Visitors from the West encouraged my soul, fixed our sump pump on that rainy stormy Saturday, and blessed us greatly.
"What do you call a cow in an earthquake?
... a milk shake!"
The story continues....
******
After I resigned from the North Battleford church, I had a better sense of self. I might not enjoy ‘pastoral inter-relational work and all the mess of that” as much as I had hoped – but I did enjoy young folk, and I did enjoy the performance aspect, the preaching, the movie making and so on.
What profession could hold all of my interests? What next?
Camping came to mind! Not sure how I had arrived at this – but suddenly all I wanted to do was work at a camp. For the first time I was emerging from a transition with some confidence. I was realizing again the inclinations of my personality – I was a somewhat a multitalented creative.
Wilma was also gaining clarity. We had to think of settling down, Candace was in school; Odia would be in kindergarten. We were in our early 30’s. She wanted to settle down in Winnipeg - She was very clear. After living in BC all her life, spending our honey moon year in Vancouver, then spending time in Harrison Hot Spring, Banff, Calgary, North Battleford, she wanted and was praying that we would move to Winnipeg. She liked the white snow – the Mennonite culture and the wide-open space. She said it was like living on top of the world. She liked city life and Winnipeg was the perfect size.
In researching the camps, I came across the Star Lake Lodge advertisement for a camp director - based out of Winnipeg.
I applied and soon after we were interviewed by the Whiteshell Keswick Fellowship board which operated Star Lake Lodge with the slogan to “enable families to experienced physical and spiritual renewal.”
I wasn’t quite sure about the “family emphasis” but was immediately impressed with the board who offered to get us settled in Winnipeg. The Real Estate agent on the board helped us buy our first house, a little duplex on Herbert Avenue in Winnipeg – the right price- three bedroom, small but perfect for us.
Star Lake Lodge was on the shores of a little lake next to West Hawk in the “Lake of the Woods” area – a lake known for its tranquilly making it the perfect retreat setting for adults.
We were immediately taken with one of the founding members, Anne Steinmann, “Saint Anne” as she was known was one of the most gracious ladies I have ever met. Her deep faith was an inspiration to everyone. She was known and respected for her generous hospitality, her listening ear and wise counsel, her keen intellect, and above all her non-judgmental compassion towards others. She had an inner and outer beauty.
The only downside to accepting this position was that it was only ¾ time so I had to offset it with another job. In record time, I was hired by the Manitoba Camping Association to design and publish their newsletter.
This meant I was learning now to do the promotions for Star Lake Lodge and the Camping Association. In the winter I worked out of the office in our house and in the summer we moved to Star Lake Lodge.
Living beside that lake was beautiful – except the whole camp was infiltrated with mice. Rodents would dart across the dining room, the parking lot, and eat the candy in the confectionary.
As a family we stayed in the old lodge which really was a long narrow cabin. One night I declared war on the mice and set up traps all over the cabin. I remember the first trap clamping down on a mouse, the snap – the scratching, tiny thudding of the death throes of the mouse. I think my wife lying in bed sleeping, woke and actually levitated for a minute or two… she was horrified.
Needless to say none of us slept very well as the snapping traps kept us awake. Apparently live mice running around the cabin aren’t as bad as dying mice!
The camp itself was glam camping with table cloths on the dining room tables. The three course meals were served to the tables. The church camp fire had pews alongside it – and everyone dressed for dinner.
Besides the beautiful intimate beach, the families enjoyed the small homey cabins or stayed in their motor homes, RV or camper vans in one of the trailer spots.
The main activity was water skiing and handling the boat was one of my main roles.
As the founding parents were setting up this amazing retreat for their contemporaries, their sons were also setting up their own skiing sport and attracting the younger crowd.
It was the perfect setting, beautiful dock, sheltered and off to the side with a small island perfect distance from the shore to create privacy for the islanders and a sheltered strait for speed boats to race between the island and the sunbathers on the beach – and not disturbing either side.
