The record, 23 décembre 2016, vendredi 23 décembre 2016

[" THE A Christmas Market day Page 5 RECORD The voice of the Eastern Townships since 1897 There will be NO Record delivery on December 26 Season\u2019s Greetings Please note there is no mane on December 26 & 27 lelivery WEEKEND EDITION 95 cents + taxes\tPM#0040007682\tFriday, December 23, 2016 Galt students get a sobering reminder about workplace safety MATTHEW MCCULLY \u201cIt would have taken 10 minutes to build a proper, safe ramp,\u201d Plante said, explaining that rather than take precautions, he took a shortcut.Tenants Association worries about downtown dislocation Record Staff Sherbrooke Sherbrooke\u2019s much-vaunted Well Inc.downtown revitalisation project has gained considerable support among the City\u2019s business community but some community organizations still have concerns following a public consultation meeting last week.The Sherbrooke tenants Association, through spokesperson Normand Couture, expressed some of these concerns to City Council Monday, on the occasion of the adoption of the municipal budget.The organization had hoped that the property that once contained the May-sen Pub would be reserved for social housing given that a majority of those who live or work on Wellington South are disadvantaged.The organization is concerned that a project of this scale could dislodge a population from a neighbourhood in which they have lived for several years, \u201cWe had a meeting to consult with community groups on this issue.We participated in the information and exchange meeting,\u201d Couture said.\u201cAll these groups continue to have great concerns about this development, as the majority of the people who live there have not been consulted.We were wondering Cont\u2019d on page 4 By Matthew McCully Over 100 students from Alexander Galt Regional High School spent yesterday morning in the school library listening to a presentation by guest speaker Jonathan Plante.On March 12, 2007, Plante fell while working at a construction site, causing major damage to his spine, which ultimately robbed him of the use of his legs.He shared his story with the students in detail, often repeating the message that they should always consider safety procedures while on the job, because just one wrong move can be a dramatic life changer.Plante started the presentation by describing his life before the accident.He called himself\u2018a bit of a cowboy\u2019.He enjoyed racing around on his motorcycle, hiking and fishing, and staying active.After five years as a machinist, Plante said he was looking for something different.He got a job on a construction site, and immediately felt he had found his calling.He explained that before his accident, he had gained years of experience on various job sites.He especially liked working on roofs and trusses, because he was comfortable with heights.\u201cPeople who are scared fall,\u201d Plante always thought to himself.On the day of his accident, Plante said he was heading up a narrow ramp to work on the upper level of a home.He got to the top of the ramp and had an extension cord in one hand, and a Cont\u2019d on page 3 ¦ THE- RECORD GET a 7 DAY TRIAL ONLINE subscription.Take The Record anywhere with you with an online subscription! iPads, tablets, iPhones, Android phones, laptops! For a free 7 day trial, go to www.sherbrookerecord.com, click on e-dition, then Free Trial and fill in the information.For information or assistance call 819-569-9528 billing@sherbrookerecord.com Abenakis hoping for a double RECORD RECORD Study panel recommends keeping school board elections ID PROTECTED BY reader mtt&w Page 2 Friday, December 23, 2016 newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com The Record The Record e-edition There for you 24-hours-a-day 7-days-a-week.Wherever you are.Access the full edition of the Sherbrooke Record as well as special editions and 30 days of archives.Renew or order a new 12-month print subscription and get a 12-month online subscription for an additional $5 or purchase the online edition only for $82.21.Record subscription rates (includes Quebec taxes) 1 year print: $155.91 6 month print: $81.85 3 month print: $41.57 12 month web only: $82.21 1 month web only: $7.46 Web subscribers have access to the daily Record as well as archives and special editions.Subscribing is as easy as 1,2,3: 1.\tVisit the Record website: www.sherbrookerecord.com 2.\tClick e-edition.3.\tComplete the form and wait for an email activating your online subscription.Weather TODAY: CLOUDY HIGHO LOW-3 SATURDAY: SNOW HIGHO LOW -2 i j .; -r I , SUNDAY: / SUNNY HIGH -3 LOW-15 MONDAY: PERIODS OF SNOW HIGH 2 LOW-1 J TUESDAY: PERIODS OF SNOW OR RAIN HIGH 2 LOW -11 Christmas Greetings for 2016! 7em Detore * Good Reads Lennoxville library This week it falls to Shanna Bernier to bring some of that Christmas cheer into our fraught lives.And, by the way, there is some urgency to her recommendations since the Library closes today, December 23rd, at 5:30 p.m.and will reopen on January 3rd.Take it away, Shanna.