Jonathan R. Schmidt

Are diamonds bloody?

The term blood diamonds has surfaced over the last few years after it has come to light that the wealth from diamonds is fueling wars in Sierra Leone, Angola and elsewhere in the world. Tonight I read a national geographic article called ‘Diamonds, The Real Story’. The article brings to light the worldwide diamond industry and raises questions about implications of the diamond trade, which includes a hug monopoly that DeBeers is attempting to maintain. Mushkegowuk-Lands and Resources has become interested in diamonds because DeBeers is putting in a mine near Attawapiskat, which is one of our communities. Attempting to learn something about the diamond industry so that First Nations might attempt to benefit in some way appears a magnificent task. The DeBeers diamond mine is expected to last for 10 years and extract an estimated 10 billion dollars worth of diamonds and other valueables. You can watch an excellent flash presentation on the diamond industry on the national geographic site – << click here to learn more >>

NAN Chiefs meeting

Yesterday I was observing the Nishnawbe-Aski Nation (NAN) chiefs meeting at the Days Inn in Timmins. It was a bit of a cultural experience with many people speaking in Cree and an opening prayer and drum circle. Yet perhaps I’m just too impatient for meetings that I am not participating in because after a few hours my interest wore a bit thin. One thing that I have noticed at all the meetings that I’ve been at is the respect people give each other. There are very few, if any, interruptions of people when they are talking. It seems a far cry from our unrespectable house of commons with all of its mocking and riddicule for each other.

A different take on a familiar passage

The other day I was reading a daily devotional by Henri Nouwen when I read a bit of a different take on the familiar passage of letting your light shine. A passage that our College and Careers group discussed a few weeks ago. Hope it doesn’t seem too long, here it is

“We like to make a distinction between our private and public lives and say, “Whatever I do in my private life is nobody else’s business.” But anyone trying to live a spiritual life will soon discover that the most personal is the most universal, the most hidden is the most public, and the most solitary is the most communal. What we live in the most intimate places of our beings is not just for us but for all people. That is why our inner lives are lives for others. That is why our solitude is a gift to our community, and that is why our most secret thoughts affect our common life.
Jesus says. “No one lights a lamp to put it under a tube; they put it on the lamp-stnad where it shines for everyone in the house” (Matt. 5:14-15)

Martyn Joseph wins award

Martyn Joseph one of my favourite folk artists recently won Best Male Solo Artist at the Welsh music awards. Martyn Joseph is a classic folk artist going solo on guitar and sometimes harmonica as well. He’s a Christian artist who is passionate about social justice. Guess this just shows a bit of my strange taste in music.

“I’ve been working on the…

computer? Guess that’s not quite how the song goes but that’s where I’m at today, and most days lately. Since people actually read my weblog I’ve decided to post more often (thanks Mary and Darin . It’s not as if I dread working on a computer and in an office, it’s just that I’ve been thinking about how I’m not exactly beeming with passion to sit at a desk all day. I enjoy playing around on computers, but I can only do it so long. For the past couple weeks I’ve been reflecting more on my job/volunteer experience where I’ve been directly involved with youth, for example outdoor education instructor and staff at our church drop-in and how passionate I was about it. Last night after our guys bible study we got talking about community outreach ideas such as youth centres, drop-ins, Java Junction, etc. and how to reach youth. This conversation got me really thinking further about looking for work, career or whatever you want to call it, that would involve directly working with people. I don’t consider myself really “qualified” in an academic sense, and it’s quite rare that people get paid anything with youth, but who knows what God has in store. Well there’s some rambles for the day.

Snowshoeing Solitude

I’ve decided that if I’m going to get any exercise than I’ll have to do it on the weekends. So early in January I bought a pair of used x-country skis which I’ve been using almost every weekend since then. Well on Saturday I decided to get into the great white winter playground again, but this time I decided to use Job’s snowshoes, which are still in the van from when Darlene and I went. Last weekend I went skiing at Hersey Lake Conservation Area and this week I wanted to try snowshoeing on the trails. I printed off a map of the area and challenged myself to do a fairly long loop. It was indeed a challenge, but the weather was in my favour. The sun was beeming bright and the temperature wasn’t too cold, maybe -13 or so. About three-quarters of the way my right quad was beginning to act up. The high stepping motion of snowshoeing is a bit unusual and my right leg was really starting not to like it. So periodically I stopped to try to stretch it out or just take a snack or water break to rest. Since I left the parking lot I hadn’t seen a single person and I’d been on the trials for almost 2 hours by then. Because of the heavy snowfall on friday the trails appeared about totlally snowcovered at points. Eventually the I endured the minor aggravation amongst all the wonderful quietness and beauty and made it back to the parking lot. When it was all done I think I was on the trials for approximately 2 1/2 hours, maybe closer to 3. Definitely a well-spent Saturday afternoon adventure in the Timmins area.

Snowshoeing Solitude

I’ve decided that if I’m going to get any exercise than I’ll have to do it on the weekends. So early in January I bought a pair of used x-country skis which I’ve been using almost every weekend since then. Well on Saturday I decided to get into the great white winter playground again, but this time I decided to use Job’s snowshoes, which are still in the van from when Darlene and I went. Last weekend I went skiing at Hersey Lake Conservation Area and this week I wanted to try snowshoeing on the trails. I printed off a map of the area and challenged myself to do a fairly long loop. It was indeed a challenge, but the weather was in my favour. The sun was beeming bright and the temperature wasn’t too cold, maybe -13 or so. About three-quarters of the way my right quad was beginning to act up. The high stepping motion of snowshoeing is a bit unusual and my right leg was really starting not to like it. So periodically I stopped to try to stretch it out or just take a snack or water break to rest. Since I left the parking lot I hadn’t seen a single person and I’d been on the trials for almost 2 hours by then. Because of the heavy snowfall on friday the trails appeared about totlally snowcovered at points. Eventually the I endured the minor aggravation amongst all the wonderful quietness and beauty and made it back to the parking lot. When it was all done I think I was on the trials for approximately 2 1/2 hours, maybe closer to 3. Definitely a well-spent Saturday afternoon adventure in the Timmins area.

Jon getting friendly with the Timmins Police

The title of this entry relates to a story from last night while driving to College and Careers. At the beginning of the term Lyndsay graciously gave me an open invitation to use the MCC van if I needed it to get around. Well over the last few weeks I’ve noticed that one of the front headlights burnt out. I didn’t think too much of it, but I did write it on my ‘to do’ list at MCC. So ?’m driving to college and careers last night, doing about 2km below the speed limit when I look in my rear view mirror and see flashing lights on top of an SUV. The policeman came and wrote me up for a warning about the headlight, giving me 72 hours to fix the problem or else the fine will come into effect. But that wasn’t the end of the story. On the way home I saw another cop and low and behold but it too pulled me over for having a burnt out headlight-2 cops in one night catching me coming and going! Well the second cop was pretty apologetic and let me go quickly. Therefore my friday morning consisted of replacing the burnt bulb and going to the police station to show them that it was fixed in order to prevent any fines. Wow what an adventure with the police in Timmins

Blessings in Timmins

Over the last few days I’ve discovered among many things that Timmins can actually be WARM! Well, if you consider -10 warm, which is definitely warm after -40. I’ve also discovered that the people in Timmins can be quite warm and welcoming. After a few lonely weeks in January I finally hooked up with some great people that are a part of a College and Career group. So all of a sudden I have a bubbling social life with some great people from the Brethren churches in Timmins.

And I defnitely can’t forget the fun of having Darlene come and visit up here last weekend. We went snowshoeing on both Saturday and Sunday. Check back here for pictures, coming soon!