So, all day we would offer the guests of all ages a chance to ski. On the side out of view, we would teach them to get up on their skis, (this was no small feat) ... then we would take them around the island and race past the sunbathers who would always notice and applaud the skier who was now quite secure on their skis and waving and then we take a quick loop on the other side and bring them back to the dock again out of sight. As you can imagine this was exhausting for all of us.
By the end of the day we would need a break. from catering to the guests, teaching the impossible to ski – and waving to the sunbathers as part of the performance so at end of day we would set out for a private bay – quiet waters not a ripple – and just enjoy cutting from one side to the other or even trying new tricks. This is where I learned to slalom, - ski on one ski.
The other - spiritual attraction was the Sunday morning worship services, songs sung from hymnals and the occasional firesides. Firesides were popular.
In all of this I was really more handy man director than anything else - I was in charge of maintenance and the mice. They had their old stand-by preacher-type that preached.
Since I had little creative outlet, I thought I might make the fireside even a bit more exciting by planning a sleight of hand trick in lighting it.
As you might have noticed by now, I do love the art of illusion which is so much part of any art – even the basics of drawing a three-dimensional figure on a one-dimensional piece of paper is all about learning how to trick the eye of the beholder.
To have a magical fire side, I needed to rig it before hand. Deep within the recesses of the large pile of wood and logs ready for the bon fire, I had hidden a candle, the wax holding it on a board, the board had a thread attached, leading out of to where I would be sitting. I tied a broken twig to the end so I could find it in the darkness. The candle was lit standing by itself on the board, the wood spaced around it so it would not light the wood. But when I pulled the board with the candle on it, it moved under fine kindling, lighting it and the wood over it for the evening fire.
So right in the beginning of the fireside as they were gathering, I had everyone sit and concentrate on the wood-pile to become a grand bonfire. I suggested to them that if they used the power of he mind they could start the wood to burn.
They co-operated and stared at the wood pile. When they were all concentrating on the wood, I gently pulled the string – that pulled the board moving the flame of the candle under the kindling – that would hopefully set the whole thing ablaze.
I was as surprised as the rest of them when suddenly, a a very small wisp of smoke began to curl out of the wood pile! People jumped back in shock! It was exciting, flames appearing in moments to take hold, Fire pit had been lit and the crowd had done it with their own mental powers! ! The best bon fire ever….
The only thing I did wrong was I forgot to give it a spiritual application beforehand which left some thinking I was actually trying to practice the art of magic in a deeply Christian setting.
Even if I'd had them singing, "This Little Light of Mine" it would have set a different emphasis! Everyone wanted to know how I did it – I never did tell. I just left it as a mystery. This turned out to be a bit divisive.
Yet it had been so fulfilling - the highlight of the summer. Was it another talent -- magic - entertainment. I think the biblical story of "talents" was always important to me. We are to use our talents for God was a given for me.
But how to serve God with my talents was baffling - especially since my giftings weren't always recognized by the Christian community. There was no problem with my talent for service, bus boy, porter, gas station. There was no problem with my physical agility, life guard, handling the boat, water skiing, hockey, construction. There was no problem with my work ethic, always showed up on time. There was no problem with my sharing of my story or my learnings of the Word of God.
I did have trouble knowing how to apply my artistic talent, my love to entertain, my love of the performing arts, like magic, my acting, my love of stage. This was all interpreted to be "worldly" at least in the Christian culture we were in at the time.
As wonderful as the camp experience was -- was it enough?
During the summer, Wilma realized again that she was pregnant - another birth control failure.
We were now going to have three children, our financial obligations were growing.
Around this time Dave Loewen, who had noticed my promo material for Star Lake Lodge and the Manitoba Camping Association called regarding the possibility of working at Camp Arnes as a graphic artist and perhaps directing the "Pony Unit" program during the summer!
Before we left, Star Lake Lodge had me complete about 25 pen and ink drawings of wildlife for use in their promotion when I was gone!
