Stettler Independent, December 05, 2012

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The

Wednesday, December 5, 2012 Promoting Stettler in the tradition of Carl Stettler

There’s no time like the present

1906 ❤ 2012 Established 1906 The leading weekly newspaper of Central Alberta Dedicated to the advancement of the well-being and the preservation of the heritage of our community, which includes Stettler and the County of Stettler.

By Lori Welbourne Indpendent columnist Last week, I turned 46 years old and my kids offered up a delicious home-cooked dinner, followed by a sweet dose of unexpected reality. “I wish I was you,” my nine-year-old daughter said as we enjoyed our decadent dessert. “But I’m kind of glad that I’m not.” “Why are you glad that you’re not?” I asked. “Because your life is half over,” my 12-year-old son chimed in from across the table. “It kind of is, Mom,” Daisy agreed, nodding sympathetically. “No offence.” Sure. None taken. Eager to know more about her first statement, I asked Daisy why she wished she were me. “Because you have an amazing life!” she replied. “And you look less old than you actually are,” Sam added, smiling. I was glad they thought I looked young for 46, but the fact remained that they thought I was old. Duh. Of course they did. I remember being my daughter’s age and thinking my mom was ancient too. She was 27 at the time. I explained to my children that I planned on living to be at least 100 and that I hadn’t reached the halfway mark quite yet. “But you’re close,” Sam teased. “So, no wasting time, Mom.” And there it was, just the advice I needed to hear that day: no wasting time. Since the age of 17, I’ve spent many of my birthdays seriously reflecting on what I had yet to accomplish, rather than simply enjoying them as a wonderful celebration of life. In that moment, I realized that I had been doing it again to some extent, and it was completely unnecessary. Serious reflection could wait. I didn’t think my children had any idea what was going on in the deep recesses of my brain, but I guess they’re more perceptive than I realize. What they might see in me could be similar to what I saw in my parents when I was young, and that is a person who works too hard for the future and doesn’t play enough in the present. Like most everyone I know, my life is full, my days are busy and my schedule is packed. I have ambitions and dreams that I’m working on constantly, but am I relishing the entire process or am I waiting to cross some magical finish line first? At times, I feel like I’m loving every minute of it. There are times, though, that I become lost in the chaos and life feels like one big chore rather than the magnificent gift that it is. I believe in dreaming big and going after my goals with fearless optimism. I also believe it’s important to remember to live every day to the fullest, because, as we all know, there are no guarantees that our life will be long. Even though my plan is to live another 54 years or more, there’s a possibility I might not. So, if I die tomorrow, I hope to have enjoyed today — and the only person than can make that hope a reality is me. Back when I was a brooding teenager my dad, the eternal optimist, taught me that happiness is a mindset. “You can choose to be happy or you can choose to be miserable,” he said when I was in one of my darker moods. “Life will keep chugging along, however you decide to feel.” I can’t say his words completely sunk in at the time, but as the years have passed, I’ve tried to live by that motto more and more. If I didn’t, I probably wouldn’t be able to recognize that my daughter was right: I do have an amazing life. I’m grateful that I have some incredible people in my world who remind me of that every day. Even on my birthday.

Box 310 Stettler, AB T0C 2L0 403-742-2395 Fax: 403-742-8050 Newsroom:

Envy, greed, jealousy shrink souls and minds There’s a fable about an eagle that could fly faster than another eagle. That infuriated the slower eagle. One day, the troubled eagle met an archer. He said, “I want you to shoot that eagle down!” The man replied that he would, if he had some eagle feathers to put into his arrows. The jealous eagle immediately produced a wing feather. The arrow was released, but the rival eagle was just out of range. The envious eagle pulled out more feathers for the archer, but he kept missing. When he’d removed so many feathers that he could no longer fly, the hunter turned on him and killed him. The eagle’s jealousy not only divested him of his mobility, but it ultimately led to his demise. The legend reminds me of 1 Kings 21, which contains the distressing account of King Ahab and his inappropriate acquisition of a vineyard owned by Naboth. Ahab’s attitudes and actions in this passage provide a prime example of the unholy trinity of envy, greed and jealousy. These words are often used interchangeably, but while they are similar and occasionally overlap, they’re not really synonyms. Generally speaking, envy is wanting what someone else has, greed is wanting more and more and jealousy is possessiveness coupled with fear that what has been gained might be lost or taken. All three (independently or together) are capable of narrowing the mind, enslaving the thoughts and shrinking the soul. But back to Ahab. I would encourage you to locate the passage and read it, as space does not permit its inclusion here. However, the following is a condensed

