Sonya Braun

Finding unity amid division

How is dividedness healed and unity built?

Making the most of Manitoba summers

The record-high heat last week kept us in our house, despite it not being air-conditioned, while my friend from India was having a great time at Grand Beach. While it’s true that some of us fare worse than others when it’s hot, I have to stop and ask myself, “Why do I tend to stay indoors when the weather isn’t just right?”

Do you do this, too? Or are you an all-weather, outdoors kind of person?

Up until recently, it has been so easy for me to get outside and work in the yard, something I love doing. Now, it’s getting all complicated (can you tell I tend to over-think?) with the addition of extreme heat and humidity, and the onslaught of mosquitoes. Yet, haven’t I spent enough time in my house over the past two years? I need help!

My hope has been, that maybe if we don’t have our air conditioner replaced, not only will we save money on utilities, we will also get outside more in the summer. Maybe not the straightforward solution I was thinking.

Bridging the divide between ‘us’ and ‘them’

Bridges. What do they do? Connect people on the opposites sides of a divide by allowing them to cross that divide.How we need bridges and bridge-builders in this time.It’s not easy building bridges. Especially over tumultuous or icy waters. Bridge-builders must understand the environmental factors. They must persevere through obstacles, including their own fear. Sometimes, as with the Confederation Bridge connecting Prince Edward Island to the rest of Canada, it can be quite a process just to decide whether to build a bridge or keep things as they are (that story can be found here: www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/confederation-bridge).Back to the present situation. The divide started gradually over the past year as people began making different choices about the vaccines that became available. Then, when vaccine mandates and passports came into being (it wasn’t that long ago), the divide became much deeper. And we can hardly recall the former days when this wasn’t so.So, what do we tend to do when there is a divide? We stick to the people on our side and view the others from a distance. When we hear something we disagree with on social media, we either stay silent or argue back, while staying firmly on “our side”. We develop an “us and them” mentality. I was recently convicted of this while listening to a sermon at church on love. The pastor declared there is no “us and them” with love — at least the kind of love described in 1 Corinthians 13, which in Greek is known as “agape”. That statement stopped me in my tracks. Was it true? I didn’t want to believe it, for I would have to change. I would have to change how I comment on Facebook, how I look at people who think differently, how I interact with them. I started to ask myself: What will my motivation be? What outcome will I desire? How will I treat people? How will I speak of people to others? Will I believe the best about them? Will I keep no record of wrongs? Will I be patient and kind, not easily angered? That day, the sermon changed my approach online. I had to stop and start over a couple of times. It’s hard to change! It will be a process, but an important one.Will you join me and others in bridge-building? Start conversations with your first intent being to understand. Listen to people’s stories. And maybe, we can come back together, crossing the divide, and move forward in greater strength and unity.Sonya Braun is a community correspondent for Springfield 

Bridges. What do they do? Connect people on the opposites sides of a divide by allowing them to cross that divide.

How we need bridges and bridge-builders in this time.

It’s not easy building bridges. Especially over tumultuous or icy waters. Bridge-builders must understand the environmental factors. They must persevere through obstacles, including their own fear. Sometimes, as with the Confederation Bridge connecting Prince Edward Island to the rest of Canada, it can be quite a process just to decide whether to build a bridge or keep things as they are (that story can be found here: www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/confederation-bridge).

Here’s to 2022…

As we enter 2022, I feel like celebrating all things good and right in the hope that we can recover these qualities in the new year. Kind of like proposing a toast to a year that has yet to reveal itself, as if it were the best year ever.So, here’s to 2022, a year of rediscovering the joy of community and togetherness, free of barriers and suspicion and full of satisfying connection.Here’s to 2022, a year of releasing fear’s grip on our minds and embracing courage for our hearts, that we may press on in every circumstance, rather than shrink back.Here’s to 2022, a year of remembering the other — whether stranger, enemy, or friend — with compassion and empathy, for everyone is fighting their own battles.Here’s to 2022, a year of restoring justice and making things right where wrongs have prevailed, where humility brings admission, apology, and restitution — and forgiveness bridges the remaining gap.Here’s to 2022, a year of resolving to seek and speak the truth, for without truth there is no clear picture of good and evil or right and wrong — no accountability, no justice and therefore no freedom.Here’s to 2022, a year of reviving the art of hospitality — of reaching out beyond our immediate circles and inviting others in.Here’s to 2022, a year of renewing our spirits through time spent in the beauty of the outdoors, in prayer and meditation, and away from the clamouring world of constant busyness, entertainment, and information.Here’s to 2022, a year of recognizing the importance of purpose and contribution in life — knowing what we are alive for — and contemplation of what happens after we die — is there more?Here’s to 2022, a year of responding to the needs around us and resourcing those who are struggling with mental health or addictions, in financial or relational crisis, being abused or neglected, despairing or lonely.Here’s to 2022, a year of resolving to travel a different path from past years — a path narrower and less travelled, requiring steadiness and perseverance and a hope and trust beyond oneself.Here’s to 2022. A brand new calendar and a fresh start. A chance to reflect. A chance to renovate. How will we be part of creating much-needed goodness this year? Aspirations are only the beginning. Hard work is required. It is not easy to change. We must admit something is wrong with what has become normal. We must be willing to leave the comforts of the familiar. And when even that is not enough, we must acknowledge our own inability and pray for strength to do what is right, reaching out to others for support.Here’s to a truly new year in 2022.Sonya Braun is a community correspondent for Springfield North. 

