Pictures

I think often a picture taken captures more than the pen alone. Together words and a visual representation of reality are what we are left with after time passes. Even our memories fade - what was can never be again and such is time. A blogpost captures a moment in time but obviously is incomplete.

One of my favorite hobbies is the art of outdoors photography. I have dabbled in it since my first canoe trip as an adolescent to a place called Cabin Lake. The lake itself is desolate, with ironically no cabins to be found. Apparently, the remains of one can be found at the west of the lake but I can't recall ever seeing them, only hearing the story. I took a magical picture on that lake, of some fellow canoeists silhouette and won a prize at the Morris Stampede in my particular category.

Since then - the outdoors has remained my primary subject. One of my favorites is a leopard shot I took in Kenya on a game safari that I went on with my wife during our first year of marriage. No one had seen a leopard in the Masai Mara game preserve for three weeks and I managed to spot it's white tail just after capturing a rhino on film. I once spent three weeks clicking away at Grey Owls in the Sandilands Provincial Forest. Most of my best pictures involve a change in light - either just before sunset or just after the sun has risen. Summer storms as well have provided interesting subjects.

I think there are two types of pictures worth taking - ones that either capture a moment of friendship/family/travel or that of pure art. The second is rarer and often involves an element of luck. The first category is one of necessity - as time keeps ticking and change is inevitable. I need to capture those moments on film of my daughters growing up.

I am considering ending my musings blog and focusing more on exploreplay and the possibility of creating a third blog that focuses on capturing both memories and art in the form of digital photos and short descriptions. We'll see what the future holds...

For now - happy clicking!

G

Sunshot @ Star Lake Retreat

May Long Weekend @ Star Lake

Sunset @ Star Lake

Star Lake Escape!

Yours truly reaping the benefits of having an amazing wife & two aspiring massage therapist daughters!

Me & The Girls!

Another Star Lake Sunset!

Explore play - today!

I updated my trip journal with more pics - have a look! Here is one of my favorite quotes from one of my daughter's Dr. Suess books - Oh The Places You'll Go!

"Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So get on your way!"- Dr. Suess

Links to NC Journal Days: One, Two, Three & Four, Five, Six,
Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten.

Library Versus Music Piracy

I came across this interesting musing from a sci-fi writer by the name of Joe Faust..."Authors Decry File-sharing Network As Piracy." A neat (parody) perspective on whether or not there really is a difference between "borrowing" books from a library and downloading albums before deciding whether or not to purchase them.

"A coalition of best-selling authors have joined forces against a sophisticated network that they claim is eroding profits to publishers through unrestrained file sharing.

"We chose to come forward at this time to bring this problem to light," said Stephen King, one of many authors who spoke against the network at the most recent gathering of the ABA. "There has been much attention paid to music piracy over the last few years, with controversy over systems like Napster and Kazaa. What many people don't realize is that writers and the publishing industry have been plagued with the same problem for much longer. It became clear to all of us here tonight that this network must be shut down."

Michael Crichton, author of such high-tech thrillers as Jurassic Park and The Andromeda Strain explained at the conference how the network was able to conduct such "wholesale theft of intellectual property."

The key, said Crichton, is that those wishing to indulge in illicit file sharing must register, and are given a membership card with unique identifiers. This gives the operation the air of legitimacy. The membership allows its owner to access thousands of volumes, which are maintained not by individuals, but by a localized central committee. Users can keep the materials for a set period of time and then return them for further sharing.

Crichton explained that the system is so efficient that the range of pirated materials now includes newspapers, magazines, and in some areas, works of art such as paintings or sculptures. "This is really the tip of the iceberg. The network also distributes music and films in a manner that completely eliminates download times. Not even Kazaa can do that.

Admittedly, I have sampled before purchasing an album and in someways I think my cd library has probably grown as a result, not gotten smaller. However, I suppose there are those who take advantage of the existent systems. I personally like to own what I read or listen to, I just find myself wanting the whole package. Reading a book in pdf format is quite cumbersome - I like to turn the pages. Listening to music, I like have a hard copy as well as digital.

Any thoughts?

How to leave a legacy?

How does one best leave a legacy, a lasting impression on others - in particular, how does one leave a legacy for family? Each of us, I believe want to impact others in some way. We desire to be remembered and to be honored. Each life has a value, particularly if we live out our purpose, our mission, our passion. The people we remember are often people that have gone through tragedy, overcome difficult circumstances, and lived their lives in a way that others admired. It might be integrity, it might be courage, whatever the word that captured the person, somehow their life was an inspiration to others.

