Back to the Future

My surprise was understandable when the Archbishop asked me to take up the ministry of Rector of Holy Spirit Seminary in Ottawa – I almost fell off my chair. When I announced it to the parish on Palm Sunday, there was a moment of stunned silence, and then some audible gasps. I wanted to gasp as well as I was expecting to be at Holy Eucharist Parish for another six years. Eight weeks have passed and I have packed up all my belongings (man, did I collect a lot in 16 years!) – and shipped it all to Ottawa.

I finished almost all my business in Winnipeg by last Tuesday and left for Ottawa by car. It was a wonderful three day trip. The hardest part was today – from Sault Ste. Marie to Ottawa. The roads after Sudbury are pretty rough and passing lane occurrences are far less. My favourite part of the trip was yesterday – just to the west of Sault Ste. Marie there is a place called Old Woman Bay on Lake Superior. I stopped there four years ago with my parents for a lunch. Yesterday, the only living being was a chipmunk in search of some sweet somethings in a recycle container with almost full bottles of Coke, Gatorade, etc. He didn’t want to eat any of the dried cranberries that I sent his way. The wind was generous – and the temperature cool. I just stood looking out at the lake – reminded of the wonderful psalm we sing everyday at Vespers – how great are Your works, O Lord!

For now, I will stay with my parents for a week – try to start getting some papers changed over to Ontario standards, etc.

My next five years will be in Ottawa – my home town. Talk about “back to the future.”