As we enter 2022, I feel like celebrating all things good and right in the hope that we can recover these qualities in the new year. Kind of like proposing a toast to a year that has yet to reveal itself, as if it were the best year ever.

So, here’s to 2022, a year of rediscovering the joy of community and togetherness, free of barriers and suspicion and full of satisfying connection.

Instilling important values in the young

November is a month when we remember the importance of courage, honour, perseverance, leadership, duty and sacrifice and those who embodied these qualities — our veterans.How easy it is to forget. Are we teaching our children and grandchildren these values? Are we helping them learn about the people who have gone before? If you are like me, you need help. Don’t worry if Remembrance Day is past. This can be an ongoing mission.My first suggestion is to do an internet search for Veterans Affairs Canada Remembrance. There are biographies, stories, video interviews, podcasts, and classroom lesson plans to help  you learn about the contributions of Canadians from all walks of life.Did you know that Valour Road in Winnipeg got its name after three of its residents — Cpl. Leo Clarke, Sgt.-Maj. Frederick Hall,  and Lt. Robert Shankland —earned the Victoria Cross in the First World War? Only Shankland lived to see the street re-named in 1925. I learned that at www.thecandianencyclopedia.ca. Why we have a street named for Sgt. Tommy Prince can also be found on this site.Learning about the traits of great leaders can be inspiring for young people and www.leadershipgeeks.com is full of tools, stories, and blog posts about what it takes to lead. Dwight Eisenhower, American commander of the Allied Forces in the Second World War placed great importance on planning, persuasion, and keeping anger at bay in order to think clearly. His quotes reflect that he was a thinker:“In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable;”“Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it;”“The spirit of man is more important than mere physical strength, and the spiritual fibre of a nation than its wealth;”Sometimes, as in the life of Winston Churchill, it is what you do with your weaknesses that counts. Though Churchill did poorly in school, he never stopped learning. He stuttered early in life but overcame it and is remembered for his powerful speeches. His most famous quotes reflect his persevering attitude:“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty;”“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts;”“Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never — in nothing, great or small, large or petty — never give in, except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”As we take time to remember those who fought, let us also think of ways to help the younger generation grow in perseverance, courage, honour, and leadership. That’s a legacy our veterans would fight for.Sonya Braun is a community correspondent for Springfield North.

November is a month when we remember the importance of courage, honour, perseverance, leadership, duty and sacrifice and those who embodied these qualities — our veterans.

How easy it is to forget. Are we teaching our children and grandchildren these values? Are we helping them learn about the people who have gone before? If you are like me, you need help. Don’t worry if Remembrance Day is past. This can be an ongoing mission.

My first suggestion is to do an internet search for Veterans Affairs Canada Remembrance. There are biographies, stories, video interviews, podcasts, and classroom lesson plans to help  you learn about the contributions of Canadians from all walks of life.

