I try to imagine doing something similar and I can’t and maybe that is because what we have is so good. There has been a lot of talk and writing lately about the deterioration of democracy in Canada, the poor economy and the erosion of all things good. The reality is that we are immensely blessed to live where we do and no wonder there are folks who would do almost anything to live here. Gives me pause as I think about my parent’s decision. I’m grateful and humbled by the risks they took for us.
The photograph above was taken by an uncle just before my parents and my brother and sister immigrated to Canada in 1953. Everyone seems turned into themselves as they try to imagine what is ahead. My dad, on the left, looks stunned, maybe a bit overwhelmed by what he has undertaken with his young family. How could they have taken this big step? What were the factors that convinced them that leaving the motherland was the thing to do? How could you have so much confidence in what was being said about the new country that you would uproot your family and leave, knowing you were not likely to see your parents and maybe not even your siblings again? Paul writes in Hebrews, “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” This must have been strong in them. The stories that were coming out of Canada must have been compelling. I never did see my mom and dad as big risk takers and yet this was pretty big.
I try to imagine doing something similar and I can’t and maybe that is because what we have is so good. There has been a lot of talk and writing lately about the deterioration of democracy in Canada, the poor economy and the erosion of all things good. The reality is that we are immensely blessed to live where we do and no wonder there are folks who would do almost anything to live here. Gives me pause as I think about my parent’s decision. I’m grateful and humbled by the risks they took for us.
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