Last week at the kids school was Jump Rope for Heart. This is a fund raiser for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. To raise money, the kids jump rope for an hour in the gym, and collect pledges. The jumping isn't for an hour straight - they take turns in "teams", with each kid jumping for a minute at a time, and then resting for a couple of minutes before their turn again.
I dropped in to check up on Doug. (Allison had already volunteered with Samantha, who had jumped earlier in the day)
As you probably have figured out by this point in my blogging life, Doug isn't really a prime candidate for jumping rope. He doesn't have the strength in his legs to jump off the ground high enough to get a rope underneath - let alone to actually swing a rope at the same time. But there he was, taking his full turn in his team. And with the biggest determined grin on his face, he jumped. The rope made deliberate swinging motions, and his feet all but left the ground. Calling the motion skipping would be akin to calling my playoff goal celebrations "ballet" - but there was my Little Biker - giving his all for the cause.
It wasn't his ability that moved me that day, it was his willingness and determination to act in spite of his weakness. And it was his weakness that made my heart all the stronger. There was no "I can't do this", no copping out with a perfectly valid excuse - just a determined response to answer the call.
How much could I improve my life by taking his point of view? Instead of looking for the seemingly abundant reasons not to do things, why don't I just pick up my rope and jump? I think that many of us struggle with the misconception that we have to do things perfectly right, or they're not worth doing at all. Often, the fact that we are not the right person to do the job is what makes our help all the more meaningful. When we're going through rough patches in life, what we crave more than anything else is for someone to struggle through things with us. But we get too caught up in our own weaknesses and struggles to remember this simple point. We focus on ourselves, and all the things we can't do - when really, the power to impact the lives of our neighbours lies in our very struggles.
Pick up your rope, and jump.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Sunday, February 1, 2009
On the precipice of chaos
One of the things I have talked about before is how much paperwork Doug generates. Every program has it's own set of reports. Some are incoming status reports of how things are progressing, and some are outgoing status reports of how we are directing funding or applying for new or updated supports.
Either way, we end up with a lot of paperwork. Allison is the consummate organizer, and we have several nicely categorized binders of stuff. It's all accessible and at our fingertips, and we (or at she) can pull out virtually any document within a minute or two. It has been very successful so far - as when we are at a meeting and a doctor asks about what another specialist said in their last report, we can pull it out of the backpack and provide instant information.
Except we're outgrowing the binder system. They are full to overflowing, and getting really really heavy to carry around. I don't think the system can handle too much more "growth". I feel the need to modernize.
I want to be able to scan and store all of the paperwork electronically. We'd archive the paper copies, and just go to appointments with the laptop. Ideally, I'd like some sort of document management system that would convert the paper to pdfs, and then index them by content so that we could search for files either by categories and dates, or by the contents of the files themselves. And, as more and more people request copies of files, I'd like to be able to track who has been given which files. Data privacy is very difficult to achieve retroactively.
I'm sure that such an application exists, but I've got a few new hopes as well. I'd like to be able to have it :
- store contacts and appointments
- link contacts and appointments to the reports and paperwork in the document manager
- not store things in proprietary formats - 10 years from now, I may need to get at the data without the applications
- be open source applications - I can't afford to maintain a multi-million dollar application for this
- be able to redact files so that I can give different versions of reports to different people depending on their needs
And then - being a dreamer - I have visions of something like this being made into a free distribution. A free, open source software package designed to run on a cheap laptop (like the EeePC) and made available to all of the others who find themselves in the same boat we do.
So, if any open sourcer's want to flex their skills on building a distribution, talk to me. I'd be happy to provide vision and direction to the process...
Either way, we end up with a lot of paperwork. Allison is the consummate organizer, and we have several nicely categorized binders of stuff. It's all accessible and at our fingertips, and we (or at she) can pull out virtually any document within a minute or two. It has been very successful so far - as when we are at a meeting and a doctor asks about what another specialist said in their last report, we can pull it out of the backpack and provide instant information.
Except we're outgrowing the binder system. They are full to overflowing, and getting really really heavy to carry around. I don't think the system can handle too much more "growth". I feel the need to modernize.
I want to be able to scan and store all of the paperwork electronically. We'd archive the paper copies, and just go to appointments with the laptop. Ideally, I'd like some sort of document management system that would convert the paper to pdfs, and then index them by content so that we could search for files either by categories and dates, or by the contents of the files themselves. And, as more and more people request copies of files, I'd like to be able to track who has been given which files. Data privacy is very difficult to achieve retroactively.
I'm sure that such an application exists, but I've got a few new hopes as well. I'd like to be able to have it :
- store contacts and appointments
- link contacts and appointments to the reports and paperwork in the document manager
- not store things in proprietary formats - 10 years from now, I may need to get at the data without the applications
- be open source applications - I can't afford to maintain a multi-million dollar application for this
- be able to redact files so that I can give different versions of reports to different people depending on their needs
And then - being a dreamer - I have visions of something like this being made into a free distribution. A free, open source software package designed to run on a cheap laptop (like the EeePC) and made available to all of the others who find themselves in the same boat we do.
So, if any open sourcer's want to flex their skills on building a distribution, talk to me. I'd be happy to provide vision and direction to the process...
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Alone
Sadly neglected
alone I sit.
The world rushing by
will no-one stop
and pause
to hear my cry?
Look at me!
I offer a shoulder to cry on
a world full of experience
to share your pain.
But you walk on.
Leaving this blog to cry.
Never updated
Slowly decaying,
Fading off forever.
(ed: hopefully I'll update my blog more this year. If I don't, it may write some more poetry again, and we certainly can't have that.)
alone I sit.