How do we inspire? How do we leave a legacy?

Further Discussion on Play?

I'm hoping for more of a discussion on the role of play in life. Here's my collected definitions of play in real particular order:

1. to occupy oneself in amusement (the typical dictionary type definition); to escape?
   
2. to fully engage in life, in living
   
3. to celebrate life, discovery (an attitude or mindset?)
   
4. to find freedom; to explore ideas, concepts; to imagine or dream
   
5. to be creative in whatever endeavour attempted (see Genesis 1 & 2)
   
6. to be child-like in discovery of... (education of children occurs primarily through play)

Are there any definitions you would like to add or one's that resonate more strongly with any of my blog-readers. I'd love your input!!! I'm personally leaning with #2 "engaging in life/living" and I see play being critical to one's own understanding of purpose or lifestyle. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy; All work and no play makes Garth go insane! I see play actually having a role in work - in fact, if you are not able to "play" at work - I'm not sure why one should be there. I read this on a mug recently, "Like what you do, do what you like!"

G

Legacy

I've posted about the role of legacy before in life i believe but it was again affirmed today at my grandmother's funeral. She has left me with much including a love of music and art that I will never be able to escape. It was only fitting that together with some cousins we played a medley of gospel songs complete with guitar & mandolin accompaniment. My grandmother was the first person from my community of Rosenort/Riverside to attend a camp and interestingly it is where she established a relationship with Christ. My passion includes camp ministry - camp is also where I experienced my calling to be a teacher and also eventually met my wife! Her father, my great-grandfather (John W. Dueck) was a teacher which interestingly has become my occupation. She had a deep concern with the education of her children and grandchildren in the ways of Christianity. My grandmother was also an amazing cook, my favorites included her perogies (wrenkje), mashed potatoes, and of course her coconut cream pie! She lived a long life of ninety dedicated to God, to family, and to prayer. It was hard to let her go but I do know she is in a better place and celebrating with her husband, family, and friends that already are in Paradise.

I miss you grandma Friesen but I thank you for your legacy that I continue to live out and experience daily.

Homecoming

It's good to be home and back with my daughters and wife. Although having to endure a week of faculty meetings has been somewhat trying. Traveling and exploring North Carolina has definitely been a blessing. It was great paddling whitewater and riding some amazing switchbacks down some great mountain bike trails! Next week looks better for some outdoor recreation here in Manitoba.

My grandmother passed away early this morning - Grandma Friesen lived a long life and had been alone for the past sixteen or so years since my Grandpa died. So although I am sad and feel her loss - I am thankful for the legacy she leaves behind and feel joy that she is now in heaven. We will celebrate and remember her life this Sunday with a family time and on Monday honor her with a funeral.

So much to say about grandmothers...they love & care so much; they can get away with spoiling us with treats & games; they pray and have a faith like no one else...what a homecoming my Grandmother is experiencing right now - I can only imagine.

G

Return of the Explorer

“I wonder what sort of tale we’ve fallen into?”

—J. R . R . Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings

I returned from my journey to NC Sunday morning and hope to post a gleaning from my personal journal below. My readers are welcome to blame my tardiness in posting as of late due to a week of faculty meetings and the need to reconnect with family & friends but in all honesty it probably has more to do with my lack of ambition this time of year. Spring has sprung and I find it challenging to spend time in front of a monitor and keyboard.

I managed to keep a journal in paper format regarding my escape and I've done my best to scrape together some sort of a summary of my ten day journey here. I've managed to travel back into time and post my journal entries sequentially. So to read the start of my journey you will have scroll down to my quick links or click on the April section.

G

Links to Journal Days: One, Two, Three & Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten.

I should also note that I borrowed some pictures from Lisa Swift to spruce up my journal a little. Thanx for the pics Lisa!

Reflections back home...

The trip was a memorable one and I understand better how to run a leadership development program effectively. It requires a number of necessary ingredients: capable instructors, leaders-in-training who seek to be taught, travel, patience, a community spirit, the opportunity for challenge, opportunities to serve & lead, a perceived but calculated risk, real adventure, a processing of that adventure experience, time spent with God, and the great outdoors.

It was a trip to be remembered but once again it is great to be home!

G