Faith vs Fear

Sorry - I keep forgetting to post the content of my newsletters here…. OOPS!

Random opener….I wonder what it says about me that my most often used emoji after a heart ❤️is a grimace! 😬 I guess I’m often pushing some envelope with my message that I’m hoping I’ll be forgiven for. Not planning to do that with this missive but anything’s possible given I have no plan!

But as usual, I DO HAVE lots to say. I think this time I should get the business of getting the word out about various shows out of the way so skip to the end if you are nowhere near Canada!

First up is this delightful bonus trio with me, Hilary Grist, and Jeanne Tolmie. “The Luckies” are the happy accident that sparked when having to come up with a SuperGal trio for the Vancouver Island Fest last summer - at the last minute. The chemistry was SO instant in every way, that we couldn’t wait to do it again. And so we have - and we will - next Saturday, May 6th at the BEZ ARTS HUB in Langley, BC. Rumour has it that the very special Daniel Lapp will be joining us on fiddle and trumpet on several turnes. You can read about it, and how to attend either in person or virtually HERE!

Founders Russ and Sandy Rosen ARE The Bez Arts Hub and have tenaciously created a multi-discipline arts venue that would be considered the jewel of any city. I have so much admiration and respect for their vision and what they have built. If you live anywhere near, you simply must come! 😬 (See? It’s too often the perfect face!)

Then there’s the next Songbird North! Thursday, May 25th. You can read about and find links to these wonderful writers and their work HERE! (As well as get tickets there in advance.) There will also be tickets at the door so don’t be deterred by the thought of planning ahead, but we do like to know you’re coming in advance!

So….what’s with the faith vs. fear subject line? And please do feel free to skip this. I know it’s irritating to have a long read.

Once upon a time on the west side of my little island there was 700+acres of seaside forest called Cape Roger Curtis. Folks had hiked its trails and visited its shoreline for decades and rarely thought about the fact that it was privately owned. But 15 years ago the land was purchased by new owners. And though we came close to navigating preserving half - all the foreshore - for a park, the proposed development back from the shore was too scary for many in the community and the land proceeded to be subdivided into 52 10 acre lots. It was pretty heartbreaking for those who thought the development was very well thought out and the win of the preservation of the land worth it. In fact, the debate created a fissure in the community that never fully mended. Fast forward to the present, over the past year a plan has been brewing for Metro Vancouver to buy the remaining 240 acres for a regional park. Many were elated that these remarkably beautiful coastal bluffs would be preserved in perpetuity after all, and the planned campground would allow families in the lower mainland to share in the restorative beauty of the nature.

But here’s the thing about island living - especially in these times of high anxiety. There is a tendency to want to minimize “incoming”. The ferries since covid have been dramatically unreliable and island living is utterly depending on getting off the island and back from the mainland. So the idea of opening the gates to that level of incoming has triggered a huge wave of fear amongst many. Then there are those who are very optimistic about the partnership with Metro Vancouver, who would be very invested in a successful park and efficient, low impact transportation to and across the island, which we so desperately need. To say nothing of the importance of preserving and protecting the rest of these lands from development in perpetuity, allowing generations of families to experience this beautiful spot, long after most current residents are gone. 

There are a few things that have struck me the most through this. First is how toxic the discourse has been thanks to social media being more of a blood sport than a dialogue. Second is how the sense of loss of control we all feel to some degree, and for some, a lack of purpose, can galvanize and fuel people into leading a charge against the powers that be - no matter who they are or what the actual facts might be. Worries become facts. And lastly, I wonder what renders some to have a fearful response to change, and others to see opportunity for good in the unknown. Why do some of us have faith that we can trust the good intentions of others and our abilities to navigate creative solutions in collaboration?

At the risk of being Debbie Downer, just for a second, I see the conflict as being the microcosm of the state of humans as a species. We are short sighted. We only care about ourselves and our own comfort whatever the cost. And we all know what that cost ultimately is. 

I’m a huge believer in the importance of increasing our contact with nature and I feel incredibly lucky to have landed in such a beautiful spot. So, I tend to think – it’s not mine to keep to myself. What a fantastic opportunity to allow us to be able to share it.

Julia’s Dad, David Graff, one of my favourite songwriters and visual artists, wrote a great song called “It’s Hard to Care”, which is frustrating because it’s such a damn good title and I so want to steal it! Itis hard to care. Sometimes I wish I didn’t. Or at least I wish my words could magically change how people think and feel – that they could open up their hearts to want to be more generous. To trust more. To have faith in their own power to make positive change. I am a hopeless optimist. Whoah, that’s quite the oxymoron!

So it’s been quite an existential roller coaster ride here in my little island paradise. Sorry to go on!

There are lots of shows coming up including some I haven’t posted yet with the HIgh Bar Gang in the summer but I generally keep the “tour” page up to date.

UNTIL THEN! HAPPY TRAILS, be kind to each other, and stay in touch