Sonora in Boomtown

The kids, Sonora, agent B and I visited a museum of my hometown through it's history. It goes back to the days of the aboriginal people on the plains, through the early 1900s and a few exhibits of more modern times. Most of it is in the early 1900s and is of the main buildings at that time: a typical home, church, school, store, train station, newspaper office, stable, blacksmith, RCMP barracks, farm machinery...

I was going around explaining to the kids the different tools and implements (that I know of) and was humbled by the fact that in many instances, Sonora knew of the old techniques and tools better than I. She didn't have to visit the museum to know how they dried fish, what it was like to live in a mud house, use an outhouse or sharpen knives on a stone- this was her life in the refugee camp of Ghana.

I feel for her and so many others who experience this season of togetherness and family separated- whether it be due to war, finances, politics or social reasons. We are meant to live in community and one of the most heart wrenching realities is that so many of us are separated from loved ones or are alone at some level.

Sonora's mom is in the US, her only sister is in Africa, her father and older brothers live here in the city, but due to the rules of CPS, she can't spend this special day with them. Her father came to give her a gift and spend some time with her, but they were not allowed to really be together. They are in a foreign country and home, each with so many levels of pain- painting on a smile today to make it through. There is some delight and joy today for them, but not far under that is very real heartache.

Lover- you came from perfection: perfect love, perfect home, perfect community into a world of chaos, pain and strife. You came offering your perfection, love, a home with you and perfect community. Come again. Go to those who are hurting and in pain that they may know You and the joy, love and peace that transcends this world and comes from you. May Sonora, her family and so many others be comforted in their losses and know that there really is reason to be merry today. You make all the difference. Bring your gifts of love and life once again.