Isn't it interesting that, even after Eve and Adam ate the fruit in order to know everything, we find that we still don't know much: Why do "bad" things happen to good people? Why do people get old and die? Why do we get sick? Why does my mother have Alzheimer's disease? Why …?

Yes, we have lots more knowledge about many things, especially in the last century, when 90 percent of all scientists who ever lived are still alive, and in fields like health, where knowledge doubles every year.

But most of us realize how very much more there is to learn and unlearn before it might be possible to know why things happen as they do. And most of our knowledge hasn't seemed to help us do other than destroy the beautiful earth over which we have been given dominion. But God has reasons that are far beyond anything we can imagine.

Perhaps the role of human beings is not to know everything, but to know God by doing what Christ taught us to do: to love one another, and to learn how to listen to the instructions of the Holy Spirit, rather than to listen to our ego. And we need His power to do it in the very short time we are allotted: each moment.

Prayer: Help us to remember to let our love radiate, without concern for the results that we request, but knowing that Your will will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Teach us to hear, to understand, and to obey Your still small voice within us. Amen.

It was delightful to see the Canada's Governor-General confer the Order of Canada on Nelson Mandela last September, and to hear Prime Minister Chretien's comment to Toronto students in the Skydome that they would one day tell their grand-children that they had actually heard Mandela speak.

Most of us can barely relate to how this man could spend thirty years in prison, standing firm in suffering, and then simply forgive his enemies when he came into power.

May we continue to be blessed with politicians who choose to accept the high calling of public office and remind us of our deep spiritual nature.

Here is a short excerpt from Mandela's two-hour-long 1994 Presidential Inauguration Speech:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, "Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?"
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world.
There's nothing enlightening about shrinking so that other people feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us – it's in everyone!
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Prayer: O great I Am, thank you for setting before us the glorious examples of so many faithful men and women. May we remember to model our own lives after them, in those moments when we, too, are called to stand up for love and truth. Amen.

Isn't it interesting that, even after Eve and Adam ate the fruit in order to know everything, we find that we still don't know much: Why do "bad" things happen to good people? Why do people get old and die? Why do we get sick? Why does my mother have Alzheimer's Disease? Why…?

Yes, we have lots more knowledge about many things, especially in the last century, when 90% of all scientists who ever lived are still alive, and in fields like health, where knowledge doubles every year.

But, most of us realize how very much more there is to learn and unlearn before it might be possible to know why things happen as they do. And most of our knowledge hasn't seemed to help us do other than destroy the beautiful Earth over which we have been given dominion. But God has reasons that are far beyond anything we can imagine.

Perhaps the role of human beings is not to know everything, but to know God by doing what Christ taught us to do: to love one another, and to learn how to listen to the instructions of the Holy Spirit, rather than to listen to our ego. And we need His power to do it in the very short time we are allotted: each moment.

Prayer: Help us to remember to let our love radiate, without concern for the results that we request, but knowing that your will will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Teach us to hear, understand and obey your still small voice within us. Amen.

In my country, today is Canada Day, which celebrates 131 years of the confederation of four British colonies into the "Dominion of Canada".

It used to be called Dominion Day, and, perhaps because it occurs after schools recess for the summer, not enough has been done to explain it in schools or at public events, so we've lost knowledge of the apparently small things which form Canada's greatness. Canada was, after all, the first country in the world to gain its independence peacefully from another, which is no small thing, but we were not taught that in school.

The marvellous story of how my country's name derives from the prayer of a politician can be found in the Canadian Encyclopedia, as told by the late Senator Eugene Forsey. At the London Conference, in 1866, "the Fathers of Confederation wanted to call the new nation the 'Kingdom of Canada', but the British government, fearing the sensitivity of Americans to references to the Crown, and anxious not to antagonize them after the American Civil War, insisted the Fathers find another title."

Sir Leonard Tilley went back to his hotel room, prayed on the matter, and took out his Bible, which opened to Psalm 72:8. He suggested "Dominion", because the verse described the country as hand fits glove: "He shall have dominion from sea even unto sea, [Atlantic to Pacific] and from the great river [St. Lawrence] unto the ends of the earth [the Arctic]." Forsey continues, "The Fathers suggested that [the name 'Dominion'] was intended to give dignity to the federation, and as a tribute to the monarchical principle. Under the Constitution Act, 1982, 'Dominion' remains Canada's official title."

Most people who hear this story are truly amazed to think that a politician would actually pray! And anyone who reads history will know that they had the same reputation, if not worse, in 1866.

We really don't do justice to the elected people who give up their privacy to serve us. The odd one is a crook — and gets caught — but we spend too much time using the infrequent bad example to demean them all, rather than using it to show how well our constitutional monarchy works to protect us from bad rulers.

Let us pray in accordance with Jesus' promise: "If two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven." (Matthew 18:19)

Prayer: We give thanks for the many fine people who serve in public office, in our own country and around the world. As we pray for them each Sunday in our public worship, help us remember that they, too, pray for guidance in conducting our affairs, and that our joint prayers have always been answered. Amen.