April 29, Easter 5B (Acts 8:26-40; 1 John 4:7-21; John 15:1-8)
We are divided. We do not abide each other well.
The province in which I live has halted the import of wine from our neighboring province. More than 17 million bottles came to Alberta tables from British Columbia last year. That’s a lot of grapes, a lot of vines, and 70 million dollars. At dispute is the westward export of Alberta energy products through the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion. British Columbia has imposed restrictions on bitumen shipments that would flow through the expanded pipeline from Alberta to the West Coast. #PinotNotPipelines, says the Twitter slogan.
Transporting gas, oil, and bitumen creates ecological risks for rivers, wildlife, and people. It’s an enterprise fraught with political acrimony. Across the continent we are on opposite sides of pipeline rallies, demanding that government and industry hear our arguments.
We are divided. We do not abide each other well.
