Exploring Canada’s Stunning Maritime Provinces

Harkening from North Dakota and New Hampshire, respectively, Bryn and I have always been wooed by the cool summer weather and laid back pace of much of Canada – and that’s especially true of Canada’s Maritime provinces. This summer, we packed up the van, threw in our kids, and headed north in search of adventure. Eight days and 2,000 miles later, we returned to the States with a wealth of memories and more than a few photographs.

Though we had originally intended to visit all the maritime provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador), we ended up trimming the trip back (once before the trip, and another time, during. thanks to unfavorable weather). In the end, our time was split about 75/25 between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Even that proved a bit ambitious, and we’ve decided in the future we’ll make sure to do two overnights in each area so that we don’t spend quite so big a percentage of our time driving.

And while I’m far from a world traveler (I can count the number of countries I’ve visited on one hand) nonetheless, I am always struck that, even in our differences, we are so very much alike. The differences are plain enough – In Canada, for example, you pay for gas by the litre, and while $1.71 might seem like a bargain, when you realize there’s about four of those to a gallon, you swallow hard! We discovered candies are different too – even recognizable brands like Kit Kat taste and look a bit different in Canada. But, when you get past that thin veneer, what you find are people who are a lot like you. And whether they’re the owner of a beautiful coastal estate, or are living in a tarp-covered one-room makeshift home, their greatest need is one we all share – namely to find forgiveness and escape wrath through the gift of God’s grace manifested in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

“There is no one like You among the gods, O Lord, Nor are there any works like Yours. All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, And they shall glorify Your name. For You are great and do wondrous deeds; You alone are God.”

Psalm 86:8-10, NASB 1995

And as sure as the day is long, there is a day coming when all nations will come and worship God. One day, people from every tribe and tongue and nation and people will fall before the throne and worship (Revelation 7:9). And how will God accomplish this? Note the similarity in Christ’s Great Commission:

“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:18-20, NASB 1995

As we go out – whether it’s down the street or a continent away, might we ever and always be on mission, sharing the love of Christ and the good news of the Gospel in word and deed, until that day comes!

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