News December 7, 1986 Pulpit & Pew I was one of the almost 2,000 area residents who heard David Suzuki tell us about how our blind sccep- tance of society wants an ever higher standard of living, and trusts that new technologies will make this possible. Suzuki used Expo ds a symbol of our faith that to morrow will be even brighter and better, thanks to scien. tifie gies is threatening animal species, the environment, and planet Earth itself. Two days later I was with a handful of teenagers who had heard the same talk. They felt Suzuki had painted a pretty bleak picture, with- out offering much hope that we'll work our way out of the mess we've created. I responded to this pessi- mism by suggesting that rec- ognizing the mess is often what happens just before reaching out for a solution; just as the alcoholic has to hit the bottom in order to realize there is a problem, and a solution; just as the prodigal son had to sit down with the pigs before recognizing what a mess he was in, and de. ciding to go home. I used the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-24) with these teens as a parallel to what our society has done to planet Earth. We noticed several stages in this story. In stage 1 the son, still at home, is restless and wants an easier life. Just like our In stage 2 the son lives it up, just like so many in our society have gone for the latest gadgets, and convinced themselves that they've found the good life. With computer games and atomic weapons, we're obviously happy and secure. Right? In stage 3, the son's money is gone, and he ends up tending pigs. Suzuki reminded us of some of the signs that our all-out uneritical acceptance of modern technology is backfiring on us: large-scale environmental accidents, growing unemployment, de creasing security from nu clear attack, and so on. Maybe these threats will turn out to be the pigs that bring us to our senses. That was stage 4 for the prodigal son. The story says, “he came to himself.” There are signs that our society is realizing we have to become critical and selective about technologies we employ. All of this growing worry may end up causing us to wake up and do something to reverse the present trend. In the last stage, when the son returns home, he doesn't expect much of a welcome. Survival on a relatively full stomach is all he asks for. He is surprised at the welcoming BUSINESS DIRECTORY TELEPHONE 365-5210 New insertions, copy ch for the C Directory will be accepted up ry rs p.m. Dec. 30 for the month of jeden love he just as there have been occasions when science has been sur. prised with how quickly our environment can repair itself when given a chance; just as there are some who tell us the road to world peace is as near as a change of thinking in the minds of a few score world policy-makers. Pleas ant surprises may be more possible than we think. I wouldn't want to be taken to mean that the prodigal son story promises a clean, MOROSO, MARKIN & BLAIN CERTIFIED GENERAL ACCOUNTANTS 241 Columbia Ave. Castlegar Ph. 365-7287 peaceful, satisfying 21st cen- tury. That's not the point of the story. It was told to encourage us to turn from our foolish ways and return to the welcoming arms of God. Surely that call to return applies not just to indivi- duals, but to societies as well. Our society easily could come to its collective senses and leave our grandchildren the legacy of a relatively healthy, secure and happy life. As Suzuki implied in his address, there is still time to make that choice, starting with you and me. Got party problems? LOS ANGELES (AP) — You've got six friends coming for dinner and you've never given a dinner party. ed Cheers! Entertaining with Esquire, has arrived just in time for the holidays. “Giving a party is one of those things that seems com- pletely overwhelming from the outside,” said Devon Fredericks, host on the video. “But I know a lot of people who love to give parties once they get started,” she said. “We take giving a party and break it down into mana- geable components.” Fredericks is a former cat erer and party planner who manages the executive din- ing room for a major corpor. ation in New York. “Giving a dinner party is a complicated thing,” she ad- mits. The key, she said, is plan- ning. The video leads the amateur party giver step-by step through the process, from invitations to menus, from food preparation to cre- ating a warm ambience for the guests. Cheers! retails for $14.95 U.S. The 30-minute video al- so includes a 24-page book of menus, recipes and a supply checklist. “Esquire is the only maga. zine with a video division operated by the company.” said Jim Long, assistant cre- ative director of Esquire. Long said videos such as the one on party-giving are drawing the interest of spec- ialty shops. “Bridal stores could offer the cay asa gift to brides,” he said. “Or gourmet food shops could stock the video. Our fitness videos could be offered by sporting goods stores and health spas.” Home videos have become an important alternative to regular television viewing in the last few years. They have become such big business, Long says, videocassettes are turning up in such places as book stores, hardware stores and supermarkets. Brian L. Brown CERTIFIED GENERAL ACCOUNTANT 270 Columbia Ave. Castl Auto Rentals AVIS Vehicles Available to ICBC Claimants LOCATED A! Alspert Terminal Adectre Aviction — 365-2313 Carpet Cleaning CLEAN-SCENE * ROTARY-JET STEAM EXTRACTION (TRUCK POWERED) © UPHOLSTERY CLEANING © WATER & FIRE DAMAGE CLEAN-UP SPECIALISTS 365-6969 Restaurants “This is my rent check. Make sure it circles the globe a few times.” Draperies Ph. 365-2151 SOLIGO, KOIDE & JOHN CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS 615 Columbia Ave. (Upstairs) Castl Phone 365-7745 Henry John, B.Sc. C.A Resident Partner There are even vending machines. “Bilent Night, Christmas Song Sheets are available from the 197 Columbia Avenue Holy Night” The Castlegor News hos ogreed to be my helper this yeor ond receive letters trom you to me These letters will be published ino special edition on December 15. in plenty of time tor me to reod them RUNATRAAAL NAN ALANNA In your BEST hondwriting (or printing). write your letter to Sonta and mail it to Remember to be Dear Boys ang Girls . TT’