On January 31, 1975 in my 31st Year, I quit my position printed on my Business Card reading, “National Marketing Representative, Mining Division, Dominion Engineering Works ltd. of Montreal, without having secured another Position. DEW was so big, they poured steel in their metal foundry. I was hired a year earlier to sell Ball Mills to Mining Industries, essential in separating the desired mineral from the rock on a massive conveyor belt scale. They were VERY EXPENSIVE costing over $100,000 in 1974 Dollars.
I soon realized I was misled about the Position. It was nothing like the Title on my DEW Business Card. I learned a Canadian or American Mining company would not open a new Mine in CanaDa when the cost of Labour was $30/hr + in salary and Benefits to operate, not including the cost of the necessary expensive equipment to start a new Mine. This was before US-CanaDa Free Trade, NAFTA – North American Free Trade, and Globalization of the Economy. It was much cheaper and much more profitable for Business to go to the 3rd World and pay the workers $2/hr with NO Benefits.
It turned out I was hired to prepare Sales Proposals and Production Scheduling within the Plant. I did not sign up for that! The Export Marketing Representative was flying all over the World. Business was booming for the 3rd World Countries.
Recognizing if this was happening in such a primary manufacturing industry, other manufacturing industries would go the same route causing great disruptions in our system.
I hated the job and it showed by my lack of interest and quit!
The next Day, February 1, 1975 was an extra-ordinary, extra special Day for me. To use the commonly known phrase, It was to my great surprise and awesome wonder I was “BORN AGAIN” that Day by the Spirit. To me, it was a clear delineation in my personal Life BC and AD. I didn’t know it then but now I know God chose me to be one of God’s Chosen in these Times. The Chosen People of ancient Biblical History are dead and gone. The Living God is choosing People all over the World to be effective Representatives in Today’s World.
Though my body is 78, Spiritually for me, I live in the Year of the Lord 37 AD learning the Ways of The Christ Spirit for these Days, while the World of Business operates in this Year of The Lord 2022.
Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
John 1
I was born May 21, 1944, making me a Gemini according to the Flesh, but born again February 1, 1975 making me Aquarius according to the Spirit. Up to that Day I was like the majority of the People. Self-seeking, materialistic, earth bound. Sexual fantasies, money and things pulled my strings.
I never thought about God. I made no room or Time for God in my Life, in my thoughts, in my Reality. God did not exist to me in my self-centred life. I did not go to church and the only time I talked with believers was when Jehovah Witnesses or Mormon Missionaries knocked on my door. Even so, I always had a decent respect for all others whose path in Life crossed with mine.
I was already upbeat since I was going to seal the deal to take possession of a 5 room Dream apartment in the heart of Montreal decorated by a French Canadian artist that was well laid out with large rooms and really beautifully furnished. Moving to Quebec City, he was turning over the apartment with artwork and furnishings for $1000. The rent in 1975 was $69 a month plus oil heat and hydro in downtown Montreal.
Arriving with a wealthy Jewish friend to make the final arrangements, after taking care of business, we got into an intense discussion of Society, Morality, Politics and Religion. In other words, the Human Condition, Life and Death, War and Peace on Planet Earth.
I was sitting back listening to them passionately go at it, when at a certain point, it was as if a veil was removed from my eyes, and with the sound of rushing water, within myself I felt and thought, ‘God! You’re alive! You exist! You really exist!’ In a Spiritual sense of another dimension, I came alive to God or God came alive to me that Day. From that moment on, I began communion with God and Christ in me. Because I did not understand exactly what was happening, I said nothing to the others who did not have the same experience.
I had experienced much in my life but never anything like this. At 24, in 1968 dollars I was making $25,000. This bought me the stuff that costs $215,000 in Today’s dollars. At that day you shall know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. John 14:20
What I didn’t know then, was there was a long period of time preparing the ground for me to Spiritually, Mentally, Emotionally and Socially accept the God of Abraham still Lives!
Part of that preparation I understood only with the benefit of hindsight can be seen here:
Over many years I moved to several neighbourhoods in Montreal, but could never get any apartment together, always remaining an unfinished work with no progress once I got comfortable. This apartment and furnishing was beautiful. My wealthy Jewish friend who lived in an expensive apartment on the slope of Mount Royal said he was jealous.
Later that evening, I was with another group of friends and did not tell them about the change now starting to take root within me. We were joined by another friend who was also a promising artist, not the one turning over his apartment to me earlier in the Day. Three months earlier, to encourage him, I asked him to do my portrait and paid him a deposit. He arrived with the finished work that evening not knowing what happened to me earlier.
While I was expecting a conventional portrait, I was surprised when he presented me with the portrait you see above. The image above is a reduced size photo copy of a full size photo copy of the original artwork. It was done in pencil and did not have the Canadian Coat of Arms on the Shield which I added later.
A thief stole the original drawing in a break & enter to my apartment and it is probably hanging on some wall in Ottawa.
Again I emphasize, no one knew the new feelings that came alive in me earlier that Day. It is said art is in the eye of the beholder and as I questioned the artist I said these words: “Dave, that’s a jock looking type of image. I wish my body looked that good.” Pointing to the shield I asked, “Is that a cowboy hat?” He answered, “No. It’s not that. That’s a shield and that’s a slingshot. You know. Like David and Goliath” Imagine my surprise and wonder as he laid those words on my ears, not knowing what was happening inside me. I didn’t fully know what was happening inside me. Examining it further, I noticed the the car, the symbol of the driving force of the economy and the license plate with the D between the legs. I asked Dave if the D was for his signature. He answered, “No. It’s not that. It could be Death. It could be Divinity. I have no idea.” Again, I had to wonder what all this meant and how could I make sense of it all? It was the sense of Timing that was amazing. Studying the drawing further, I reasoned since a headless body could not stand. To me it symbolized God of the Universe being the Head of the Body.
