Life Enters In

The past weeks have been one endless round of activity following another. The holiday season was pandemonium - a calendar chock-a-block full of events, responsibilities, with precious family times squeezed in where possible. Then it was off to Sudan for brief time to watch over our various developments projects referred to earlier in this blog. The days since returning from Africa were largely spent in Ottawa, engaged in broad consultations on international development culminating in the national roundtables I hosted in Parliament last week.I'm not unique. Though most MPs disagreed fully with prorogation (including a number of Conservatives), representatives from all parties have kept their schedules full in events in either their ridings, in travel, or in Ottawa. For me, things got more complicated as I struggled to get over a bout of malaria that first hit me in Africa.Politics is like this. For all the complaints about politicians that roam about these days, the challenge of juggling family, constituent work, community involvement, travel and Ottawa commitments is something even the media admits is exhausting. We're not always successful as MPs at getting it right all the time.And then something comes along that sets things in proper order again, effectively setting the compass to true north. Here in North Bay, Ontario, I spent the day in hospital yesterday with my third grandchild, Annie, born to my oldest daughter Kathy Joy. It was marvellous. Seeing Kathy wheeled into her room following the delivery, knowledge of the privilege of having seven children and now three grandchildren filled me with emotion. Then it was off to a television interview at the local station and a speaking event at the Nipissing University, before returning to the hospital room. These are special moments when politics neatly falls into second place. Most reading this post will know exactly what I'm talking about. Nothing, absolutely nothing, beats responsibility to family, and the politician who remembers that is blessed indeed.One sage philosopher observed: "Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see." To my daughter, I couldn't be prouder or more profoundly moved by the sheer love and courage you displayed during those remarkable hours. And to Annie? I pledge my best efforts as a Grandad at keeping Canada a place you can be proud of - at home and abroad. Your future of peace, prosperity and development, my commitment.