Lower Right to Upper Left

SouthEast to NorthWest. I just realized after reading the last post that this is how i envision the passing of time. When I see a time line in minds eye it begins to the right, downward angle and behind me. The future direction is to the left, upwards and forwards.

Anyways

"Go West Middle Aged Man" - My Father's NW Trajectory

northern_bc
Originally uploaded by radiancecreative.

My Father, (William Kenneth Franklin Seburn), set a strong Northwest course for my life. I was born in Ottawa, moved to Emo (NW Ontario) then to Winnipeg and Flin Flon. I left home to go to college in 1985 in Edmonton Alberta, a bold western move. My sister Joy also came this far just long enough to meet Kent and they moved way back east. Toronto.

On my mom's side (Carol Ann Joy Penner) her brother Wesley heeded the western call by uprooting and moving right from toronto to Grand Prairie. The legend goes that they longed for new frontiers and literally got out a map and randomly picked to spot.

Anyways, all that to say I'm taking my family on a Northwestern adventure. Deborah Lea Hanna (my wife and companion of 20 years) of course grew up in Bella Coola BC. pretty much as far west as one can get in Canada. Her Parents Henry Mulligan Hanna and Mary Ellis Drogus now reside in Hazelton BC which is on the most northerly tip of the yellowhead. This is where we are bound today. Aside from the good old Baptist "traveling mercies" that we so need as a family we are also looking forward to a special time of bounding.

In fact this is the very path Debbie and I followed on out honeymoon 18 years ago. we traveled by train, stayed in Jasper a few days then continued by train all the way to Prince Rupert. My first experience of the Pacific. We then took the ferry down the inside passge to Port Hardy on the northern end of Vancouver Island. - Victoria - Van - Kelowna and Home.

So there are many levels and layers of symbolism and significance to this journey. The whole thing of pioneering that thing that burns in certain family members to push further and further. Henry is a prime example, starting his life in the eastern US and following that Northwest call all the way to Norhtern BC. Uncle Wes is another, forsaking big city life for a simple farm house in North Western Ontario. My Father Ken taking a leap of faith to Flin Flon Manitoba again NORTHWEST.

Launching out beyond, as in what we typically think of as "pioneer days", still carries with it a sense of risk, adventure and even misunderstanding from family. Not that I feel I've suffered but I have felt somewhat isolated from my roots at times. Human civilization and evolution begins in the east and moves west. Returning east is always a magical, deep and rich prospect and one that I often dream of. I plan to make a number of pilgrimages to Eastern Canada and then follow the line back to my home. But for now my I get to take my family to a place they have never been. My seed, the branches that grow and stretch beyond my years will be experiencing with amazement this mystical land. Deborah, love of my life will be back in her element of coastal mountains and ocean air.

I think they have computers out there so I will try to blog some of our adventures (and pictures) till then...Go West Young Man.

speaking of reading...

books
Originally uploaded by radiancecreative.

A month or so ago some fellow bloggers were doing the book list thing. I didn't jump in at the time cause my list is pitifully short. Then again it's very cool how books find their way onto my shelf and into my consciousness, mostly cause I seldom buy books, they are either given to me or i find them second hand, or sign them out of someone's personal library and then never return it. timing is everything., and some of these gems have changed my world

so here goes, I think I'll list a few books and then blog a little on some of them

The Different Drum / Scott Peck
Unknown Gods / Bibby
Reaching Out / Henri Nouwen
A House That Stands / Tim King
The Fifth Discipline / Peter Senge
Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret
7 habits of highly effective People
Mission and Message of Jesus (commentary)
The Joy of Drumming
The Prophetic Imagination / Walter Bruggemann
An Arrow Pointing to Heaven (Rich Mullins biography)

oh there are probably others but I'm not really a "big reader".

The Different Drum is a great resource book for growing community, see link to "FCE" in sidebar for scotty's "Foundation for community encouragment".

the Prophetic Imagination is where I've been lately, well some would argue that that's where I've always been (chuckle) . a quick table o' contents (I "signed out" this book from Stew's library)

1. The Alternative community of Moses
2. The Royal Consciousness: countering the counter culture
3.Prophetic Criticizing and the embrace of Pathos
4.Prophetic Evergizing and the Emergence of Amazment
5. Criticism and Pathos in Jesus of Nazareth
6. Energizing and the Amazement in Jesus of Nazareth
7. A note on the Practice of Ministry

one of those books that make me feel like the author has been reading my mail.

BTW Tim King, Kevin Beck at presence are offering the next transformations online course beginning the end of August. I highly recommend this! I as an "alumni" am able to participate as well, it would be so cool to have some others in my circle experience this first hand.

sorry i didn't have much more to say on my reading, but whatever.

peace

A Must Read

God`s Sacred Earth

urban tribe - stereo didgeridoo

st_dig
Originally uploaded by radiancecreative.

thanks to chuck, erika, mack, charity and joe for helping create some wonderous tribal vibes down at DaBar last Saturday. chuck and mack had me surrounded with the phat D Flat. There is something so earthy and ancient about those sounds. Erika sang and drummed and charity worked the rain stick.
Organic worship mixed with conversation, smiles, laughter and inner groaning, all good. Doug Prosteby couldn't make it due to a flu bug, get well soon!

chuck's enthusiasm concerning taking our little tribe down to "the gazeebo" lead me to scope things out on Heritage day morning. I took my guitar and village instruments down there around 10:30 and before long had met some cool people and engaged some young people. let's do it together next time kids.