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version of what transpired. As king, Ahab had all that any man could desire. But he coveted Naboth’s land, so he offered to buy or trade another property for it. Naboth had deep family roots in the land and he didn’t want to sell. Ahab, following a season of sulking, allowed for his evil wife Jezebel to contrive and employ a plan that led to Naboth’s execution ... and Ahab got his vineyard. However, God takes note of such events. God’s prophet Elijah appeared in the kings court and boldly condemned their evil deeds. Allegorically speaking, he told them that they were both out of feathers and that the Heavenly Archer had them in His sights. Envy, greed and jealousy (exactly opposite of faith, hope and contentment) are indicative of a belief that this life is all that we get ... so we must grab all that we can, while we can and grasp it tightly. To conclude, Proverbs 28:25 begins by saying, “A greedy man stirs up strife,” but then in happy contrast states, “The one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched.” Pastor Ross Helgeton is senior pastor at Erskine Evangelical Free Church.

We acknowledge the financial suppor t of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities.

John MacNeil Publisher/Editor

Richard Froese Reporter

Les Stulberg Reporter

Kami Ritz Senior Sales Representative

TIME CAPSULE

Macleods opens doors on main street 1972 — 40 years ago — The grand total of building permits issued by the Town of Stettler through November totalled $1,418,880. — Murray Rairdan was elected president of the Stettler District Agricultural Society. — The Trevor Lienweber rink won the Stettler junior high school bonspiel. An Erskine couple celebrated special birthdays. — Melvia Reynolds her 86th and her husband Bert his 85th. — Herb Awe of Donalda was elected president of the Stettler District 4-H Council. — The Gadsby Cubs and Scouts are selling Christmas trees, offering spruce or jack pine. — Johnny and Mary Johnson of Rumsey celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a gathering at the Rumsey hall. — The Stettler County Fair board reported the fair profit was about $3,700. 1962 — 50 years ago — Macleods held the grand opening for a new

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store on Stettler’s main street. Macleods Limited was started in Winnipeg in 1917. — Hally Walgenbach of Gadsby received a trophy saddle at a banquet in Ponoka for being Central Alberta chuckwagon champion. — Eighteen inches of snow was dumped on the Stettler district on Nov. 30. — The Stettler Board of Trade staged a mammoth Santa Claus parade. — A benefit dance was held at Byemoor for Victor Jackson, who suffered a broken neck in a car accident. — Specials at J and P Food Stores: T-bone and sirloin steak — 89 cents per pound; raisins — three pounds for 53 cents; Nabob tea — 99 cents per pound; Purity flour — 25 pounds for $1.99; Purex tissue

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— eight rolls for $1. — Top marks in Grade 9 and 10 at Gadsby School were awarded to Patricia Scott, Darlene Stenberg and Kenneth Bradey.

Les-sons from the past

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1952 — 60 years ago — Topping 164 entries from the U.S., U.K. and Canada, Ronald Leonhardt, 19, of Drumheller was awarded the world wheat championship title. — Twelve-year-old Donna Gibson received an award of bravery when she saved a six-year-old from suffering extensive bleeding. — The Big Valley Elks Lodge installed Lloyd Webster as Worthy Exalted Ruler. — The Castor School Division held an official opening of an ultramodern three-room school in Byemoor, with a recreation room in the basement. — The Stettler Oilers suffered their first defeat of the season, losing 56-46 to the Red Deer Ramblers basketball team. — At Donalda, Mrs. Cliff Rasmussen was elected president of the women’s curling club.

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Copyright Notice: All printed material, including photographs and articles, is the sole property of The Stettler Independent. No reproduction of this material is permitted without permission of the publisher-editor. The Stettler Independent welcomes letters to the editor, especially those dealing with topical or local issues. Letters should be a maximum of 300 words in length and must have the writer’s signature over a printed name, along with the writer’s address and telephone number. The phone number won’t be printed. This newspaper reserves the right to edit letters for length and legal considerations. The deadline is noon the Friday prior to publication. Send your letter to: The Editor, Stettler Independent, Box 310, Stettler, AB, T0C 2L0. Fax: 403-742-8050 Email: editor@stettlerindependent.com

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