Let’s cultivate gratitude year-round

Giving thanks. Why is it so significant that we have a holiday dedicated to it? According to www.canadashistory.ca, Canada’s first “Thanksgiving” took place in 1578 as Martin Frobisher and crew gave thanks for a safe arrival on these shores. By the 1600s regular Thanksgiving feasts took place between the French and Mi’kmaq and included scurvy-preventing cranberries.Later, the Loyalists from down south introduced traditional foods like turkey and pumpkin/squash. After Remembrance Day was made a holiday following the First World War, the second Monday of October was declared to be “a day of general thanksgiving to almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed”. Cool history lesson, but why does giving thanks matter? What is the point of gratitude? And what if one doesn’t believe in God?A simple internet search will bring up an incredible amount of studies pointing to the benefits of gratitude. Gratitude is good for us. It’s good for our physical health in multiple ways, it’s good for our relationships, good for our personalities, good for our emotional/mental health, and even good for our careers (see www.happierhuman.com/benefits-of-gratitude). Should we seek to be grateful to reap the rewards? While that may help some get started, I think gratitude must be recognized for what it is, not what it can do. Gratitude is essentially recognizing the gifts we are given and giving thanks where it is due. What gets in the way of gratitude? Being blind to the gifts is a big one. Either we don’t see all the goodness around us at all, or we take it for granted, see it as owed to us, or view it as the result of our own accomplishment. Albert Einstein once said, “There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can live as if everything is a miracle.” The other obstacle is a lack of expressing our gratitude. We get lazy. William Arthur Ward compared it to wrapping a present and not giving it. It’s not enough to feel gratitude — we must show it. What is the purpose of gratitude? Here are some clues. Gratitude is relational. We always give thanks to a person. Gratitude is contagious. It changes the culture around us. Author Melody Beattie notes that “Gratitude can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.” Gratitude makes relationships flourish— whether human-to-human or more transcendent. You may not be so sure, but I believe thankfulness is God’s love language. Just like parents love to hear their kids being thankful, so does he. And he made it a win-win —we benefit, too.Let’s not leave thankfulness for just one day. Let’s cultivate it all year.Sonya Braun is a community correspondent for Springfield North.

Giving thanks. Why is it so significant that we have a holiday dedicated to it? 

According to www.canadashistory.ca, Canada’s first “Thanksgiving” took place in 1578 as Martin Frobisher and crew gave thanks for a safe arrival on these shores. By the 1600s regular Thanksgiving feasts took place between the French and Mi’kmaq and included scurvy-preventing cranberries.

Later, the Loyalists from down south introduced traditional foods like turkey and pumpkin/squash. After Remembrance Day was made a holiday following the First World War, the second Monday of October was declared to be “a day of general thanksgiving to almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed”. 

We must learn to stop living in fear

Fear. A healthy dose of it can keep you from doing something stupid or rash. Mothers often wish for more of that fear in some of their kids.Fear can also be paralyzing. And there are mothers who ache to see that kind of fear gone from their kids’ lives.Speaking of mothers, we are notorious for allowing our own fears to get in the way of our children taking risks - risks they need to take in order to grow.When we are in danger, it is normal to feel fear - and we are designed to experience a rush of adrenaline to help us flee, fight, or freeze in hyper-alert mode. However, we are not designed to live in fear. Fear messes with our bodies. We can’t digest our food properly or rest deeply. That’s OK when a situation warrants this response but it’s not good long-term.Fear messes with our minds. It ramps up some parts while shutting down others, such as the cerebral cortex in charge of reasoning and judgment.Fear messes with our relationships. It causes us to cling to others in unhealthy dependence, or isolate ourselves, either physically or through attitudes of suspicion and hostility. Neither is good for us. Unfortunately, many of us have been living in fear for the past 18 months; it’s like an epidemic of fear.First, there was fear of the unknown and the “what ifs.” Those fears were fed by the focus on case counts, hospitalizations and deaths. With lockdown came fear of losing work, losing business, losing the house. With masks came fear of those who didn’t wear them or fear of penalty for not wearing them, depending on where you stood. With gathering restrictions came fear of more restrictions if people didn’t comply, or fear of penalties if you didn’t comply. With vaccines came fear of not being able to travel, see loved ones, and go to concerts/movies/restaurants, or the fear of adverse effects and lifelong booster shots. With vaccine passports and vaccine mandates came fear of losing medical privacy, losing rights to bodily autonomy, or losing education, losing jobs or facing unending testing.  That’s a lot of fear.Personally, I have experienced waves of fear. But I do not live in chronic fear. I think it is because I take my fears to God in prayer. I also fill my thoughts with truth and watch how much news and social media I consume. I also try to get outside for walks, encourage people around me, and focus on what’s important in life. What do you do?If we want to thrive, it’s time to stop living in fear. It’s time for the epidemic of fear to end.Sonya Braun is a community correspondent for Springfield North.

Fear. A healthy dose of it can keep you from doing something stupid or rash. Mothers often wish for more of that fear in some of their kids.

Fear can also be paralyzing. And there are mothers who ache to see that kind of fear gone from their kids’ lives.

Speaking of mothers, we are notorious for allowing our own fears to get in the way of our children taking risks - risks they need to take in order to grow.