"What do you call a cow in an earthquake?
... a milk shake!"
The story continues....
******
After I resigned from the North Battleford church, I had a better sense of self. I might not enjoy ‘pastoral inter-relational work and all the mess of that” as much as I had hoped – but I did enjoy young folk, and I did enjoy the performance aspect, the preaching, the movie making and so on.
What profession could hold all of my interests? What next?
Camping came to mind! Not sure how I had arrived at this – but suddenly all I wanted to do was work at a camp. For the first time I was emerging from a transition with some confidence. I was realizing again the inclinations of my personality – I was a somewhat a multitalented creative.
Wilma was also gaining clarity. We had to think of settling down, Candace was in school; Odia would be in kindergarten. We were in our early 30’s. She wanted to settle down in Winnipeg - She was very clear. After living in BC all her life, spending our honey moon year in Vancouver, then spending time in Harrison Hot Spring, Banff, Calgary, North Battleford, she wanted and was praying that we would move to Winnipeg. She liked the white snow – the Mennonite culture and the wide-open space. She said it was like living on top of the world. She liked city life and Winnipeg was the perfect size.
In researching the camps, I came across the Star Lake Lodge advertisement for a camp director - based out of Winnipeg.
I applied and soon after we were interviewed by the Whiteshell Keswick Fellowship board which operated Star Lake Lodge with the slogan to “enable families to experienced physical and spiritual renewal.”
I wasn’t quite sure about the “family emphasis” but was immediately impressed with the board who offered to get us settled in Winnipeg. The Real Estate agent on the board helped us buy our first house, a little duplex on Herbert Avenue in Winnipeg – the right price- three bedroom, small but perfect for us.
Star Lake Lodge was on the shores of a little lake next to West Hawk in the “Lake of the Woods” area – a lake known for its tranquilly making it the perfect retreat setting for adults.
We were immediately taken with one of the founding members, Anne Steinmann, “Saint Anne” as she was known was one of the most gracious ladies I have ever met. Her deep faith was an inspiration to everyone. She was known and respected for her generous hospitality, her listening ear and wise counsel, her keen intellect, and above all her non-judgmental compassion towards others. She had an inner and outer beauty.
The only downside to accepting this position was that it was only ¾ time so I had to offset it with another job. In record time, I was hired by the Manitoba Camping Association to design and publish their newsletter.
This meant I was learning now to do the promotions for Star Lake Lodge and the Camping Association. In the winter I worked out of the office in our house and in the summer we moved to Star Lake Lodge.
Living beside that lake was beautiful – except the whole camp was infiltrated with mice. Rodents would dart across the dining room, the parking lot, and eat the candy in the confectionary.
As a family we stayed in the old lodge which really was a long narrow cabin. One night I declared war on the mice and set up traps all over the cabin. I remember the first trap clamping down on a mouse, the snap – the scratching, tiny thudding of the death throes of the mouse. I think my wife lying in bed sleeping, woke and actually levitated for a minute or two… she was horrified.
Needless to say none of us slept very well as the snapping traps kept us awake. Apparently live mice running around the cabin aren’t as bad as dying mice!
The camp itself was glam camping with table cloths on the dining room tables. The three course meals were served to the tables. The church camp fire had pews alongside it – and everyone dressed for dinner.
Besides the beautiful intimate beach, the families enjoyed the small homey cabins or stayed in their motor homes, RV or camper vans in one of the trailer spots.
The main activity was water skiing and handling the boat was one of my main roles.
As the founding parents were setting up this amazing retreat for their contemporaries, their sons were also setting up their own skiing sport and attracting the younger crowd.
It was the perfect setting, beautiful dock, sheltered and off to the side with a small island perfect distance from the shore to create privacy for the islanders and a sheltered strait for speed boats to race between the island and the sunbathers on the beach – and not disturbing either side.