\u2019Tis the night before the night before Christmas and all through the house, all the creatures are stirring, but no sign of a mouse! The children are not settled all snug in their bed, they are googling \"last minute Christmas presents\" instead.I in my apron, and Dad out in back, we are scurrying around trying to bake, wrap, and pack.The stockings are about finished being knitted, no fear, in hopes that St.Nicholas soon will be here.(But not too soon, I am not ready!!) I think we have all felt the cold panic of last-minute Christmas preparations.This is being written four nights before Christmas, but by the time it reaches the faithful reader's hands the count will be down to two.We are a-hustle and a-bus-tle in these final days, wrapping and preparing and rushing around.I sat down to my computer to write, to check this column off my Christmas to-do list, and my daughter Beatrice came up to me and asked if I could read her a story.Deep breaths everyone! Don't panic.The Christmas season comes but once a year and we spend a lot of time rushing and stressing and spending money; but it is so important for us to stop.I appreciate the panic, I am very good at getting excited and overwhelmed, which is why it is so important for requests like my daughter's to be honoured.Take pause to appreciate the beauty and magic of the season.Reading books at home is a big part of my family life.When I took all the Christmas decorations out a few weeks ago, I also took out a bag of all of our special Christmas-themed books.Every year we add to our collection.Sometimes I find something on special during January sales and put it away to enjoy the following December.We have a nice collection now, including the classic \u2019Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore.(A lovely adaptation is available at Lennoxville Library [PB K591tnb JUV-E NOEL].) This poem, penned in 1823, has been repeated and adapted countless times, and continues to delight children.The descriptions held within have had a major role in our culture of Christmas gift giving, and our modern image of Santa Claus.Last year our family adopted a new Christmas Eve tradition\u2014a special gift on the 24th comprising new PJs for the whole family as well as a new Christmas book.Our board book version of the classic poem was the choice for last year.This December I found another book I had admired before and couldn't resist giving to my family right away.The author of the childhood classic Goodnight Moon, Margaret Wise-Brown, has written a beautiful book called Christmas in a Barn (Lennoxville Library: PB B879cib JUV-E NOEL).It features a lovely telling of the nativity story.It is set in the backdrop of an ancient snowy barn rather than a desert stable.It tells the story in whimsical and slightly mysterious verse, picking up on some scriptural words as well as lyrics of some classic Christmas carols.It is a lovely telling of the birth of Baby Jesus, which could inspire curiosity and delight in both secular and religious homes.It achieves balance of telling an ancient sacred story, while making it accessible to those who might not be regular Church goers.When it comes to giving gifts to my kids, as well as my niece and nephews, I am acutely aware of their abundance of toys.Every year I feel like I need to buy them a toy or two, but I love thinking of creative ideas for gifts which are outside the (toy) box.Someone recently shared a great list of non-toy gifts online, which featured many great suggestions (URL: http://lulastic.co.uk/parenting/sixty-great-gift-ideas-for-kids).One idea, which is easy and light on the pocket book\u2014a coupon for a date at the Library and hot chocolate at your favourite local coffee shop.Your child or grandchild is given a certificate for an outing, to be planned for a later date, which includes a trip to the library to read and share stories (It could even be coordinated to fall on a Saturday morning at 10:30 am when there is animation for kids at the Lennoxville Library).That special time with your children, grandkids, nieces, nephews, or neighbour is precious! They will feel special and loved and very grown up to be invited on a nice date with you.The love of reading is a Christmas gift that lasts a lifetime.I wish all our readers a wonderful holiday season, and a very happy new year! \u2014Shanna Bernier Special Christmas quiz question: What do The Night before Christmas, Primary Colors, a certain Shakespearean elegy, and Jonbenét Ramsay correspondence have in common?Answers to be sent via private message to The Lennoxville Library Facebook page.The first correct answer will be given a prize of $10.00 and mention in next week\u2019s column.\u2014Stephen Sheeran Ben by Daniel Shelton r PIP YOU t W LEAVE MILK H ANP COOKIES m rVArP ax rrA'I a I'M HUNGRY' MERRY CHRISTMAS.MMMl CANT SDEER FOR 5ANTA20 f A HUM 7 i press^AMJJ Printed and distribut PressReader.com ?ad by PressReader + 1 604 278 4604 ND PROTECTED BY APPLICABLE LAW? The Record newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com Friday, December 23, 2016 Page 3 \t\t\t\t -\tLocal.