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Home My WebLink AboutClinton News Record, 2014-05-07, Page 17Through the Stained Glass I love the story of the Emmaus Road. It is one of those great stories of Easter and the Resurrected Christ that gets a little less atten- tion than most. We all know the story of Mary encountering the Risen Christ in the garden and we wonder how she could fail to recog- nize him. We are familiar with the story of Jesus appearing to his disciples in an upper room, and how the absent Thomas doubted the story his friends told him and demanded his own proof. But the lesser known story of two unknown disciples walking home to Emmaus may have far greater implications for us as we live out our lives in our own time and place. These two, one named Cleopas, the other never identified by name, have followed Jesus, seen him do miraculous things and heard him give awe inspiring sermons, all the while introducing people to the concept of a Loving God who wants nothing more than to be loved in return. They have placed their hope for a free Israel, for justice and honour, in this man they believe to be their Messiah. They have also watched as he died on the cross, executed by the same oppressive regime they thought he was there to save them from. Their hopes and dreams are dashed. Yet, that morning, they heard rumours. Some women have gone to the tomb and found it empty. Some claim to have actually seen and spoken to a resurrected Jesus. It is all too much to comprehend, and as these two friends walk home, they are discussing all these things and trying to make sense of it all. Along the way they are joined by a stranger - someone who doesn't seem to know of the events they are discussing, but who has a great insight into their scriptures. Bit by bit, this stranger explains how every- thing they believe in, for as far back as any- one can remember, has lead to this moment in time. It had to be this way. Why can they not see it? As they reach the gates of their home town, the stranger prepares to leave them, but they beg him to stay. As they later realize, all day, as he has talked with them, they have begun to feel better, to heal, to understand. Their hearts have been burning within them. Yet, even still, they fail to recognize who it is that has joined them on their journey. Only as they sit down to share a meal together, when their guest picks up the bread from the table, blesses it, and breaks it for them to share, do they realize it is Jesus. He is risen! He is here! And in that moment, he dis- appears; their immediate need fulfilled, he vanished to go help someone else. At any given time, any one of us could be that unnamed disciple walking our journey home; distraught, grieving, hurt, without hope. It could be the loss of a loved one that burdens us on the road, or a medical diagno- sis, marriage troubles, financial uncertainty, wayward children or aging parents; the list is almost endless. During these times of stress, sadness, and grief, we walk along, head down, embroiled in thought and worry, and Jesus joins us on the road. He speaks words of comfort, Canada sending troops to Poland QM! Agency Canadian soldiers will take part in NATO mili- tary exercises in Poland, in response to the dete- riorating situation in Ukraine, Prime Minister Stephen Harper says. Harper said the exercises are in response to "the Putin regime's persistent military presence and illegal occupation of Crimea and other parts of the Ukraine which threatens the civility and security of eastern and central Europe." The prime minister made the announcement during a news conference Friday in London, Ont., where he visited a community college and rolled out details of a federal youth internship program. Fifty soldiers from the Princess Patricia Light Infantry based in Edmonton will take part in the exercises next week near northwestern Polish town of Swidwin. They'll practise parachuting, airborne BEC HURON �.r operations and infantry skills alongside their Polish and American counterparts. Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird denies that the latest deployment of Canadian Forces to East- ern Europe is meant as sabre -rattling to scare Russia. "We want to send a very loud, clear and tangi- ble message that the alliance is strong and stands ready to honour the commitments that we've made collectively and to each other," Baird said in Ottawa. Earlier this week, Canada sent six CF -18 fighter jets to Romania to help patrol the skies of NATO member countries threatened by Russian aggres- sion in the Ukraine. Hundreds of Canadian Forces supporting per- sonnel also made the trip. The frigate HMCS Regina is also being re- deployed from an anti -piracy mission in the Ara- bian Sea to the Eastern Mediterranean to help bolster a NATO naval force in the region. HURON SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE CENTRE nsiainu Small Business Grant " n. Are you 18 —29? Are you currently running a business? Do you have a business idea? Want to purchase an existing business? $ 5,000 may be available to help you start, grow or purchase your business. Come to an information session at the Huron Business Centre in Seaforth: Thurs May 8th-2-4pm or 7-9 pm Wed May 28th-2-4pm or 7-9pm Thurs June 12th-2-4pm or 7-9 pm http://www.huronsbec.ca Cali to Register 519-527-0305 Wednesday, May 7, 2014 • News Record 17 encouragement, and wisdom. We may not recognize him at first. We may mistake him for a stranger, a nurse, a friend, or a neigh- bour. But whether or not we recognize the source, something within us changes. If our hearts fail to burn as those disciples in Emmaus, they at least warm a little. Our own spirits are lifted, our steps fall a little lighter and we begin to heal. And if we ask Jesus to stay, he will, for as long as we have need. In human form, Jesus could only be in one place at a time, healing one wound, one pain, one grief. But in sending the Holy Spirit, Jesus assured that there would always be that Holy Presence to walk with us on our road, whether the road is dark and riddled with pitfalls, or rising up to meet us in sunshine and in joy. The great message of the Easter season is that we never walk alone. Thanks be to God. — Colin Snyder is the pastor at Brucefield Community United Church Huron -Bruce to receive $249,000 in Summer Job program funding The federal government has announced $249,000 in funding to help local students gain access to summer jobs. Huron -Bruce MP Ben Lobb made the announcement on May 1 on behalf of Minister of State for Social Development Candice Bergen. According to a media release, 108 organizations in Huron -Bruce will be receiving over $249,000 in Canada Summer Jobs funding to hire approx- imately 130 young people. "Canada Summer Jobs helps stu- dents gain the skills and experience they need to be successful, now and in the future, while earning money for the upcoming school year," the media release stated. In 2014, the Canada Summer Jobs program is expected to create approx- imately 35,000 jobs, while helping employers address skills shortages. "Creating summer jobs for stu- dents benefits not only youth and employers, but also local economies across the country. Canada Summer Jobs is yet another excellent example of how our government is creating jobs and economic growth," Lobb said in the media release. INTRODUCING.... Proudly Serving... Bayfield, Clinton and Seaforth and Surrounding Area.... AIPX Reliable Realty Inc. 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