Perspectives by Rev. Duncan Perry

It’s almost November 1st and you know what that means? Valentine’s Day candy will soon hit the store shelves. Wait a minute. It’s not even Christmas yet. Stop in at a Walmart and it’s been […]

Last Wednesday morning started as a typical morning. I travelled to Ottawa from my home in St. Andrew’s West, attended our Eastern and Northern Ontario Regional Caucus meeting, and then began to Chair our regular National Conservative Caucus meeting in Centre Block at 9:30 a.m.

With the meeting just underway, things changed instantly when the sound of gunshots rang through the Hall of Honour and our adjacent meeting room. I won’t recall the minute by minute moments of the day, but it was certainly an experience that was tense, saddening, and emotional for many colleagues, and Canadians across the country.

I have been overwhelmed by the caring emails, calls, and messages of concern from friends and neighbours throughout Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry in the aftermath of the tragedy. It means a lot as your federal representative that so many of you took the time to check on the well-being of both my staff and I. We are grateful for the security team on Parliament Hill that did a great job on Wednesday morning.

Most importantly, our sympathies and condolences continue to be with the families of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo and Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent during this difficult time. Our country suffered the loss of two brave men who were dedicated in their service to making our country a better and safer place. Their lives and their contributions will not be forgotten. My Cornwall constituency office has a book of condolences where local residents can offer their sympathies to the families.

I was very supportive of ensuring that the House of Commons and activity on the Hill returned to normal the following day. My staff and I returned to our office and went back to work. As the Prime Minister said last week, we will not be intimidated by those who attempt to instill fear in our lives.

Canadians can be assured our government will expedite legislation to ensure our military, police, and security forces have the necessary resources to combat extremism in all forms. We have committed to bringing these enhancements and changes to the House of Commons in the very near future.

In the meantime, from a grateful Member of Parliament, please accept my thanks again for your concern last week. More importantly, thank you for your strong and patriotic outpouring to commemorate the lives of Cpl. Cirillo and W.O. Vincent this past week. Particularly, I know many constituents from the area joined Canadians along Highway 416 and the Highway of Heroes Friday to wave flags and pay tribute to Cpl. Cirillo. I’ve never been more proud of my constituents and our country.

Let’s commit to remember their lives and service to Canada by continuing to stand for what they did: freedom, democracy, and a great quality of life here at home. Together we can show our profound respect to our veterans on Remembrance Day by attending a local ceremony.

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Handiwork

A few years ago, I decided to take up knitting. I had tried it a couple of times before and had disliked it. But I also hated being mastered by anything, and decided to try again.

It gave me a great feeling of accomplishment as I handed the finished project of a beautiful sweater to my eldest daughter. Then, feeling much more confident, I knit the same pattern over for my next daughter in another colour. 

Two sweaters under my belt! I was no longer a novice. Into the wool shop I went and bought a much more difficult pattern. The first time I chose a pattern, I had asked for help. This time I did it on my own.

Hours later, I knew that I was in way over my head. I asked advice from a neighbor, an expert knitter. I kept on. Stuck again, I sought more advice. I ripped out and re-knit enough times to knit a few other sweaters. At last the masterpiece was finished. When my youngest daughter put it on, I almost strutted.

She told everyone that her Mom had made her sweater. It was difficult to get it off her to wash. The second time I went to wash it, I was horrified.  Right on the front of this beautiful, pastel sweater was a large, horrible, red spot. It would not come off. My youngest told me that it was red paint from a pottery painting set. 

My work was destroyed. For weeks, the sweater just sat in the laundry room. I did not have the heart to throw it out.

The Bible tells us that we are made in the image of God. How sad God must be when He sees His handiwork marred by sin. God expects to see His own reflection but so often, He sees big globs of ugliness. 

Thank God the story does not end there. The Bible says, “The blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin” (I John 1:17).

We need to apply the blood of Jesus to our lives. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9).

One day my daughter was visiting in a friend’s home. While there, she heard them speak of a cure-all substance for paint stains. She asked if she could take some home to her mother to try on her ruined sweater.

The request was granted and I was under pressure to try this substance out on the sweater. 

I could have chosen to leave the paint remover where it was saying that such a thing was impossible. Perhaps I could have put things off until another day. But, at the insistence of my daughter, we quickly tried it out. It worked. The sweater was as good as new.

We sometimes treat the Lord like that paint remover. We are skeptical. Or, we put Him on a shelf, planning to try Him out in the future. But, those who take the time, find that He does remove the sin and frees us to be God’s handiwork again. 

The song writer, John Peterson, put it so aptly:

In the image of God, we were made long ago

With the purpose divine, here His glory to show;

But we failed Him one day and like sheep went astray

Thinking not of the cost, we, His likeness, had lost.

But from eternity, God had in mind

The work of Calvary – the lost to find.

From His heaven so broad, Christ came down earth to trod

So that men might live again in the image of God.

Rev. Lorna Casselman

Interim Pastor

Morrisburg Pentecostal 

Tabernacle

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