Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Now That CBC Is Over

Riding on the bus from Strathmore to Saskatoon gives you time to think. I reflected on the past year with the memories I have and the friends I have made. I went over the event of the couple weeks prior to CBC being finished and I realized that I had strong feelings for a girl. I told her after the fact when CBC was over and I expected her not to feel the same way. But it doesn't get any easier. She is one solid and awesome girl. I never met someone like her before. It was just not meant to be and as I said, I expected that. But that doesn't make it any less easier. There are a few things I will miss about this person and that is her smile, her caring attitude towards people, her down to earthness (is that even a word?), and so much more. Just being friends is the most important thing. I know that we could make a long distance relationship work, it's as I keep stating is that she doesn't feel the same way.

I have started on my quest to become employed. I haven't applied at a lot of places, yet, but I plan on it though. I need to get some work so I can start saving up money and paying off my student loan. Student loans don't pay for themselves. I also hope that I can save up some money to pay for college next year provided I get accepted. I still need to get an application for the Western Academy Broadcasting College here in Sasaktoon.

I have also shaved off my chops. I still have my sideburns, it's just that they are not mutton chops like they used to be.

I miss all of you guys and I hope I can see some of you sooner rather than later. People of my CBC class, don't hesitate to come and visit me! Ha!

Until next I have something to say to you... Shika da!
Mr. C.C.

"It takes a minute to have a crush on someone, an hour to like someone and a day to love someone - but it takes a lifetime to forget someone."
-Unknown

"Why do they call it a crush? Because that's how you feel when they don't feel the same way in return."
-Unknown

"A movie camera is like having someone you have a crush on watching you from afar - you pretend it's not there."
-Tom Stoppard

Wednesday, May 02, 2007

Spring Retreat & Commencement

We are back from the spring retreat which is the final retreat of the year. It was a bittersweet time. We got to hang out with each other for the one of the final times this year. In some sense this was a time to just reflect back on the year, give thanks to God in all that he has done this year. The friendships we have made, the talks we have had, the laughing, the tears, the joy, the everything was reflected upon. It wasn't all somber and sadness. There was some great times had. There was some great laughs shared. It was a great time to just fellowship for one of the last times with a good majority of them.

Some of the people I have become friends with I will truly miss because of the close bond I have made with them. Some I can't say the same for as I never got to make a close bond with them. This year was rewarding in many ways like the aforementioned friends I have made. It will difficult in my own way leaving CBC. I have learned so much from so many people and I will take what I have learned and hopefully use it in the future.

Just think, it's seems like only yesterday we just started coming here. But in another sense, it's like we have been for along time. I do acknowledge that CBC was not meant to last forever. It was only meant to last one year. I get that, but in many ways it has been a great ride whether we are going up or going down. There will always be hard times and if there wasn't than we would never know how to grow from those experiences. The community has been wonderfully and painfully connected to each other and the times we have been to hell and back have been crucial to our growth and development, as I said, as Christians. If we didn't grow, than we were putting on nothing but a show.

Outside of the confines of the CBC community, leaving St. Michaels & All Saints Anglican Church was so hard. They embraced me into their parish and community. It was hard to leave. This one lady, Betty Wyndham, at St. Michaels said that I better come back and visit. I will try and hold Betty to that promise. Another lady at St. Michaels said that they will miss my singing in front of the church. Not only the church, but parting ways with the former minister Fergus Tyson was hard. Fergus and myself formed a close relationship. We talked about a lot of stuff like apologetics, Anglicanism, hockey, my grandfather, among other stuff. He is just so smart that when you say something, he can just go on and on. I respect how smart he is and it is fitting that our last day at St. Michaels was on April 29th. I know that the St. Michaels & All Angels and St. Andrews in Gleichen are losing a respected minister. When people were saying a few words and giving him gifts, I said a few words. It was hard to say goodbye. I felt it was a privilege and an honour to be embraced by the St. Michaels & All Angels parish and have a close relationship with Fregus. I will never forget them and they will be in my prayers.

I just ask God's blessings on them as they go through this time of transition with Fergus gone and the low numbers. They are doing the work of God and they need new members of their church so it can be sustained for the future. If all the people in their directory came to church and gave regularly, than they would have more than even money to sustain themselves. But the fact is that they don't have those numbers and thus don't get the money they need. I hope they can get enough money in their building fund to build a new church building. I want to see this parish and ministry flourish.

So commencement is upon us, or is starting Friday. I know that there will people that will be a mixed bag of emotions. As draws as a whole draws to a close, it will be a time of reflection and a time of being with people one last time. Treasure the times that you were with people. Don't forget the friends you have made. I know I may be sounding a bit emotional, but I will not forget the times I had here. This will be one last send off for the staff, students, teachers, CBC board members, and alumni (if any alumni are there). It will be one final send off and I hope it's the best one ever.

All in all, whether it's within the CBC campus, or within the church, I have grown significantly and have been impacted in so many ways. I will look back on this year with mixed emotions, but I will not forget the memories that I have and I will not forget the friends I have made.

Peace of the Lord be will you for now and for always;
Mr. C.C.

“It's weird...you know the end of something great is coming, but you want to hold on, just for one more second...just so it can hurt a little more.”
-Unknown

“Education is not a product: mark, diploma, job, money in that order; it is a process, a never ending one”
-Bel Kaufman

"Great is the art of beginning, but greater is the art of ending."
-Lazurus Long