\tN\tEWS\t\u201cAt this time of year when emergency services in the region are in great demand, people should be reminded of good practices to prevent the spread of germs.\u201d CIUSSS de l\u2019Estrie - CHUS offers holiday flu and gastro advice Record Staff Sherbrooke The holidays are a time to share good times and good meals with family and friends, but we should keep our germs to ourselves,\" says CHUS Head of Emergency Services, Dr.Marie-Laure Collinge.\u201cAt this time of year when emergency services in the region are in great demand, people should be reminded of good practices to prevent the spread of germs and, if possible, manage their symptoms at home.\u201d In order to help people make the best decisions for their health during the holidays, CHUSSS de l'Estrie - CHUS invites the public to visit its Web site santeestrie.qc.ca/tempsdesfetes to find: -\tThe Simplified Guide I need for health services, which includes alternatives to going to the emergency room; -\tSchedule of walk-in clinics in the area during the holidays; -\tAdvice on the best ways to treat a flu or gastroenteritis at home; -\tAdvice on the best ways to protect yourself from the cold; -\tWinter activities to do as a family in our beautiful region.The page also provides a chart showing occupancy in emergency rooms and the development of the influenza situation in the region.If possible, it is strongly advised avoid the emergency room and consider other options available such as Info-Santé, Info-Social, consultation with your pharmacist, your family physician, a walk-in clinic or the youth clinic Duration of contagion Gastroenteritis is a contagious disease and an infected person can transmit the disease as long as he or she has symptoms and up to two weeks after they dis- appear.A person infected with the flu virus can be contagious 24 hours before symptoms appear and up to seven days after the onset and sometimes even a little longer.For the majority of people, home is usually the best place to care for flu or gastroenteritis.However, it is important to monitor the progress of symptoms.If the case is urgent, do not hesitate to go to the emergency room.Even if the occupancy rate is high, you will be seen by a doctor.Workplace safety Cont\u2019d from page 1 box of nails in the other.When he tossed the extension cord onto the nearby platform, he lost his grip on the box of nails.His reflexes took over, and he immediately reached to try and catch them, which caused him to lose his balance.He fell from the upper floor, landing on his back on a piece of wood.He immediately tried to sit up and realized his toes and legs felt asleep.Plante said he was brought to hospital as quickly as possible.\u201cThe doctor came in and said the good news is your life is not in danger.The bad news is you\u2019ve fractured two vertebrae and you need to be transferred to Montreal.\u201d Plante said it was at that point he knew things were worse than he originally thought.His girlfriend was at the hospital, and had a moment with Plante before he boarded the transfer.\u201cI can\u2019t feel my legs, but don\u2019t worry, everything will be fine,\u201d he told her.When Plante arrived in Montreal, he underwent a seven-hour operation.While he was in surgery, his girlfriend was handed a piece of paper by staff with three lines that read \u2018Jonathan Plante, 10th and 11th fracture, paraplegic.\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s how my girlfriend found out,\u201d he said.When he was out of surgery, the surgeon came into Plate\u2019s room, closed the door, and sat down in a chair beside the bed.He explained that because of the severity of his injuries, he would not walk again.\u201cIt would have taken 10 minutes to build a proper, safe ramp,\u201d Plante said, explaining that rather than take precautions, he took a shortcut.\u201cI haven\u2019t saved any time,\u201d he said, explaining that many things in his life now take longer and are more complicated since the accident.\u201cI didn\u2019t come here to complain about my life,\u201d Plante told the students.The point of the speech was to have the students consider a three-second exercise and ask themselves two questions when facing a risk.\u201cThink of the activity you love the most,\u201d he said, \u201cand ask what life would be like if you could never do it again.\u201d \u201cThink of the people around you,\u201d he went on, asking how they would feel if they knew they were seeing them for the last time.Plante spared no details in discussing the mechanics of life with no feeling below the belly button.He also spoke to the students about the good things in his life, including his supportive girlfriend and their two children.\u201cWithout my girlfriend, I wouldn\u2019t be here,\u201d he said.While trying to remain positive, Plante said his injuries affected not only his life, but his whole family.Simple things like changing a light bulb are now impossible tasks.He said that at three-and-a-half years old his son looked him in the eye and said \u201cwhen I grow up, I\u2019ll fix your legs.