The Show Goes On!

What a week! There is so much to blog about this week, but I find myself struggling with the importance of anything. Blah, blah, blah settles my mind. The show must go on, and the commitment to my readers, myself, and the little voices in my head persist. 

This week with the plethora of topics to choose from personal, local, and international issues that have ensued, I am left trying to make all three relevant to you. In my personal life, I am once again dealing with my navigation of healthy boundaries. I also received my editorial review of the new book, which is mixed on how to proceed. With the ongoing fires close to our town’s borders, many people have been forced out of their small communities to look for refuge due to fires. Overseas we witnessed an opening ceremony that buzzed the internet with opinions, anger, rage, excitement, joy, and everything in between depending on what side of the lens a person chose to witness the charade. I was also interviewed on a podcast with Briggs on Books, with technical difficulties, Geesh!
 
Upon further review, and the few days since I wrote the previous paragraphs, I have decided to stretch the material this week into three blogs over three weeks. This week I will focus on the local issue of displaced residents due to fires.
 
Regular readers of my blogs might know I examine many predicaments with the moto, Cui Bono (who benefits). Many quotes over the centuries deal with confusing people with so much information and propaganda that it becomes difficult to find the truth. The truth is this, many people benefit from the fires that displace residences to larger centers, like the village where I reside. Tragedy supports the agenda. I am angered to learn that many fires could be extinguished within minutes of being discovered. I have friends who worked for BC Wildfire Services, who all agree that fires being fought today are much different than in the 1990’s. 

There have been a few arguments explaining the changes and challenges to the tactical forces from the 1990s until now. Fires help replenish new growth, and they assist the natural cycle, which I agree with. The opposite reasoning for the change is Climate Change in which I am in disagreement. I have heard both arguments from leading experts from the institutions who work for the world governing authorities. Which is it, let-em burn for new growth or Climate Change? It can’t be both, or could it? I asked the question, and the response was this; Governments are fighting Climate Change in the name of Geo-engineering, let-em-burn initiatives, and sustainable development resourcefulness in the name of reducing climate change. 

Cui Bono? 
Why do I care?

This year the fire season affects our small community, as the displacement of people happened only 2 weeks before our annual Jazz Festival. The festival has been going since 1992 and has brought many amazing artists and musicians from all over the world. Unfortunately, the festival has mixed reviews from the local community, and this year it has been intensified. Many locals love the quaint and secluded life without interruption in this isolated mecca of British Columbia. For the festival organizers, it is a lot of work, time, and money to make the weekend event the success it has become.  For one weekend out of the year, it puts our community on the map. Like it or not it is happening again, but with an increase in population of evacuees, which puts a heavy burden on an already strained community.

I am proud of the organizers who put this event together. I am equally proud of the community businesses that work hard to ensure they are properly staffed and have enough goods and services to fulfill the weekend's demands. I also see that this year is especially challenging, and the decisions have not been made lightly. The show must go on, and it is not for reasons of money lost or gained, it is the right thing to do.

I am not an authority on festivals, forest fires, or the local community politics, however, I feel that we all need a change of heart, and I write about this extensively. There is something that people might not be giving thought to, letting the bullies win. If there is a global agenda to displace rural communities to live in the 15-minute cities found within the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030 initiatives, then by stopping the festival, the agenda cronies win. Sadly, the fires ripped through the small communities, but the unity that happens is the result we should strive for. The displaced people have free tickets to the event, and our community has overwhelmed the disaster relief center with giving.

At this time of incredible loss of property and livestock, can we be supportive and put differences aside? Can we extend a hug and shoulder to cry on, with words of compassion, like, "Everything is going to be OK"? Can we stop thinking of ourselves for a moment, and think instead; "How can I help?". 

I pray there is a speedy return to the displaced communities. I pray there is joy, happiness, love, and hugs found at the Jazz Festival weekend. I pray those who are fighting fires are kept safe. I pray people behind the curtain of decision-making put themselves in the shoes of the less fortunate and do the right thing. Remember the golden rule, "Treat others how you want to be treated". Life is full of division, confusion, pain, and suffering, but there is a golden lining when people stop for a moment to think of others. Compassion is the key to a healthy and prosperous life, which everyone deserves.

Love one another, and enjoy the show. Be the shoulder to cry on while listening to your favorite artists, or the listening ear at the counter you serve at. As tragic as the fires are, we are all in this together. 
 
With love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

By the Vessel, 
William John​

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