Ready To Help

Dear Stephen, Michael and Dean;

I am A Canadian. I am a concerned resident of Peterborough, Ontario and Dean Del Mastro is my MP.

I am writing to ask if there is some way I might suggest that “we” can find a way that “you” can work together in a better way in this coming few months. As Canadians we are watching as the soon approach of the end of January is coming and the resuming of Parliament will take place under your leadership.

I would like to suggest a simple story that may help you see how “we” can work together better.

My Story…
The setting… I whisk you to a place quite a few years ago when the Winter was very cold and our family lived in a remote part of early Canada. Through some tragedy we lost our log home to a fierce fire that raged for hours.

Two leaders lived in the community at just the right time. These leaders were well known for being able to build and everything that they had done had been excellent up to that point in time.

The community neighbors met to discuss the events that had taken place for our family. All the community decided to contribute a portion of their own goods and even their labor to help us re-build the home. Everything was ready and we could build – but none of our community knew how to build – except for the two leaders that we have living among us.

The reports had come to state that the winter coming would be extremely harsh. It was not a good time to be without a sturdy home. Everyone was aware of what was happening and what potentially could take place for those of us in trouble.

After a community decision was made to appoint the two very good leaders to lead this project we were all happy.

But information began to come our way and our personal tragedy was made worse. Time was slipping by and the winter days worsened. The leaders were fighting over who would lead. One refused to sit with the other to even talk. The other made things worse by giving his personal views to everyone whenever he could about how bad the other leader was. Worse yet reports came to all of us that one leader had been in contact with people that start the fires that burn houses down.

Who would we trust?

Disgust began to take control of the whole community. Imagine – these leaders cannot get together to get the job done. The whole community was discouraged and feels complete loss.

I pause here in my simple story to say… that the leaders kept fighting over whom would do what. We simply had to find other places to live until the weather changed and things improved. As a community we lost faith in the two great leaders and wondered why anyone even thought they could lead – let alone that they would lead us out of the terrible problems that we faced that fateful year.

Today…
Stephen, Michael and Dean, may I suggest a radical approach as a possible answer to our present head locking issues in Ottawa?

Why not have members of Michael’s men and women sit with Stephen’s men and women to discuss the huge problems that we are all facing in our communities? First we have to stop the stupid fighting! Then we can tackle the Financial Issues at hand.

Could it be that Michael’s people would have good suggestions as to how we would face this present crisis of finances? Could it be that Stephen’s people might have some good suggestions as to how we would face this present crisis of the finances as well?

Imagine if both sides could put something of value on to the table and every idea could be included – we might get some where soon. We might be an example for other countries to work together.

I know as a Pastor and leading people all these years – if each can contribute something of value – everyone will vote for it and be happy.

How could Michael’s people say that is ridiculous – if it is their idea? How could Stephen’s ideas be rejected if his people put them in as well? Together they might be somebody… alone they are not.

If we talked about the ideas and looked carefully at the problems as big as they are – it is very likely that there is only one answer. We need to build a “sturdy home” for all of us to survive the coming hard winter.

If we don’t talk about the problems and soon come up with an answer – it will be too late.

On the side…
In Peterborough we have some great Pastors. These men and women have lead multi-million dollar community endeavors. They are very good at what they do. They listen to people that are squabbling in families all the time.

If you as a “Government Family” are not able to get along, I am offering you a Team of Peterborough Expert Counselors – TOPEC – that would be willing to come to Ottawa and listened to both sides of your great families. I am sure that we could come up with some kind of solution where we could work together. (Now if there are other Ministers closer to Ottawa - that would like to join us... they are very welcome.)

I plead with you as a Concerned Canadian – “Let’s find some way to work together… PLEASE!”

Ready to help,
~ Murray Lincoln ~