Life Up North

I'm going to go against my previous posts about keeping my opinions to myself on things outside of faith and reading by sharing some of my recent experiences instead. I figure that if we read fiction to broaden our understanding of other perspectives that it might be worthwhile for me to share how things have been for me as a non-representative Canadian (I'm not speaking for anyone else here!) 😄

I'll be honest in that it's been tough in the last few weeks and months. I've done my best to keep up my optimism and more importantly, my hope in Christ, Who is unchanging and steadfast. Rulers come and go, nations evolve and change, and politics can swing back and forth, but God is immutable and sovereign over all things. That being said, recent geopolitical factors have resulted in an emotional toll on me and a lot of the people I interact with in my life. While I am grateful that I can place my burdens at the foot of the cross, I recognize that others in my life have valid fears and worries that can be all-consuming if they aren't able to take it to God. I, too, am prone to fall into this category, so it's a constant reminder to lift up these concerns in prayer whenever I can.

In terms of a life update, I wanted to paint an overall picture of what it feels like as a Canadian right now, where a lot of added stress is unnecessary, unwanted, and unprovoked. At the same time, I acknowledge that as a nation, we have the privilege of being able to vote, so not everything negative is solely externally generated. Both factors add to the complexity of what Canadians may face, depending on what they do, where they live, and how they choose to go about life. Thus, what I share here only depicts the things I've noticed or have had to consider, so if you know other Canadians, please ask them about their experiences as they could very well differ from mine.

I also approach this from a Christian perspective where all of this exists on a temporal basis. Ultimately, I need to hold fast to Jesus no matter the circumstances. I know that certain things will pass, but when a multitude of things are compounded at once, it's discouraging and demoralizing to face. I'll share a few examples below (I'll add sources where I can, but a lot of the general sentiments are widely discoverable across multiple news platforms).

Canadian Identity

This one brings about a sense of sorrow, not in that I hold my citizenship on earth to be more important than my citizenship in heaven, but in that it reminds me of all the times that people have been displaced from the roots of their identity and the loss which can emerge from that. Right now, having our country's identity eroded by quips, attacks, and innuendos is exacerbating political tensions and making me, as a Canadian, feel invalidated. I am not an American-in-waiting. I can see why Americans feel a strong sense of pride about their identity, but I don't believe that they would take kindly to another nation calling them names or telling them that their problems would be solved by joining another country.

Though the country I live in is not perfect, I was raised with its values and history, which are significantly different from its neighbour. It's surreal that in a country that has traditionally housed two nations within it—English and French—I can see unity and patriotism among Canadians unlike before; this is happening because we are under attack and thus, coming together. In reading through the Old Testament right now, it is heartbreaking that God's people were constantly being (and continue to be) threatened, whether it was their very existence, their faith, or their identity as a people group and nation. I only mention this as it is a problem as old as time where Canadians are now no longer exempt from such displays of hostility from a nation who was once our closest ally.

Cost of Living

This is a friendlier way to say that tariffs are coming and that this will only make it that much harder to pay for expenses. I've read a lot about the erosion of the middle class and my heart goes out to the next generation who will have such a difficult time getting themselves established in life through pursuing higher education, finding stable employment, and having the means to secure housing in a way that is safe and meets their needs. Life has not kept up with inflation, especially since the pandemic. Furthermore, many are working at jobs that offer below living wages, making it a struggle to live in the present, pay for the past, and prepare for the future. I'm thankful that in Canada, universal health care is available and that in theory, people don't need to go without medical resources (there are exceptions, but this isn't the space to go into some of those cases, so I only note this as a disclaimer). I recognize health care as a gift from God and don't want to take it for granted as political will can change this at any moment.

However, the upcoming 25% tariffs are going to make it even more challenging for Canadians who are already stretching every dollar they can. While I half-heartedly lament about how this will affect book purchases (even Canadian authors whose books are printed in the United States will have their books subject to a tariff), it impacts so much more. It's gotten to the point where it's commonplace in Canadian grocery stores to label what products are made in Canada so that people have a better idea of what items to avoid purchasing. Many Canadians have been boycotting American products; however, because not everything is made in Canada, I fear this could drive people to products made overseas that may or may not be made under similar safety guidelines. Pragmatically speaking, though, if it comes down to cost, I can see this being a more popular option than merely sticking with local products. Regardless of people's political motivations behind this boycott, it will change the nature of consumer goods and spending.