In celebration of summer fun

Summer fun. Those two words belong together, don’t they? In summer, I envision enjoyable activities like going to the beach, watersliding, having barbecues, exploring new destinations, and spending more time with my family.Which is perhaps why I have been struggling with how to answer people when they ask how my summer has been. Sure, it’s been relaxing and low-key. But not exactly high on the fun spectrum. All those extreme-heat and smoke days found me stuck inside more than I’d like. In front of a screen even.  Yes, I managed to get out on a walk or short bike ride in the cooler mornings - summer mornings are glorious. But the rest of my family wasn’t usually available until later.I can’t blame the lack of fun completely on the weather though. Although fun can happen spontaneously, it often takes planning.  And my brain wants to take a break from planning in summer.  Plus, planning is extra challenging when some are working, some are not. Or when one person in the family always has something planned. Or when everyone has different interests or energy levels.  I did, however, have a lot of fun recently.  Fun playing. With small children. What began as an idea to visit a young mom friend, ended up as respite for her as she packed for a trip. So my one teenager and I got to take some kids to the park for a few hours, where we pretended we were on a ship. The three-year-old and I counted while swinging. We got to hear, “Again!” (again and again) as she slid down a slide after overcoming her fears.  We had a picnic and read stories. Kicked a beach ball and looked at the pretty flowers.  We even stood by the sprinklers to cool off.  Everything is new and exciting through the eyes of a child. I highly recommend it.One morning, I was inspired to take a long walk, invite my husband to go kayaking nearby, and get my one teenager out the door on a bike ride - all before the wind picked up and a surprise rain came. One weekend, a friend invited me to the lake last-minute, and although I could have said no for good reason, I didn’t. Sometimes fun comes when we abandon caution and just say yes.There’s still a bit of summer left. If you’ve been struggling to have fun this season, maybe you need to plan for it more. Maybe you need to see the world through the eyes of a child. Or maybe you need to stop over-thinking things and just say yes to ideas in your head or opportunities that come your way. Regardless, let’s celebrate summer with fun.  Sonya Braun is a community correspondent for Springfield North.

Summer fun. Those two words belong together, don’t they? In summer, I envision enjoyable activities like going to the beach, watersliding, having barbecues, exploring new destinations, and spending more time with my family.

Which is perhaps why I have been struggling with how to answer people when they ask how my summer has been. Sure, it’s been relaxing and low-key. But not exactly high on the fun spectrum. All those extreme-heat and smoke days found me stuck inside more than I’d like. In front of a screen even.  Yes, I managed to get out on a walk or short bike ride in the cooler mornings - summer mornings are glorious. But the rest of my family wasn’t usually available until later.

I can’t blame the lack of fun completely on the weather though. Although fun can happen spontaneously, it often takes planning.  And my brain wants to take a break from planning in summer.  

Where are we now in this pandemic?

Did you ever read those Choose Your Own Adventure books? I tried, but I never took to them. I like reading stories, not making decisions. Sometimes I wonder what life would look like, if different paths had been taken. I don’t dwell there, though, because we can’t go back.  We can only move forward from here.So, where is “here”?  As I write this, we are in a race to be vaccinated, our cases per capita are the highest around, we are shipping people to out-of-province hospitals, and we are not allowed to see anyone outside of our household. It can feel a bit grim. (Fortunately, our hockey team brought us some cheer with its advance to the next round of playoffs, in a four-game sweep, no less). “Here” is mental health plummeting, businesses going under, kids trying to learn online, eight months of mandatory masking, city services halted, health care backlogged, and vital industries being crippled. It is also weary health-care workers, an over-extended public health task force, and a government trying to manage a state of emergency for over a year.Though there have been many positives for me, as well, I still fight a wave of anxiety now and then. When will things get better? When will our government decide it’s time to open things up? When will we get out of the cycle of lockdowns?Our government, along with many, has chosen to err on the side of taking utmost precautions to keep people safe from the virus. Good intentions. With significant negative consequences. Pointing fingers does no good, however. Nor does assuming we would have done better. What if we could just start with a clean slate as a province and ask ourselves, “Where do we go from here?” Difficult question. Coming up with solutions is harder than pointing out problems.  We don’t know how the adventure will turn out if we make certain choices until we take that risk. What are some possibilities?We could stop renewing the state of emergency, and instead allow businesses, organizations, and individuals to start making their own choices. That takes a lot of trust on the government’s part. I believe Manitobans, on the whole, have a high sense of responsibility and compassion for their fellow citizens, so let’s not rule it out. If we’re worried about being overwhelmed, we could try implementing more treatment protocols from around the world, and even try recommending certain vitamins and minerals for strengthening immunity. This might be a stretch for our Western mindset, but what if we tried it and it helped? And if people weren’t getting as sick, maybe we could see case numbers as a positive, since exposure is a way of achieving natural herd immunity. That, together with vaccinations, could help us move forward.My hope is that everyone in Manitoba can thrive again. It may feel risky to make changes, not knowing the outcome, but I pray that our government will have wisdom and courage to make the right decisions, whatever they may be.Sonya Braun is a community correspondent for Springfield North.