The world rushing by
will no-one stop
and pause
to hear my cry?
Look at me!
I offer a shoulder to cry on
a world full of experience
to share your pain.
But you walk on.
Leaving this blog to cry.
Never updated
Slowly decaying,
Fading off forever.
(ed: hopefully I'll update my blog more this year. If I don't, it may write some more poetry again, and we certainly can't have that.)
Monday, August 11, 2008
Ride For Doug 2008
Well, another year has come and gone for Ride For Doug. And just like last year, my good intentions for blogging my thoughts and feelings fell by the wayside. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't that I didn't feel like sharing them with the world - it's just that there was so much to DO, that I didn't have time to ponder on the experience of it.
Since the last time I blogged, I've:
Oh yeah - Doug made the front page of the local paper. The WHOLE front page. To read the stories, go the the In the News section of www.RideForDoug.com
Anyhow, as I write this I am sitting in the Main Press Centre in Beijing, hoping nothing important breaks...
Since the last time I blogged, I've:
- finished organizing and holding the ride
- tied up all the loose ends after the ride
- gone out to Newfoundland for a family wedding
- done a 2 week vacation in the Maritimes
- completed the first third of a month long business trip
- eaten a scorpion
Oh yeah - Doug made the front page of the local paper. The WHOLE front page. To read the stories, go the the In the News section of www.RideForDoug.com
Anyhow, as I write this I am sitting in the Main Press Centre in Beijing, hoping nothing important breaks...
Sunday, May 4, 2008
How dedicated are we?
Today in church we had a child dedication service for some friends. This is a special morning, where parents bring their new children for a symbolic ceremony of dedication. Basically, the parents make a public promise that they will raise this new child in a Godly manner. Its really more of a parent dedication than a child one. At then end, the congregation is asked if they too will dedicate themselves to standing behind the parents in the raising of the child, and we all stand to show our support.
Its this last bit that draws my attention today.
I often wonder, as I stand amongst the throng, how many of us really give this a second thought when we are asked to respond. We stand in unison almost as if we are actors standing up on cue. Have we really considered what is being asked of us? Have we measured our dedication and decided that yes, we will do it?
Imagine, if you will, what that child is thinking as the question is asked:
Will you stand behind my parents as they raise me? Will you call and ask my mom if she needs someone to keep an eye on me as she catches a nap after a long night up? Which of you will be there on Sunday morning when I come to the nursery at church? Who will make sure my first interactions with my peers are constructive and positive?
When I'm old enough for Sunday School, will you be my teacher? Will you take the time from your busy schedule to show me that yes, people outside my family genuinely care for me too? I'll be in Sunday School for more than half a dozen years - will enough of you be there? As I make the transition to my teens, who will be an example for me in such turbulent times? Do any of you have time to be a youth sponsor? Who can I turn to for a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on when my parents just don't get it? Which of you will I trust enough?
Who will help me as I struggle through decisions of school and career? Which of you will let me look to you for guidance and examples of how to live life? Who will encourage me on my first missions trip? Which of you will help me find funds to do it?
Which of you will spot my talents and abilities, and encourage me? Who will give me the chances to try and to fail without judgment? Repeatedly? Who will mentor me? Hold me accountable? Help me find my place in the work of the church?
Who will come alongside with a word of encouragement as I raise my own children? Which of you will help me through the sleepless nights and anxious moments? Who will be the good example that my children look up to?
And when I am older, who will take care of me? Who will make sure I have a way to get to church when I can no longer drive myself? Who will be there as the years of life take their toll upon my mortal body? When I no longer remember your name, will you still love me?
It has been said that any village can raise an idiot. I think it takes the entire family of God to raise a Godly child these days. This is what I meant when I stood up today. How about you?
Its this last bit that draws my attention today.
I often wonder, as I stand amongst the throng, how many of us really give this a second thought when we are asked to respond. We stand in unison almost as if we are actors standing up on cue. Have we really considered what is being asked of us? Have we measured our dedication and decided that yes, we will do it?
Imagine, if you will, what that child is thinking as the question is asked:
Will you stand behind my parents as they raise me? Will you call and ask my mom if she needs someone to keep an eye on me as she catches a nap after a long night up? Which of you will be there on Sunday morning when I come to the nursery at church? Who will make sure my first interactions with my peers are constructive and positive?
When I'm old enough for Sunday School, will you be my teacher? Will you take the time from your busy schedule to show me that yes, people outside my family genuinely care for me too? I'll be in Sunday School for more than half a dozen years - will enough of you be there? As I make the transition to my teens, who will be an example for me in such turbulent times? Do any of you have time to be a youth sponsor? Who can I turn to for a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on when my parents just don't get it? Which of you will I trust enough?
Who will help me as I struggle through decisions of school and career? Which of you will let me look to you for guidance and examples of how to live life? Who will encourage me on my first missions trip? Which of you will help me find funds to do it?
Which of you will spot my talents and abilities, and encourage me? Who will give me the chances to try and to fail without judgment? Repeatedly? Who will mentor me? Hold me accountable? Help me find my place in the work of the church?
Who will come alongside with a word of encouragement as I raise my own children? Which of you will help me through the sleepless nights and anxious moments? Who will be the good example that my children look up to?
And when I am older, who will take care of me? Who will make sure I have a way to get to church when I can no longer drive myself? Who will be there as the years of life take their toll upon my mortal body? When I no longer remember your name, will you still love me?
It has been said that any village can raise an idiot. I think it takes the entire family of God to raise a Godly child these days. This is what I meant when I stood up today. How about you?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)