I mentioned about Marie, Kristin and I having an exciting trip west, through the USA and Canada, in 2007. However when we arrived home, there was some very unfortunate news. Unbeknown to us, a comment made during a youth meeting earlier in the spring, was misunderstood and over-reacted to by some influential church leaders.
We had been very active, supporting members of this church ever since we arrived in Chatham in March of 1988. Marie had been in the choir, as well as had helped in the library and with the junior church members in Sunday School. I had been the head of the ushers, and expanded its role for almost 20 years. Both of the kids had been active in their youth group activities. All four of us had participated in a special presentation, called Bethlehem Live, an outdoor event held in late November to portray the Christmas period at the time of Jesus' birth. Also, I had been the chief photographer for all of the church directories for several years. So when this unfortunate event occurred, where a voice mail on our phone upon our return indicated we were to be questioned by both Children's Aid and the police, it was strange and unnerving to say the least. Upon the questioning process, everyone was cleared of any wrong doing, and it was strange it even got to that point. What made it even stranger, was that the senior pastor of the day, came to visit us and try to explain the situation as he saw it. He even denied knowing about it, which was very quickly determined to be an outright lie. He knew about it, as he was in the meeting when the board discussed it and put it forth for us to be questioned. Needless to say, we were glad that the issue was no longer an issue, but it created some uncertainty between our family and some of the church leadership. And a bit surprising, but maybe not all that much, was that a former board of elder came to me afterward and said that the issue should never have happened, especially the way it unfolded. Since board of elders meeting are supposed to be private, he shouldn't have even been aware of it, but people talk.
The end result was that Marie stopped going to this church. She had been having a few issues about not feeling at home there for various reasons. I kept on in my role of head usher for a little while longer, but before the year was out, had given notice that I would not be continuing in that role in 2008. And by the late spring, I had ceased going.
It was in late May of 2008 where I had an experience that I wrote to myself, and called it a 'Revelation at Rondeau'. It was early one Sunday morning, and I was walking along Bennett Avenue, listening to bird songs and watching for some spring wildflowers. My mind and thoughts often turn to God and his creation when I am out in it, marveling in its beauty and complexity and this morning was no exception. This first photo was taken at almost exactly the same spot where I had this revelation, although it was taken in a different year.
Some friends of ours had a cottage in the park, and I wondered what they were doing on this Sunday morning, as they didn't always follow the normal things. Were they at church? I thought about Jesus, and his way of being close with his father. Sure, he went to synagogue from time to time, but I believe it was mostly in a teaching capacity, not likely to fellowship with God. When he wanted to be close to his father, he would be out in the garden, up on a mountain, along a lake shore, or some natural area like that. And that is where I was, out in God's creation, communing with him. This was not a new thought to me at all; in fact it was a frequent thought, as I have always felt closer to Him when I am in his incredible creation, knowing that he is with me. However on this occasion, these thoughts were so vivid, unlike any other time. In fact I felt a very overwhelming sense of ‘something’ coming over me, and not easily put into words. My breathing increased sharply, suddenly and much more deeply than it normally would be. It was a very deep, quick breathing, similar in some ways a person gasps for air in an oxygen-deprived environment. Yet it was not in the least as a sense of anxiety but of rather joyous exhilaration and in reality I felt as if I was breathing in an oxygen-enriched environment. God's presence was with me, and I couldn't get enough of it! My heart and mind swelled with praise and adoration of the God who created me and all the natural things around me. Did time slow down or stop? I can’t really say, as time seemed to be irrelevant but it seemed that I was much more aware of ‘being’, as this revelation overcame me amidst God’s creation. I had never had anything remotely like this happen before.
I don’t know how long it lasted, probably just a few minutes, but as I resumed my walk I pondered over what had just happened. The things that came to mind just prior to this experience were not earth shattering new ideas. Rather this event was a vivid confirmation about such a simple but important idea that God wanted me to feel confident in. Although I know God is always with us, this was probably as close to feeling God’s presence as I ever had before. It isn’t His idea to ‘do church’ in the tradition of doing church. He wants us to worship Him for who He is, and doing it in the beauty of His awesome creation is just fine, perhaps even preferable, with Him. If it was good enough for Jesus to do it, why not us?