So, all day we would offer the guests of all ages a chance to ski. On the side out of view, we would teach them to get up on their skis, (this was no small feat) ... then we would take them around the island and race past the sunbathers who would always notice and applaud the skier who was now quite secure on their skis and waving and then we take a quick loop on the other side and bring them back to the dock again out of sight. As you can imagine this was exhausting for all of us.
By the end of the day we would need a break. from catering to the guests, teaching the impossible to ski – and waving to the sunbathers as part of the performance so at end of day we would set out for a private bay – quiet waters not a ripple – and just enjoy cutting from one side to the other or even trying new tricks. This is where I learned to slalom, - ski on one ski.
The other - spiritual attraction was the Sunday morning worship services, songs sung from hymnals and the occasional firesides. Firesides were popular.
In all of this I was really more handy man director than anything else - I was in charge of maintenance and the mice. They had their old stand-by preacher-type that preached.
Since I had little creative outlet, I thought I might make the fireside even a bit more exciting by planning a sleight of hand trick in lighting it.
As you might have noticed by now, I do love the art of illusion which is so much part of any art – even the basics of drawing a three-dimensional figure on a one-dimensional piece of paper is all about learning how to trick the eye of the beholder.
To have a magical fire side, I needed to rig it before hand. Deep within the recesses of the large pile of wood and logs ready for the bon fire, I had hidden a candle, the wax holding it on a board, the board had a thread attached, leading out of to where I would be sitting. I tied a broken twig to the end so I could find it in the darkness. The candle was lit standing by itself on the board, the wood spaced around it so it would not light the wood. But when I pulled the board with the candle on it, it moved under fine kindling, lighting it and the wood over it for the evening fire.
So right in the beginning of the fireside as they were gathering, I had everyone sit and concentrate on the wood-pile to become a grand bonfire. I suggested to them that if they used the power of he mind they could start the wood to burn.
They co-operated and stared at the wood pile. When they were all concentrating on the wood, I gently pulled the string – that pulled the board moving the flame of the candle under the kindling – that would hopefully set the whole thing ablaze.
I was as surprised as the rest of them when suddenly, a a very small wisp of smoke began to curl out of the wood pile! People jumped back in shock! It was exciting, flames appearing in moments to take hold, Fire pit had been lit and the crowd had done it with their own mental powers! ! The best bon fire ever….
The only thing I did wrong was I forgot to give it a spiritual application beforehand which left some thinking I was actually trying to practice the art of magic in a deeply Christian setting.
Even if I'd had them singing, "This Little Light of Mine" it would have set a different emphasis! Everyone wanted to know how I did it – I never did tell. I just left it as a mystery. This turned out to be a bit divisive.
Yet it had been so fulfilling - the highlight of the summer. Was it another talent -- magic - entertainment. I think the biblical story of "talents" was always important to me. We are to use our talents for God was a given for me.
But how to serve God with my talents was baffling - especially since my giftings weren't always recognized by the Christian community. There was no problem with my talent for service, bus boy, porter, gas station. There was no problem with my physical agility, life guard, handling the boat, water skiing, hockey, construction. There was no problem with my work ethic, always showed up on time. There was no problem with my sharing of my story or my learnings of the Word of God.
I did have trouble knowing how to apply my artistic talent, my love to entertain, my love of the performing arts, like magic, my acting, my love of stage. This was all interpreted to be "worldly" at least in the Christian culture we were in at the time.
As wonderful as the camp experience was -- was it enough?
During the summer, Wilma realized again that she was pregnant - another birth control failure.
We were now going to have three children, our financial obligations were growing.
Around this time Dave Loewen, who had noticed my promo material for Star Lake Lodge and the Manitoba Camping Association called regarding the possibility of working at Camp Arnes as a graphic artist and perhaps directing the "Pony Unit" program during the summer!
Before we left, Star Lake Lodge had me complete about 25 pen and ink drawings of wildlife for use in their promotion when I was gone!
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