\u201d \u201cAt that age, he shouldn\u2019t be worrying about his father,\u201d Plante said.\u201cThat\u2019s all part of the contract I signed on March 12, 2007.\u201d At the end of his speech, Plante asked if there were any questions.While none of the students asked a question, it was obvious from the silence and their expressions that Plante\u2019s story resonated.\u201cI want you all to have a great career, doing something you love, and I want you to arrive at retirement healthy,\u201d Planted said, at the end of the presentation, insisting that it is always ok to stop and ask questions, and insist on safety precautions before undertaking a risky task.Join us for Carols and Christmas Dinner our gift to you on Sunday, December 25 11 a.m.to 1 p.m.(doors open at 10:30 a.m.) at Hope Community Church corner of Queen and College, Lennoxville.¦ 1 A HCC For transportation or information, call HCC at 819-822-2627 or The Loughheeds at 819-563-7750 Everyone m/plfnmp No charge -\"our gift to you.\" NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT The Record is pleased to announce the appointment of Jesse Bryant as Regional Sales Manager for its Townships publications.As director of sales, Mr.Bryant will oversee a dynamic team of sales professionals as they continue to link regional businesses with English-speaking Townshippers.Prior to his promotion to manager, Mr.Bryant was sales representative for Brome County News, a position he will continue to fill, along with his other duties.The Record is a 119-year-old daily publication serving the Townships\u2019 45,000 English-speaking population.The Record also publishes the weekly Brome County News, located in Knowlton, the monthly Townships Outlet along with numerous magazines, special sections and a web site to meet the needs of advertisers.RECORD The voice of the Eastern Townships since 1897 Page 4 Friday, December 23, 2016 newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com The Record Magog youth pleads guilty to dealing speed Record Staff Sherbrooke A young Magog man pleaded guilty on Tuesday to possession of 200 speed pills for the purpose of trafficking.On February 6, 2016, Goulet-Turbide was caught negotiating a drug deal with another individual in the parking lot of a Magog convenience store.A Memphremagog Police Patrol officer, intrigued by the presence of two vehicles with engines running at the back of a parking lot, decided to investigate.The smell of cannabis raised suspicions and a search resulted in the discovery of drugs, drug-related equipment and $417 in cash.Goulet-Turbide also dropped a bag containing narcotics and a subsequent strip search at Magog police headquarters found 200 speed tablets hidden in his underwear.Quebec Court Justice Conrad Chapdelaine denied a defense request for a stay of proceedings due to unreasonable search and the 19-year-old also acknowledged other charges following the rejection of his motion.Goulet-Turbide will return to court on March 24 for his sentencing hearing.Le Siboire to open Montreal location this spring 2016 Babies! Record Staff Sherbrooke Sherbrooke microbrewery and pub Le Siboire is setting up a branch in Montreal at the intersection of Saint-Laurent Blvd and Laurier St.in the Plateau Mont-Royal that should open towards the end of April.The company, which has two locations in Sherbrooke, will invest around $1 million and create 40 jobs.The new facility will have a floor space of about 5,500 sq.ft.The company\u2019s house beers will continue to be brewed in Sherbrooke.COURTESY Students from grades 5 and 6 from Plein Soleil school in Sherbrooke raised $1,600for La Grande Table in an English class project.The goal of the project was to help others and the kids chose to help others by creating microMJJ Printed and distributed by PressReader £3 dm ^0^+1^0427^4604 COPYRIGHT AND PROTECTED BY APPLICABLE LAW Page 6 Friday, December 23, 2016 newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com The Record \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t£j\tDJ\tn\troi\tRj\t(AI\tL\tAnyone who reflects on the year\u2019s events and only comes up with positives isn\u2019t doing the job properly.Let\u2019s be honest By Gordon Lambie There\u2019s a term that\u2019s common in teacher training called \u201creflective practice.\u201d Teachers in training are taught to reflect on every lesson to improve it for next time and the students in their classrooms are, in turn, encouraged to reflect on their work in evaluations to consider how they might have done things differently.It\u2019s something people in general seem to do a lot this time of year; thinking back on days gone by.It\u2019s also something that a lot of politicians pretend that they do at the end of December.It\u2019s pretending because, most of the time, the reports that the members of Parliament and members of the national assembly give themselves are glowing with praise and an overall sense of accomplishment.To be fair, not every MP or MNA is without negative reports to give.Anyone in an opposition role seems to have plenty of challenges to