On Tuesday, May 29, 2024, Moon River residents had their Annual General Meeting (AGM). I have some good news to announce from that meeting. I may not be all wine and roses, but neither am I all thorns and tears, I’ll have you know. I discovered that someone cleaned up the Kush horse paddock #1 – after several years of vexation. I understand the Municipal District of Willow Creek gave Moon River a helping hand. Whoever did it, I thank you. I suspect Stephen Harris and perhaps Andy Dormaar helped implement the operation. Thank you, fellows, as well, if so.
See how nice and accommodating I can be? No need for unfriendliness or chafing. No need for dark countenances or silent treatment. I didn’t earn it and don’t deserve it. I’m sure, at least hope, y’all can appreciate messes cleaned up. Mostly, some just don’t like being strongly, and especially publicly urged to do what’s needed. Call me, “importunate,” if you will. Sounds more “Biblical.” I can be like a “nagging wife,” but we can all agree that some nagging partners are necessary and can serve profitably withal.
For all I know, Miriam Dekker was also involved. I haven’t heard, but I hope so. If not, I still hope she and Annette will move on to finishing the paddock situation by closing it down and doing everyone a good service, including their horses. Well overdue.
At least two other vacated paddocks still need cleanup – #9 and one other; however, these acts of improvement do little to nothing for the horses still suffering in the last two actives of the ten paddocks. The horses stand lonely, and their environment demonstrates the condition of their sad, desolate souls. It is a shame to subject these animals to such merciless conditions. To do it for status, pride, sport, profit, hobby, or any other unworthy purpose makes it all the worse.
The paddocks must be shut down. God have mercy on these creatures, and on the community in general, which is ultimately responsible, as well.
By God’s grace, I was the one who finally stepped up to condemn it. No bragging; just stating facts with sobriety. It’s my job. The despicable paddock situation has been a nuisance and vexation for years. So, with the good news that the paddocks are getting cleaned up, and in hopes of progressing to the finish, I have a question: Does anyone presume it would have happened this past week if I hadn’t pursued the matter? I don’t believe there’s anyone with honesty and knowledge who could deny it.
Before I proceed further, let me bring in a Scripture that I opened my Bible to for Marilyn’s and my daily reading:
“Therefore, since through God’s mercy, we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the Word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.
“And even if our good news is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the Gospel that displays the glory of Christ, Who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, Who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:1-6).
It was Paul the apostle who wrote those words to the saints in Corinth and he included himself with many ministers of God. By God’s grace, Marilyn and I are rightly included.
Now, this community annual general meeting (AGM) is extraordinarily special for us, not only for the news of the paddock being cleaned up. There’s much more. Our next-door neighbor, Angela Suntjens, with whom I had had a bizarre and unpleasant conflict a couple of years ago, came to me after the meeting. She had just been voted out of her position as vice president of the association after one term. A member of the association, Jayne Bury, had nominated Rebecca Foss, a newcomer to Moon River, to replace Angela as vice president, and the vote was carried in Rebecca’s favor.
But for now, I’ll relay part of my conversation with Angela. She appeared to be willing to have a friendly conversation. Upon confronting her with some elements of our conflict, Angela humbly admitted her wrong and apologized to me. Wonder of wonders. I was surprised. It was so unexpected. And I don’t believe it was merely because she suffered a defeat in the election. Marilyn and I were perceiving something greater and better going on, something that had been working in her well before the meeting. Are we mistaken?
A sincere confession, admission of guilt, and apology are something of a rarity nowadays, particularly with people who don’t profess Jesus Christ as Lord. What’s worse is that those who profess faith in Christ rarely apologize for their wrongs. For shame! You know who I’m talking about. And a mere apology will not correct blasphemy.
I spoke bluntly with Angela, she listened, and we made headway to what I dearly hope will lead us from a lengthy and unpleasant standoff of enmity to something very good ahead.
Angela, that evening I gladly accepted your apology. Marilyn and I are thankful for it and will endeavor to work with you from there. However, I want to give you a heads-up. I’ll be discussing what has gone on between you, us, and God. I want to tell everyone the whole story, for good, for your sake, and others’ sake for purposes of instruction, edification, and God’s Glory. It will be good for all, you will know it, and ultimately, so will everyone else.
If you don’t resist God’s mercy and forgiveness because of pride or social discomfort, it will pave the way for your blessing. What could be as good as that? Don’t let anything deter or rob you of it. It is God’s will for you. I would like to speak to Jimmy here, as well.
I’ll bring up one item from the past for now. After that altercation we had between us that set things on the wrong and trying track, you said to Jimmy, your husband, as you two walked by our house looking at me in the window, “There’s the Devil!” I mentioned it, and you remembered and readily admitted it. You were honest! Wow!
Sometime before that, when you first moved to Moon River, you had asked me what I did, and I told you I was a man of God. I have rarely personally done that at Moon River in our 36 years. “That’s nice,” you replied with a bit of discomfort, cynicism, and condescension, which I had expected.
Has it gone well for you since your stance against me? You began to discover otherwise. God was not pleased.
Stephen Harris once said, “They [the people of the community] know you’re right, but must you tell everyone God is your hitman?”
Though I wouldn’t use his words to describe my relationship with God, I answer, “Yes, I must.” It’s been proven again and again and will continue to be proven. Those who don’t believe it and take issue with it will find out. Several have suffered the consequences and still don’t know what hit them. I have more to say on this in future issues, Lord willing.
Didn’t the Lord promise He would “come as a thief?” There’s more to be said about that. Soon to come, Lord willing, in the next issue of the Monocle. With fear and trembling, I’m looking forward to it. How about the rest of y’all? I will be truthful and honest, bold and direct.
The command for reality, truth, and decency in Moon River is here. The Lord is finished winking. For the honest and well-meaning, there is nothing to fear; for those who have selfish interests and something to hide, there’s plenty to fear. No threats or intentions of action, just the truth.
Victor Hafichuk