I had a dream….one miserable night I walked through the pitch dark forest, frozen, hungry and lost, when eventually I came to a clearing where a light shone way off in the distance. As it guided my freezing body this light grew in brightness and just the sight of it alone warmed me up a touch. “What is it with this mysterious light” I thought to myself and the answer gently blew in the wind.
“This is the city you’ve been searching for, the city that will warm you up and feed you and look after you, it is the emerald city, a jewel like no other” and with that thought I picked up my pace and made good time, with my heart picking up a beat, my cold hands started to tingle with warmth. The closer I came to this bright city, the more I was able to distinguish that this city was huge. With certain variations of light, specs of brightness here and there, all white in their own various ways.
“What are all these various shades of white colours I thought to myself” and again the answer blew barely audible in the cold breeze. “These are the ones that have been helped, they shine a brilliant white, these are the ones that have given, they shine a dazzling white, these are the ones that have prayed, they shine a magnificent white, these are the ones that have parted with self to help you, they shine a sparkling, milky way white.
This is your city, this is the emerald city, it has been prepared for you, and it is waiting for you.” And as I ran to the city I was reminded that this city, our city, is a bit like heaven and then I woke up ….. That’s what it was like this last year for a lot of folks in our city, our Kelowna, shining like a bright star in the BC interior for all who seek it. You made the light shine a dazzling bright white. Thank-you Kelowna.
Written by:
Karl Heinitz, Director of Emergency Services.