point out, but somehow those challenges always seem to lie in the decisions the government has made, and never in the members of the opposition or their party\u2019s choices.Such a report, handed in to a teacher, would be handed right back.Anyone who reflects on the year\u2019s events and only comes up with positives isn\u2019t doing the job properly.That\u2019s just not how life works.Maybe, out there somewhere in the world, there is some particularly lucky person for whom the entire year and everything he or she did went off perfectly, but the chances of that being the case for every single elected official in the world, year after year, are just not worth considering.This not to say that talking about the good things is wrong.It is just as important to reflect on projects that went well as it is to consider failures because it helps to identify good techniques and best practices.A report that only focuses on negatives is probably more hurtful, but just as incomplete as giving yourself a gold star and going on your way.Reflection is time consuming and difficult when it is done well, but it is also really important.It is valuable to take the time to look back and revisit the things that have been done.Reflection makes room for improvement and progress because it helps make clear not just what went wrong, but also why things didn\u2019t work out they way they should have.If Politicians get characterized as being dishonest, their year-end reports show exactly why.A lie of omission is still a lie.So where does this hyper-focus on the positive come from?It comes from the voters, of course.We\u2019ve asked for it.Our whole political system is built on public opinion and that means that the people who get to stay in power are the ones who convince people they can deliver results.In some ways, you can\u2019t really blame politicians for wanting to talk up their accomplishments.It seems like, more often than not, people in leadership positions get torn down on the rare occasion that they do have to admit to something going wrong.How might the world be different if politicians could feel free to say some things went well, and some things didn\u2019t?Our leaders should absolutely be held to a high standard and people in positions of power should be subject to oversight to make sure that their power isn\u2019t abused, but at the same time and as long as we are going to ask people to take charge of great responsibilities on our behalf, we need to be ready to accept that sometimes ideas and projects do not succeed.It is frustrating to ask someone to make a decision for you and then have them make mistakes or do things differently than you would, but that\u2019s part of the deal, isn\u2019t it?Admissions of fault have only become scandalous because the unwritten rules of our society say \u201cdo a good job or get out\u201d.Some decisions are make-or-break, and that is more the case when someone is handling public money or making decisions about public security, but not every decision made is going to be a good one.Everyone wants perfect leadership, but a perfect leader doesn\u2019t exist, so let\u2019s stop pretending that\u2019s the case and instead turn our attention to good, honest reflection.There needs to be room in the world for people to make mistakes, and to talk about them, because those mistakes and the talking about them are both key RECORD 6 Mallory, Sherbrooke, Quebec JIM 2E2 Fax: 819-821-3179 e-mail : newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com Website: www.sherbrookerecord.com Sharon McCully Pubusher .(819) 569-9511 Stephen Blake Corresp.Editor.(819) 569-6345 Serge Gagnon Chief Pressman.(819) 569-9931 DEPARTMENTS Accounting___ Advertising __ Circulation Newsroom .(819) 569-9511 (819) 569-9525 (819) 569-9528 (819) 569-6345 Knowlton office 5B Victoria Street, Knowlton, Quebec, JOE 1V0 Tel: (450) 242-1188 Fax: (450) 243-5155 PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS \t\t\tGST\tPST\tTOTAL Quebec:\t1 YEAR\t135,60\t6,78\t13.53\t$155.91 \t6 MONTHS\t71,19\t3,56\t7,10\t$81.85 \t3 MONTHS\t36,16\t1.81\t3,60\t$41.57 \tON-LINE SUBSCRIPTIONS\t\t\t\t Quebec:\t1 YEAR\t71,50\t3.58\t7,13\t$82.21 \t1 MONTH\t6,49\t0.32\t0,65\t$7.46 Rates for out of Quebec and for other services available on request.The Record is published daily Monday to Friday.Back copies of The Record are available.The Record was founded on February 9,1897, and acquired the Sherbrooke Examiner (est.1879) in 1905 and the Sherbrooke Gazette (est.1837) in 1908.The Record is published by Alta Newspaper Group Limited Partnership.PM#0040007682 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to The Record, 6 Mallory Street, Sherbrooke, QC JIM 2E2 Member ABC, CARD, CNA, QCNA oo in m_j55j I m * 1 « * i parts of how we learn to do things bet- from those mistakes that should guide ter.It\u2019s not the mistakes of politicians, our decision making, but the way they respond to and learn Letters Dear Editor, Although this letter does not deal with a school board in the Sherbrooke area, it does point out the serious flaws in democratically elected school boards.The last regular Lester B.Pearson School Board Council Meeting in 2016 was well-attended by the press and the public.At the first Question Period members of the public basically said the recent ethical scandals involving Chairperson Suanne Stein Day, and the lack of transparency were damaging the board's reputation.Concern was expressed that student enrolment could be affected.The aforementioned was reported in time for the 11:00 p.m.newscasts on Dec.19.