Brighten a February day
Today is my birthday. Ranking high on the list of presents that have come my way is the absolutely phenomenal privilege of living in this incredible city. I travel a lot for work and almost everywhere I go when people learn I am from Kelowna they comment on how privileged I am. I couldn’t agree more.
While far from perfect, we have much to celebrate in Kelowna. We’ve grown into a city with an emerging social conscience. Initiatives to assist marginalized people both locally and around the globe are becoming key to our make-up. We’ve become a city of vision.
We’ve benefited from strong, sustained leadership that pays attention not only to growth but sustainability. Our university has exceeded expectations and our medical community is beginning to match what is offered anywhere. We’ve matured. We’ve learned from floods, riots and fires that we can’t take what we have for granted and that we need to work together for our city to maximize its potential.
Yes, I know we still have those whose frequent letters to the editor indicate we’re doing it all wrong, yet ironically they still choose to live here.
I think it is time to celebrate not just that we have beautiful scenery and weather but that God has blessed us with a quality of life almost unparalleled.
How does one go about expressing that kind of celebration?
I’ve composed a list of several unique ways to celebrate. I don’t claim them to be exhaustive but rather toss them out as a challenge for you to compose your own list. Here are my five ways to celebrate life in Kelowna, guaranteed to brighten a February day:
No 1: Visit your favorite orchard, yes, even now in the winter, with a note or small gift to thank them for keeping their orchard alive. The presence of orchards is one of our most beautiful jewels. Anyone who has owned or worked in an orchard knows how fragile an enterprise it is. Let’s celebrate gratefully what we have.
No. 2: Thank an employer who provides work for our residents. Work isn’t a necessary evil, it’s one of our greatest blessings. From time to time I find it overwhelming that both Arlene, my wife and I have meaningful work.What a privilege!
No. 3: Next time you walk the Greenway, take a look at the list of folks who made it possible and let some of them know how much you enjoy it. That path covering so many spectacular kilometers will be one of Kelowna’s precious treasures for years to come.
No. 4: When you see a worker in one of our parks, getting it ready for spring, call out a word of thanks.We all have a tendency to smirk at civil servants. Just imagine life without them.The care and keeping of our parks is one of the keys to this city’s beauty, so make sure not to take our workers for granted.
No. 5: Thank God. There’s nothing we’ve done to deserve a city like this. It is a gift we’ve been given. We have a stable environment, beautiful surroundings and in no joking manner often refer to our city as “The Promised Land.” Somebody made it, and blessed us with it. Let’s give God the credit He deserves.
Birthdays are a time for grateful reflection. Being privileged to live right here in Kelowna for the last 32-plus years is quite a gift.
Tim Schroeder is pastor at Trinity Baptist Church in Kelowna.