This really doesn’t need an introduction except to say it’s the promo for the youth program this year at the NL Congress. See if you recognize anybody?
Hospitals are malls
Since my Dad was diagnosed with colon cancer in the late 1990’s ( I can’t remember the year anymore) I have been having a colonoscopy every five years. Yesterday was the latest. My goodness, that’s an unpleasant p
rocess for a 15-minute procedure that I can’t remember.
The timing on this one was such that it seemed my “no eating” time frame got really stretched out. I was starving by the time I got to the hospital. Fortunately, there was a Starbucks inside the hospital doors so as soon as it was over I could go get a good dark and hot coffee.
It struck me, as I walked the hallways, that hospitals these days are as much about business as they are about medicine. From revenue created through outrageous parking rates to renting out space to fast food outlets, hospital leadership is about creating additional sources of revenue. Left to rely on government transfers, they would still be using equipment from the 1960’s. Watch the ads for hospital lotteries or the mailbox for a request to donate and you will come to the same conclusion.
That being said, we do have a great system and when you need care the system stretches to provide what we need. If you have any doubt we have a great system look south of the border to the war over Obamacare. Yes, I will stay on this side of the border. A bit cooler in winter perhaps but still a country of care for those who need medical intervention.
Reflection on a Sunday am
Yesterday it was 20 degrees in Canmore, today Amanda says they awoke to snow. That’s living in Canada – that’s living in the mountains. Even here the weather is cool and very very wet. Rain has been persistent and low-lying areas are dealing with localized flooding. Living in the context of our weather makes it a constant choice of conversation and that’s being Canadian.
It was great to connect with Cath and Noah last night. 
Last evening the Canadian Staff Songsters were in Oshawa for the band weekend – yes the songsters were the guests for a band weekend. The place was packed. That might tell you something about what people are looking for. I really enjoy the sung Gospel and many of the songs that the CSS is using right now are Scripture in song. I don’t think there’s anything more powerful. If there is one thing that is equivalent to this might be drama – especially that the musical. Hosea, Spirit, Jesus Folk were all great artistic presentations of Scripture. I hope at some point someone comes on the scene with that kind of talent and energy as we saw in the Larsson and Gowans partnership.
Tonight starts the Quebec divisional review – the territory reviews the work of the divisions every three years. We begin tonight in Montreal. I look forward to these conversations.
