Delivering DANIEL, my very own elephant, and how to hate meetings less.
Three things (coming at you early on purpose) this week and a poem about presence.
I’m switching up the order of my posts this week and sharing a Three Things today (I normally post the link round up with a poem on the weekends).
The Christian Post is publishing another op-ed I wrote this coming Saturday, after it was announced this week that the Canadian government is pausing MAiD expansion for another year. So I’ll post that here on the weekend.
If you missed my op-ed from last week, you can read it here.
Thanks for sticking with me as I’ve focused on MAiD the last few weeks. It’s a crucial conversation we need to have as a society and so I’ve done what I can on my tiny little corner of the internet to be heard.
Grateful, always, that you stop in here. Here’s to a week of life and hope! Now to the links.
1. Delivering Daniel
This week over at UnveilTV we shared a first look at the new film we’re bringing to life. The first footage, a proof of concept for audiences and investors alike, was shot in India in December.
The story follows the young royal Daniel and his friends who are forced into exile by the powerful Babylonian king who seeks to remake the world. They are thrown with other royals from conquered kingdoms into a power-hungry world of captives who vie for influence with Nebuchadnezzar. And it’s here they learn what it means—and what it costs—to stand for truth.
Catch the first look behind the scenes, and stay tuned for more over at our Substack and UTV site.
3. My very own elephant
This week I can’t seem to escape elephants. At bedtime the stories have touched on elephant life spans (70 years), daily food intake and outtakes—350 pounds of excrement a day, friends!—and trunk utility (they can do everything).
And then this video came up into my feed:
It did make my day! Can you imagine if each of us were paired with an elephant when we were born and could bond for life as we sojourn these 70+ years? What a gift that would be to humanity!
3. How to hate meetings less
I attended a presentation by Priya Parker, the meeting guru who is all about making gatherings more intentional. It was great!
I love creating moments and experiences where people feel comfortable in their own skin, spend time together in ways that bring meaning, and have purpose. Sadly, a lot of the meetings we attend, especially online, don’t live up to that.
Parker’s presentation made me think about the meetings I’m responsible for, the ones I’ve inherited, and the ones I attend.
If, like me, you attend a lot of meetings, her content might inspire you.
Getting poetical
As we venture into a new film project about exiles over at UnveilTV, my mind went to a poem I wrote about Joseph, the son of Jacob. His thoughts in the forgotten prison cell as he wasted away. After the betrayal of his brothers. After the betrayal of his master’s wife. After the promises and dreams.
Here’s a poem about presence (from my book The Many Dreams of Joseph).
he was there
he was there
in the night
when shadow
pulled upward
against the textured
stone
hidden from light
by one bent
one whispering
wick
memory the
scent of myrrh
the scent of
of resin
when days
slowly carved
their mark
into years
names and
faces
forgotten
as fear
became the
language
of the heart
there
Yes please to having a baby elephant friend for life 🐘🙋🏼♀️