6 | THE COMMUNITY NEWS | MAY 17, 2018
Mark Laird, DM Drayton United Church
Walking on water There is always talk and debate as to whether the actions that are reported in the Bible actually happened, or whether they are stories, myth, teachings of a distant people. I remember hearing a comedian, I don’t remember his name, saying that he believed that Jesus did actually walk on water ... in Canada, in the winter. For me I don’t need something to have actu-
ally happened for there to be meaning behind it. It is like the beginning of Aboriginal spiritual stories, where the elder starts the story off by saying, “I don’t know if this actually happened ... but I do know that it is true.” There are many truths for us to discover in the Bible. For me, they don’t have to come from historical events for there to be truth behind them. The great part about the truth in the story of Jesus
walking on water is that Peter tests him, saying, “If it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” Even though Peter doesn’t believe it is Jesus performing this miracle of walking on water, Jesus doesn’t leave Peter to drown. Jesus/God is always with us. What we have to do is remember that. Peter has no problem stepping over the side of the boat and he has no problem following Jesus’ command (after all Peter did request it).
Once he gets out on the water and realizes what he is doing, Peter forgets that Jesus called him out onto the water and he starts to sink. We, like Peter, are eager to take on a challenge set to us by God. As soon as it gets scary or difficult, or we get over the excitement of being able to jump over the boat, we actually realize that we just jumped over the side of a boat. We can lose sight of God or Jesus in our panic. The biggest challenge is
not stepping off of the boat, but remembering that once you are off the boat and you get scared, that Jesus is still with you. Just because you see the sharks circling below you, don’t lose faith. If Jesus called you to walk on the water, then have faith that he won’t let you sink. Jesus would not have invited Peter over the side if he even had the slightest inclination that Peter would sink. That is the truth I try to take from this story; the one aspect that I try to remember
over the others. We won’t be asked by God or Jesus to do something that we would fail at. God will be with me just as God will be with you in whatever challenges your life brings you. When Jesus or God calls you to walk on water, don’t be afraid to take the first step, but also try not to be afraid on steps four through 20 either. But you know what, even if you do get scared and start to sink, guess who will be there to raise you up again?
Author shares stories from area history at annual meeting » FROM PAGE 5
Toronto, where he worked in the stationary business,” Cork said. He continued the history on Coutts, stating that he developed a greeting card line and formed the company W.E. Coutts Co. Ltd, which grew to employ 1,000 people.
In the 1930s, Coutts joined forces with Joyce C. Hall, manufacturing cards under the Hall Brothers name in Canada. By 1958, the company became what is known today as Hallmark Cards. Coutts died in 1971 at the age of 93. “I am going to tell you
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LOVERS OF THE
BIRDS Hilarious heron visit
Gary and I were sitting outside in the garden one evening last fall. Twenty-five years earlier we had bought a shallow, 7x3’ preformed pond. This has housed dozens of goldfish that have come and gone over the years. Most winters they successfully reside in the sump pump hole in the basement. Water usually trickles through sufficiently to keep them healthy. A few of the fish live long enough to produce young. That particular evening we saw a heron circling overhead. Great blue herons are 4’ tall. Overall they are grey-blue with black crest on head, long neck and yellow bill, long legs and feet, long feathers extend over wings, back and chest. Where there is water, including north to the boreal forests of Ontario, they are found. Diet is small fish, reptiles, amphibians, crustaceans, birds, aquatic insects. This heron landed beside our tiny pond. It was in the ‘attack stance’—neck tucked in, head and long bill pointing. It was patiently waiting to strike. Later we realized it had taken our largest fish and a friendly frog that had taken up residence for the summer. I guess we unnerved the bird because it walked stealthily around the garden before our very eyes. It flew away but quickly returned and sauntered around some more. I ran in the house for the camera and binoculars. I grabbed green, plastic fencing and draped it over the pond to protect our remaining 4 fish. A few days later the fencing was ripped out. We suspect this heron remembered its catch that day and was frustrated with our interference. The experience was a mixture of sadness, humour and intrigue. We lost two of our animal kingdom friends. We had about an hour to observe this bold heron up close. Others have shared similar experiences with me. (Resources: Peterson, Lorimer and Birds of Ontario.) Until next month, Susan Warren.
