Dear friends and relations,
We wish you the merriest of Christmasses, although our letter this year is not filled only with bright news... It is Remembrance Day, and we have just kindled a vigil fire for son James, who has gone on a 'Vision Quest'. This year is so full, that all the books that were written cannot contain it. We have seen two major school events starting, two schools stopping, many many concerts, and great emotional ups and downs. It has been a year characterized by three Passions.
The two schools starting are Cambridge, England, where Sarah is organ scholar at Robinson College, and the New England Conservatory, Boston, where Simon studies violin with Malcolm Lowe, Canadian-born concertmaster of the Boston Symphony. Both Sarah and Simon are pursuing Bachelor of Music Degrees. Di visited Simon in October during the spendid New England fall colours.
Jeremy has returned after 6 months in a camper; he has sold the living quarters of the camper but is still the proud owner of a big truck and a motorcycle. We are so pleased to have him at home again. He has been a steady help in the management of his little bro. James, who has had his first interactions with the Ministry of the Attorney General, the only Ministry empowered to enforce decisions when the law is broken. We have learned over the past three years what life is like when you cannot depend on mutual agreement with respect to rules of behaviour. We now have a name for James condition: Fetal Alcohol Effects. This is the first passion, the passion of James and his family. We do not yet know the end of it, but as of two days ago, he has gone to search for himself under his own strength. This is also the two schools stopping - for school is a place where some rules cannot be broken. FAE behaviour is a lot like Alzheimer's disease. Doesn't work very well in a classroom. We have been reflecting on the passage in John's gospel where the disciples ask Jesus, "Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Christ answers "Neither this man nor his parents, but that the works of God might be shown."
The second passion is the passion of Frank Brown. He is not anyone you would know. James and I (Bob) met him, a native of the coastal village of Bella Bella (Waglisla), in the summer. He epitomizes what is best about the native rediscovery of its traditional spiritual roots. When we saw his life story enacted in a traditional dance in a big house in the wilderness, I felt I was present 'at the creation of the world'. The dance was first given as part of a Potlatch. (It has been filmed as Voyage of Rediscovery, available through the Knowledge Network and possibly other Educational TV services.) It shows the great skill in carving and acting of the North-West Coast First Nations. The moving two faces of the mask worn by Frank illustrate the re-integration of his personality, the fearful and disobedient child, the mean spirit, the mature man, reborn into responsibility. The audience accompanies the dance with verses of Amazing Grace showing the synthesis of the traditional and the Christian without either polemics or proselytizing.
The third passion was a performance of the setting according to St John by J.S. Bach last Palm Sunday. Bob sang the Evangelist role, one he has always coveted. It is to be repeated Easter 1993, and is only one of the many major works which our beloved choirmaster has done. Five of us performed in the Bach B Minor Mass in the summer: James reading the bass part, Bob as tenor and sometimes bass, Di as alto, Simon as violin, and Sarah on continuo organ.
Do you know the Carol...Hush do not wake the Infant King, dreaming of Easter, gladsome morning... Two of the three passions have had favourable outcomes. .. Pray for us, friends, as we walk through the valley of the shadow.
Blessings to you all from Victoria