Did you ever read those Choose Your Own Adventure books? I tried, but I never took to them. I like reading stories, not making decisions. 

Sometimes I wonder what life would look like, if different paths had been taken. I don’t dwell there, though, because we can’t go back.  We can only move forward from here.

So, where is “here”? As I write this, we are in a race to be vaccinated, our cases per capita are the highest around, we are shipping people to out-of-province hospitals, and we are not allowed to see anyone outside of our household. It can feel a bit grim. (Fortunately, our hockey team brought us some cheer with its advance to the next round of playoffs, in a four-game sweep, no less). 

A sharing of beliefs

In like a lamb. Out like a lion.  That was the month of March this year.  It’s so easy to talk about the weather in Manitoba. It’s something we all experience. When it’s beautiful outside, we can rave about it together. When it’s really cold or rainy or windy, we can commiserate together.  It’s not as easy to talk about other matters.  Like our beliefs.Although more significant to our lives than the weather, we tend to shy away from talking about how we got here, the purpose of life, or what happens when we die. We rarely discuss why there is evil and suffering in the world. Maybe because we’ve been conditioned to believe it’s wrong to do in public.If this past year has taught us anything, it’s that our lives are fragile. We may have lived like we’re invincible, but we’re not. This past year has also revealed that there are many gifts in being human: love, friendship, eating together, family, recreation, joy, creativity, music, dance, hugs, laughter, sharing life with others… the list goes on. We are set apart as humans, and we take it for granted. We’ve also learned that fear is a powerful force, that peace is easily shaken, and that hope is an absolute necessity.In light of what we’ve learned in the last year, bear with me as I break all social norms and share what I believe.I believe the earth and everything in it, and the entire universe was created by God — a loving, relational being, perfect in every way, who has always existed outside of time and space. His purpose was to make a good home for the people he would make in his likeness — free to love, speak, and create. In giving them free will and the ability to love, he also allowed them to reject him and go their own way. When it inevitably happened, everything changed. Death and suffering entered the picture. Futility and pain. Separation from God.  Fast forward to the rescue plan. In came Jesus, the Son of God. In like a lamb. Suffered a cruel death by crucifixion (hung on a cross). Took on the sins of the whole world.  Dead. Buried. And then out from the tomb like a lion on the third day. Victory over death, sin, and God’s arch-enemy, Satan.  And to all who receive him, he gives the right to become children of God, the gift of eternal life, the forgiveness for self-centred ways, and the power to live transformed lives.  In Jesus, there is hope. There is lasting peace. There is freedom from fear. That’s what I believe. And that’s more important than the weather, isn’t it?Sonya Braun is a community correspondent for Springfield North. 

In like a lamb. Out like a lion.  That was the month of March this year.  

It’s so easy to talk about the weather in Manitoba. It’s something we all experience. When it’s beautiful outside, we can rave about it together. When it’s really cold or rainy or windy, we can commiserate together.  

Are truth and goodness absolutes?

In these days, do you wonder if it’s possible to find truth? Do you find yourself longing for absolutes? An anchor that stays steady when everything is shifting around you?

We’ve been living in a world of relativism for quite some time, with my truth and your truth. The idea of moral absolutes has been unpopular. The focus has turned to rights, rather than on what is right. Or wrong.

And yet, no matter how hard we try to suppress our conscience, it is still there. When we bristle at the word “sin," we still find ourselves agreeing that certain things are wrong, that there are atrocities in history. 

Immanuel Kant in his Critique of Practical Reason wrote this: “Two things fill the mind with ever increasing wonder and awe … the starry heavens above me and the moral law within me.”

Given pause for serious reflection

Recently, as my husband and I headed home after a long walk, we encountered a young man standing on the wrong side of the bridge railing. Concerned, we asked him if he was okay. He wasn’t. 

He spoke of wanting to end it all. Life was really hard for him, especially right now. I wanted to give him hope; communicate his worth. But I struggled to find words — so mostly, I listened.   

Meanwhile, my husband called 911, and the police arrived quickly and took charge of the situation, getting the young man into the safety of their car and assuring us they would find him the help he needed.

We finished our walk, and I went straight to my writing desk and wrote for a while. I wanted to be better prepared next time.