(CBC, CTV, Global Montreal and a write-up in The Gazette) However, what was understandably not reported (due to deadlines) was what transpired at the second Question Period.Stein Day, who is also vice-president of the Quebec English School Boards Association, preferred to cite some obscure rule rather than answer questions from a journalist and me.The reporter's question dealt with the number of people fired or demoted due to the questionable International school business involving contract(s) signed by Stein Day as chair of the board and supported by all other commissioners.My question was about the accusation by Stein Day that I made \"rampant personal attacks\" on commissioners.(There were none).The Chair's conduct is undemocratic and does not belong in our education system, which should be setting an example for our youth.Looking forward to the results of the Anti-Corruption Unit (UPAC) investigation, and the audit by the Ministry of Education in 2017.That said, the value of the press cannot be underestimated to help clean up school board corruption.Chris Eustace Montreal, QC The Record welcomes your letters to the editor.Please limit your letters to 300 words.We reserve the right to edit for length, clarity, legality and taste.Please ensure there is a phone number or email where you can be reached, to confirm authorship and current town/city of residence.Names will not be withheld but the address and phone number of the writer are not published, except by request.Preference is given to writers from the Eastern Townships.Follow The Sherbrooke Record on Facebook and Twitter! H sherbrookerecord Fj ®recordnewspaper f\u2014, r i mted and distributed by Prt \u2014= m = , , presslï&MÏÏ Pressjeadercojnw+ 1JS04_278 4604 ,COPYRIGHT AND PROTECTED BY APPLICABLE LAW S The Record newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com Friday, December 23, 2016 Page 7 \t\t\t (I\tColumn\t1ST\tOn this, our last article for the year, may God bless each and everyone, give you strength to pass over the troubled waters and bring you to a safe and blessed place.May peace be with you.One column, four voices Opening to the Spirit Today\u2019s word: Blessing By Revs Mead Baldwin, W.Lynn Dillabough, Lee Ann Hogle, and Carole Martignacco 1) Often, when something good happens to us, we say, \u201cThat was such a blessing.\u201d Or, when a person does something wonderful for us, we might say, \u201cYou are such a blessing!\u201d It is good to pause and give gratitude at these moments.How many of us can be grateful for those other kinds of blessings?I mean the ones that go by the name \u201cblessings in disguise\u201d, or \u201creally terrible things that happen\u201d.Usually, it is only with the long view, in the rear view mirror many years later, that we can see these events as blessings: the loss of a job that leads to new opportunities; the divorce that helps you to know who you really are; even abuse or rejection that have opened your heart in compassion to others.A few years ago I was going through something difficult.People with power over me were using this to abuse and threaten.A friend who could have helped chose betrayal instead.I remember a lot of suffering.I also remember moments of trusting God, and saying, \u201cI don\u2019t know what it is that you are trying to show me, but it must be something.I will hang in here and wait.\u201d I trusted and waited for the blessing, remaining engaged with God in openness.That kind of trust was not always there.But trusting, even a little, is what got me through.In hindsight, I can see a thousand lessons, and at least a thousand opportunities for love.\u201cGive thanks at all times\u201d our scriptures tell us.I am learning how to do just that.) In the lexicon of the spirit, blessing is both noun and verb.We are encouraged to count our blessings, at least those we are aware of.By so doing, we learn not to take advantage of all the good that comes our way.And those are just the ones of which we are aware.There is a whole category of intangible blessing that streams through our lives like background music to which we may often be oblivious.The natural elements we live and move among, the amazing beings - human and otherwise - that people our lives.All that nurtures us, the sun and rain and the miraculous minerals.All the invisible hands that create what sustains our existence.The beauty and goodness upon which our lives depend.The Sufi poet Rumi says, \"For sixty years I have been forgetful every minute, but not for a second has this flowing toward me ceased or slowed.