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about John Diefenbaker, the 13th prime minister of Canada, born in Neustadt; A fiery speaker who had a vision of one Canada,” Cork said. He described Diefenbaker’s experience with tremors, which comedians imitated and named the Diefenbaker shakes. Political opponents of the prime minister questioned his ability to function in a political setting because of his health issues. Diefenbaker was the only Canadian prime minister to have a disease named after him: “The Diefenbaker Disease.” Unknown to many, Walt Disney’s roots were in Bluevale, Ontario. Cork described Walt’s father Elias as an unsuccessful contractor in 1895. After many moves and different career paths, the family travelled to California, hoping to make their fortune in the gold rush. Unsuccessful, the family moved to Chicago, where Elias was employed as a construction worker for the 1893 World’s Exposition. This event is claimed to be the source of inspiration for Walt’s Disney kingdom. The boy who was to become The King of Cash, left Ireland at the age of 14 and was employed at a bakery in Kirkton, Perth County.
“After an unsuccessful attempt at the business, the boy, Timothy Eaton, set up a cash only store in St. Mary’s near Stratford. From their he opened a store in Toronto,” Cork said. “Eaton’s success was based on buy deeply, pay smartly and sell loudly.” Cork noted Eaton went on to introduce the Eaton’s catalogue in 1884, which gave Canadians access to a variety of merchandise. After the catalogue had outlived its life it could be found in the backyard privy. Eatons was purchased by rival company, Sears Canada, in 1999. “Normanby fighter Noah Brusso was five foot seven, weighed 170 pounds. Brusso was the first and last Canadian world heavy weight champion. He was also known as the shortest heavy weight champion of all time,” Cork said. He stated that Brusso’s mother hated pugilism. While working on lake boats, Brusso fought with two ship mates, jumped ship and landed at the Detroit Athletic Club. When one scheduled boxer failed to show for a match, Brusso took to the ring and knocked out his opponent in the fifth round. By 1905, using the name Tommy Burns, he had been the heavyweight champion of the world 16 times and
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the 1840s and settled on Garafraxa Road, establishing a blacksmith shop on the Kenilworth site. Eventually, James Lynes Jr. took over the operation of the business. “By 1955, the world changed and factories started manufacturing what a blacksmith produced. The blacksmith shop was closed. James Jr. wanted his wife Mary to have a new modern home, but did not want to build across the road and sit and look at the old place,” Cork said. He pointed out James Jr. and Mary had a son, Frank, born in 1934. A Depressionera child, who went on to become a medical doctor practicing medicine in Hamilton, Frank would make monthly trips back to Kenilworth, picking apples in the family’s orchard, picking berries from the garden, attending the Sacred Heart Church garden party and would return home each time with a jug of Kenilworth’s finest water. “The family home was left undisturbed after Frank’s parents passed away. Frank returned each weekend to shake off the work week. He would climb the stairs to find his bedroom, sleep in his childhood bed and enjoy the Irish mementos on the fireplace hearth,” Cork said. SEE SOCIETY » 7
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was famous for taking on two opponents at one time, knocking out one opponent in 27 seconds of the first round. Married four times, Brusso was buried in British Columbia where his fans pooled their funds to have his tombstone engraved with the words, “Here lies Tommy Burns.” Jack Stafford had humble beginnings as a food salesman in 1894. Known as “The Jam and Jelly Man” in Bruce County, Stafford also had an interest in sports, founding the Ontario Minor Hockey Association. “In 1973, his horse, Royal Chocolate, won The Queen’s Plate and he met Queen Elizabeth II in the winner’s circle. Stafford was awarded a Sovereign Award in 1976 as Man of the Year for his contribution to the sport,” Cork said. He revealed that Stafford Farms won 131 stake races, ranking them fourth on the list of all-time leading stakes winning owners in Canada behind E.P. Taylor’s Windfield Farms, Conn Smythe and Seagram Stable. Cork also gave an informative power point presentation on the Lynes Blacksmith Shop located on Highway 6 in Kenilworth. James Lynes came to Canada from Ireland in
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