The automobile, the engine of the economy, is at a cliff with no place else to go, much as the Global economy has arrived at the point of stagnation requiring radical change. The bare veins of the Canadian Maple Leaf, the unfinished Canadian Mosaic, represents the theme in my earlier article ‘CanaDa.’
The head in the stump represents the earth bound man oblivious to what the Spirit is doing and the Signs of the Times.
At home later that night, I was experiencing the most sublime feelings of Peace, Joy, and Liberation. I was crying with Gratitude on the thoughts GOD IS, thinking, ‘God I don’t know what you’re doing with me, but whatever it is, keep on doing it. I love it! I love you! At the instant of those thoughts, a radio broadcast started with the words, “NOW that you’re a Christian, your work is just beginning.”
Even though it was a multi year struggle for me to finally have an apartment that would impress and make any visitor feel comfortable, I gave it up 7 months later on September 1, 1975, and with shoulder length hair, beard, and backpack on my back, entered the United States to discover more of God, and the Spirit of ’76.
The US Authorities would have never known about me had I not become highly visible at the 1976 Republican National Convention in Kansas City. The Secret Service called out of a compressed crowd of delirious Republicans looking up to the Secret Service restricted Mezzanine with the podium of the President set up expecting the President of the United States to be standing there any minute.
To my surprise and wonder, the SS Agent led me to the Podium of The President of The United States, questioning me in full view of the crowd below in the Lobby of the Crown Center Hotel in Kansas City. With my shoulder length hair, beard and #13 football jersey, waving to all those Republicans below and the TV networks broadcasting live, it was an unusual image for anyone to be standing at The President’s podium as Americans were celebrating the 200th Anniversary of the 1776 Revolution.
Having hitch hiked through 45 States over 15 months, when I got to Kansas City, after the Republicans left town, I was a guest on a phone in Radio Talk show about a dozen times, was interviewed on TV, and The Kansas City Times published 2 newspaper reports on my presence in the City, the 1st on September 13, with a follow up on ALL SOULS DAY, November 2. Because of that high visibility, I was arrested as an ALIEN for deportation from Kansas City in December 1976 back to CanaDa. (you are in the world, but not of the world – an ALIEN – John 17:14-16) I convinced the authorities to allow me to leave on my own without formal deportation, but having to report to US Customs before exiting the US and returning home to CanaDa.
It turned out to my good fortune and Blessing I met someone by chance driving to upper New York State not that far from home in Montreal. He had a spare ticket for the Eagles Concert at the Kemper Arena and we flew away right after the show. I have not visited the US since then.
Even though it is 42 years later, I am still trying to make sense of it all in a David vs Goliath struggle to prevent the coming Armageddon starting with Israel escalating in the explosive Middle East,in a world where people don’t pay attention, don’t care and don’t give a damn.
I have come full circle. That Dream apartment in 1975 was on Hotel De Ville Street in the heart of downtown Montreal close to Sherbrooke Street and St. Laurent Blvd., the dividing line between East and West.
The Executive Personnel Agency who always found me a better position at better pay everytime I was in the Job referred me for many excellent positions but because my Spiritual Awakening was the most important thing to happen to me in my Life, I talked about it during Job interviews. One person was so interested asking me many questions, I left that Interview thinking I was hired. Calling the Personnel Agency the next Day, my Contact asked, “WHAT HAPPENED?” “What do you mean, what happened? Didn’t I get the job, I asked?” No was direct. Asking what the man said, my Contact told me the Interviewer said these words, “I don’t know what that guy was high on, but I sure wish I had some!”
Today, I live on Hotel De Ville Street in downtown Hull and it’s still a Dream apartment. I’m paying $566/month for a large well laid out 1 bedroom downtown apartment, heated, with a parking space. Smaller apartments on my Block are now going for $1300/month with electric heat extra. It’s perfect for me, having so many reasons to thank God for something every Day. For transparency, I lived in this apartment for 2 years in 2006 before I thought of the connection with that Dream apartment I gave up on Hotel de Ville in Montreal in 1975. I thank God that DREAM apartment I gave up in 1975 was being saved for me by God.
In this Year of the Lord 2024, I have a Dream apartment costing $566/month to this Day, enabling me to survive with no stress as rents are a nightmare for so many people these Days, able to live on my Old Age pension of $1883/month.
The LORD IS my Shepherd. I shall not want. Surely Goodness and Mercy shall follow me all the Days of my Life and I will dwell in the House of The LORD forever.
Biography of Ray Joseph Cormier
What is in the record is this: The Kansas City Times: SIGNS OF THE TIMES, September 13, 1976, & ALL SOULS DAY, November 2, 1976 https://rayjc.com/2013/09/01/signs-of-the-times/
And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the thieves, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; they don’t know what they are doing. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.
He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
The LORD IS my Shepherd. I shall not want Surely Goodness and Mercy shall follow me all the Days of my Life and I will dwell in the House of The LORD forever.
Fast forward twenty years to 2001 and like everyone else in the world, I was shocked to witness the event of 9/11. It brought back the memory of the mission 20 years earlier. The only thing I said to everybody I came in contact with on 9/11 was, “The world as we knew it ended Today.”