\" To live a life of blessing calls us to participate, to give of what we receive.0 sometimes conduct trainings for lay peo- ple who are commissioned by their congregations to perform rites of passage -weddings, memorials or funerals, child dedications and the like.One very important qualification for doing such work is the ability to bless.So I ask them: by what authority will you perform these sacred ceremonies?Occasionally someone defers, saying they do not feel qualified.And that is the work they must do in order to answer their calling.Blessing is the work we are all called to - in this world that showers us with blessings too numerous to count, and yet paradoxically, desperately needs our hands raised in blessing at every turn.So may we be blessed, and may we continually pass it on.) There's a part of Sarah and Abraham's story in the Hebrew Scriptures where they are told that God will lead them to the promised land.The lesser know part of the story is the other promise, that they will become a blessing to others and so to the world.I like the concept that people can become blessings to others.There is also an idea in some traditions that God blesses some people and not others.There those who light candles or perform certain actions to be blessed.There are some clergy who choose certain days to dress up in their robes and go to the park to bless the animals.I must admit that this always seems odd to me.The concept that certain special well robed people chosen by God can perform blessings while others are not makes a blessing seem like a lottery.I recently heard a TV preacher off certain special oil, for only a large donation, that would bring them a blessing, perhaps even financial.I prefer to think that people can become blessings, all people without exception.For me this is wrapped up in small things, a thoughtful card in a time of need, the wonderful lady who rose early to make bread rolls for my family they day after my Mom died, the thoughtful stranger who pulls over to help a stranded motorist.Recently a teenage girl in my church was about to turn 16.1 found out from her sister that she loved banana bread with chocolate chips, so on her birthday I made some and gave it to her.The smile on her face at the surprise gift was more than worth the time it took to bake.God works through us to make the world a more compassionate place.During this holiday season may each of you become blessings to each other.4) In a book called My Grandfather\u2019s Blessings, author Naomi Remen describes the attitude her grandfather Rabbi Remen taught her regarding ah the events of our lives.Every success, every failure, every activity we are in- volved in, he told her, contains a blessing for each of us.Sometimes the blessing is apparent.Sometimes it is hidden within tragedy.In a recent video clip by inspirational speaker Prince Ea, I listened to him tell why the election of Donald Trump was a blessing, despite the fact he had not voted for him.When things don\u2019t go the way we hope or expect, we are given the opportunity to strengthen our convictions and clarify our thoughts.We are challenged to develop skills of persuasion.or learn new skills like speaking in public, or start over again after failure.We learn how to forgive when we get hurt.When everything goes our way and our path is obstacle-free we can easily slip into complacency.We take our good fortune for granted.We get lazy.So the next time you miss the bus or your car breaks down or your heart gets broken, consider the possibility that a blessing lies hidden within your situation .When everyone seems to be celebrating Christmas but you don\u2019t have the heart for it, don\u2019t give up hope.You will grow stronger if you hold on to hope.Not only can unwanted life events become blessings, but each of us can be blessings to others.Indeed, according to Rabbi Remen, a major part of our life work is to be just that.On this, our last article for the year, may God bless each and everyone, give you strength to pass over the troubled waters and bring you to a safe and blessed place.May peace be with you.One word, four voices - now add your own: How do you count your blessings?Rev.Mead Baldwin pastors the Hatley, Waterville & North Hatley United Churches; Rev.Lynn Dillabough is now Rector of St.Paul\u2019s in Brockville ON.She continues to write for this column as a dedicated colleague with the Eastern Townships clergy writing team; Rev.Lee Ann Hogle ministers to the Ayer\u2019s Cliff Magog & Georgeville United Churches; Rev.Carole Martignacco pastors UUEstrie -the Unitarian Universalists in North Hatley.FUNERAL H O CREMATOR U M %L)ütlv CÂALàùnaA comeà Lope & ivade.happty kolidxhy&/ Caring and accessible services for all local families from one of your own.601 Conseil Street, Sherbrooke 819 565-1155 steveelkas.com A unique new funeral complex 4230 Bertrand-Fabi Street, Sherbrooke pressf^mj Printed and distributed by PressReader PressReader.com ?+1 604 278 4604 COPYRIGHT AND PROTECTED E LICABLE LAW Page 8 Friday, December 23, 2016 newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com The Record ^/©C