(Just to give an idea of how tariffs alone may impact books, paperbacks that were normally sold at $25 CAD could go up to $40 each book. - Source)

Politics and the Election

Politics is so polarizing now that it seems reductive to say that any one party can meet all of society's needs. All parties have faults because they are made up of imperfect people and policies. This is why I don't tend to comment on it as my personal convictions and thoughts will always be met with resistance from both sides. I struggle with this when I interact with people where politics becomes part of their identity outside of a profession and it's decidedly one-sided. Although I can understand why people passionately care about and are concerned about what's happening in their world, there can be pitfalls. Where I can sometimes see the disconnect is when people seem to be taking their activism from real life into the Internet, where "yelling into the void" doesn't necessarily effect change. I'd prefer to remain silent on here and busy in my community, so this may be the only time I offer my thoughts on this subject 😊

While I wish I could end on this light-hearted note, Canadians are now entering election season, where things are going to look and get worse in real life and online. Unfortunately, Canada has been in pretty bad shape for some time now and there is the potential for politicians and the government to take advantage of that for their own purposes, no matter the party. That being said, I continue to pray that whoever becomes the leader of Canada recognizes that they are answerable to God for how they lead. The stress of elections while facing sovereignty taunts and massive tariffs makes this a time that can be rife for exploitation, and that makes me concerned if Canadians choose to vote in a reactionary or punitive manner rather than one that is prudent (again, not specific to any party). There is a lot at stake with this next election and much need for prayer.

Safety and Movement

Living in a country that boasts the longest undefended border in the world, safe passage between nations has more or less been the experience of most travellers between Canada and the States. While I fully recognize that entrance to another country is a privilege and not a right, it seems to be even more problematic for Canadians right now. Most, if not all, of the people I've talked to have cancelled or postponed their American travel plans if they're able to do so. Truthfully, I had been toying with the idea over the past year of attending a Christian readers' retreat, but I am grateful that I never made concrete plans as that notion seems untenable now.

Honestly, I love visiting the States and have family members living there, but things feel so uncertain and unsafe that I can understand why so many Canadians are refraining from setting foot there. It doesn't help when I read accounts like this, where granted, I would only be visiting for pleasure and not business, but it can still invoke fear (lest anyone raise the concerns around people skirting the law, I can see why there are measures taken to ensure that people are in a country lawfully and am not speaking to that). All this to say that while many Canadians have gone out of their way to help Americans around times of crisis (9/11 and the California wildfires), it is unsettling that we are now all of a sudden being regarded with such suspicion. Just to put it into context, not travelling to the States is quite major for me because I've only traveled overseas once in my life, so not everyone has the option to just go to another continent. While I love exploring Canada, our infrastructure is much smaller and tourism is expensive when there are only so many lodgings, etc. and now it's expected to accommodate even more Canadians 🙃

Fear of the Future

This is one where I really need to trust God as He is in control and He knows the future. However, I can't tell you how many people I've talked to who have been legitimately concerned about their livelihoods based on what is happening down south. Since Canada is about one-tenth the size of the US, it feels like being in the shadow of an elephant and feeling the repercussions whenever the gigantic animal makes a move. The ripple effects are there and we don't have anywhere to hide. It's devastating to see people suffer emotional turmoil based on the trends they're seeing in companies, especially some that have close economic ties to both and will be doubly affected by tariffs. If people lose their sources of employment and cannot provide for their families, there will be social chaos. Adding the rhetoric that Canada is not a real country and could be subject to being taken over, the fears are valid.

As a believer, I have to temper the news with the Bible, which isn't easy when the headlines barrage me at work and at home. Yet, I see that God has had His hand on our nation. I find it meaningful that Canada's Coat of Arms is inspired by Psalm 72:8 - "May he rule from sea to sea...." This article goes into even more detail if you'd like to read about what it means for Christ to have dominion from sea to sea. God does and will have dominion over our nation, and I am thankful that despite the turmoil we face, we can rely on God's faithfulness.

Final Thoughts

You may have noticed that I haven't named names nor listed specific policies originating from political parties nor pointed to all of the corruption scandals that have blemished Canada. All of this is fairly easy to find online for those so interested. I know that some Canadians are outraged over having a Prime Minister who hasn't been elected by Canadians, but that opportunity is coming next month. I wanted to focus this piece on how it feels as a Canadian right now, living with these burdens that touch on everything from our finances to our employment to our necessary and discretionary spending. Not only are people affected economically, I've noticed (along with others I've spoken to) that there is a general edginess that has pervaded how people act and come across, also affecting interpersonal relationships.

If you're a Canadian reading this and you're feeling overwhelmed, I'm sorry. It has been tough and my prayer is that God will provide for your needs and comfort you when there are more personal implications resulting from these political decisions.

If you're not Canadian and some of this is new to you, please understand that we all have varying political opinions and that most Canadians have not asked for things to be this challenging with our neighbours. Whatever your views are, there will be people who suffer from the fallout of decisions being made, which also includes Americans who will be impacted by boycotts from sales and tourism (notably the border towns).

My hope is that there is grace and shared understanding. Christians have the opportunity to learn about what's happening around the world and to pray about it, and I can't express my gratitude enough for the international friends I've made who have been willing to hear how life has been for me. This is by no means the worst thing that can happen when compared to world history, but I am cognizant that it could be a downward path for many, which I pray can be avoided.

May God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven. His is the Kingdom I look forward to most!