Nowruz and Point Petre Conservation Area

 

Our congregation, Trenton United Church. has been able to take advantage of our region's Green zone status (only 3 cases of COVID-19 in the past 8 days) to reopen for worship. We've been at every service since Ash Wednesday but today we decided to head elsewhere.

We made our way to Point Petre Wildlife Conservation Area, as far south in Prince Edward County.as you can get.  It is a beautiful area jutting into Lake Ontario with its own micro-climate and flora. In a few weeks we'll return because the wildflowers are astonishing in Spring. There are interesting limestone rock formations to explore. 

                                                                                  Here!

As we drove, we talked about our awareness for the first time yesterday of Nowruz, the Iranian or Persian New Year. It is celebrated by hundreds of thousands of people around the world on the Spring Equinox and has foods, and practices related It is a  secular holiday for most who observe it although there is a faith element for Zoroastrians, Bahiais, and some Muslim communities. It's believed that the Magi, who traveled to find the toddler Jesus, were Zoroastrians from Persia. 

I think it's wonderful that there is a religious festival which celebrates the Equinox and ties it to the New Year, I'd vote for March 20/21 over January 1st any time. 

Near the end of our ramble we stopped along the shore and built a fire in an existing pit, using some kindling we'd brought with us. As is happens, Nowruz has a ritual of fire building, which we like, but we decided to abstain from the fire-jumping which is part of the ritual. Ruth continues to be quite nimble, but my ancient knees would definitely not comply.

We gave thanks to the Creator while we looked out to the lake and enjoyed the absence of human noises until more visitors arrived. We also watched a mink make its way along the shore, then into the water to catch its lunch. They are remarkable swimmers and divers. 

I'm sure worship was meaningful at Trenton UC today, yet we felt we were in the right place. And yes, we did extinguish the remains of our fire. 

                                                                           Point Petre Fire