouting within the Ottawa area and in honour of BP week, the Mayor of the City of Ottawa has proclaimed February 23, 2010 as Scouter Alan Griffin Day in the city of Ottawa.

The official proclamation is as follows and was presented to Alan last week.  Please join us in congratulating Alan upon receiving this honour.

Scouter Alan Griffin Day

February 23, 2010

WHEREAS, Alan Griffin is an active Scout volunteer in Ottawa, who has provided leadership to our youth and mentoring to his fellow volunteers for over 60 years; and

WHEREAS, Alan Griffin has been recognized by the former Governor-General of Canada, Her Excellency The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, and by the Scouting community within Canada, for his many contributions to Canadian youth, even being called “Canada’s Own Baden Powell”; and

WHEREAS, Alan Griffin has been a positive role model for thousands of our youth in our community;

THEREFORE, I, Larry O’Brien, Mayor of the City of Ottawa, do hereby proclaim February 23, 2010 as Scouter Alan Griffin Day in the City of Ottawa.

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