That particular road was never extra special to me in the past, but ever since that time when I am in the area, I remember that event, as a definite God encounter.
Moving on, by early 2011 I was thinking more clearly about retiring from my OMNR career. I could have retired a year or so earlier, but there were things I wanted to see farther to completion, and there were quite a few younger staff involved with species at risk, wetland evaluations and municipal planning that could have affected the natural areas, so I wanted to share with as many of them as I could at various important places out in the field. But I eventually notified my supervisor that I would take retirement at the end of 2011. As my career was winding down, I was asked by some of the district supervisors to take the lead in the staff day. I had done this in 2010 when it was held on Pelee Island, but in the fall of 2011, it was held at Rondeau.
Aylmer District Staff photo, Oct 28, 2011, at Rondeau
As the time approached, I considered not having a retirement get-together at all, although they were more or less the norm for many at that time. I debated with myself and eventually one of my biologist co-workers told me, more or less in the following way, that 'a retirement event isn't just about you, Allen, it is just as important for all of those folks you have worked so closely with and mentored over the years, to celebrate you and your contributions.' So I went along with it, and on Saturday, December 3, 2011, the retirement event was held at the Rondeau Visitor Centre, a place that had so much meaning to me throughout my career.
Over 80 people attended from near and far, and from various organizations, including Canadian Wildlife Service/Environment Canada, several conservation authorities, faculty and researchers of a couple of universities, private ecological consultants, and of course many folks from OMNR. My role in so many things related to natural areas, species at risk, and others, brought me in contact with quite a diverse number of people and organizations, and it was awesome to have them there, get so many accolades, etc. Marie joined in, as she worked with several of the organizers to have various things done, and she was good at keeping it a secret. She even made a speech at the end, that said this:
Woodliffe family on Dec 3, 2011
"Thank-you Allen for working so tirelessly, which enabled me and our children to live relative lives of leisure at home. Thank-you to all of his colleagues for inspiring, supporting and working alongside of my husband at various points during the 36-year span of his career with MNR. As you are well aware, Allen, I’ve waited a long time for this thing called retirement, and am excited that it is almost here. In fact I am more excited than I’ve ever been for Christmas! And in less than 30 days, Honey, you will be all mine!” I heard from more than one of the attendees that they were impressed with Marie getting up and sharing those thoughts with the group. Well done, and thank-you, Marie! And as part of her presentation, this next photo was put up on the screen.
It was a photo that I had taken earlier that year, and someone got hold of it and added the sentiments to it, in jest of course, and it got more than a few laughs.
I was given a 2' X 3' framed canvas print of this next photo, which I had taken the previous winter. It is right along Gardiner Avenue, about 100 metres from the visitor centre, and represents the beautiful time of year as I was about to retire, with a winding road that lets one's mind wander to what might be just around the bend. (Little did I know at the time, which will be the topic of future blog posts)
And as a longtime Dallas Cowboys fan since the very early 1970s, I was given an autographed game sweater of #12 Roger Staubach, one of the most popular Cowboys of all time, and a highly successful quarterback of that era. Apparently he doesn't normally autograph football paraphernalia, so I feel quite fortunate. He was the one who came up with the phrase 'Hail Mary' as he in fact did it quite successfully, heaving a football a looong way down the field, and it was caught and the Cowboys won the game. I think it was just a few days ago, on Oct 19, when it was the 50th anniversary of the first football Hail Mary that was carried out by Roger.
There were more than a few folks from my office who were cleverly instrumental in bringing about this retirement event. In particular were Ron, Brianne, Cass, Judy, Rick, Wendy, Holly and others. When all was said and done, and I returned to my office on the Monday, I was faced with a surprise. On the Sunday night before, Brianne and Cass had spent a lot of time, and breath, blowing up 344 balloons that filled my office! The door was covered with saran wrap, so I could crawl inside and peer through the balloons. What a hilarious and creative pair they were!
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