Placement

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I listened to the beginning of a sermon online from a local church. It began with a litany of how this world was going down the gurgler. Pulling out all the usual suspects – climate change, racism, COVID and moral decay. Lets milk this.

“ You need Jesus more than ever now.” he preached.   

Outside the sun shone. Even sparkled.  A beautiful late summer morning hovering around 22 degrees. The grass greener than usual for August. The city quietly rising for the long weekend.  And – literally - birds chirping outside my window.

I couldn’t find a place to accept this mouthful of horror on the menu.

And I didn’t need Jesus more than ever.

I just needed Him.

A Tale of Three Vows - a pandemic essay

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It was a day in May like any other—like every other. A day to make an ordinary, everyday pledge. I hadn’t uttered a vow for over 35 years.

The breeze on this glorious spring morning whipped around my naked neck. I should have collected that wool scarf hanging on a hook at my door entry and wrapped it around my now vulnerable neck. My mistake. Now I tugged at the zipper of my thin jacket, pulling it closer to my chin, urging it to work harder at its job. I had been fooled by the May date and glamorous light streaming in through clean windows. Warm in imagination but chilly in reality.

All of us, in some way or another, are tugging at thin jackets to ward off a brisk season of unusual winds. We are striving to make sense or at least find peace during a pandemic. As I walked along the sea wall in this strange new world, I was reminded of a pledge I made to my husband 33 years ago.


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Thanks for your support

Soulkitchen is in its ninth year of operating in Canada.

Our Food Ministry is known to many needy folk in the downtown Vancouver area as thousands of meals have been served and delivered through either our Shelter Connections, Church Outreach Services or the vibrant “more than a roof” housing society meal program.

This work originates from the heart - a heart moved to help the needy and the lost. This has been a very challenging season for so many. Our overdose deaths in the city are the highest ever recorded - 174 last month. We are concerned about the mental health implications of the COVID pandemic. Our mission now is to find ways to reach people with food and kindness even during these times.  We serve takeaway meal boxes primarily now for the shelters and our tenants.  We look forward to the days of full dining rooms again!

Soulkitchen is honoured and privileged to stand together with many others that are movitated to serve the city through offerings of friendship, pastoral care and hospitality.

For those of you who follow our work, we would like to thank you for your belief and trust in the Soulkitchen mandate to share the good news through food and hospitality.

Thank you all for your support and prayers.

The Tennis Player

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I play tennis like I play Christianity. I am well trained but essentially a lousy player. My son and I recently played a couple of sets on a lovely summers evening.  He is untrained, fit and strong. I am trained to make my shots, but I can't reach those wide or short balls.  He won 6-0 6-0.  I know I'm a better player, but only when I don't have to move far or move quickly, just like my faith. Boxed in.

  • The Lob  - spiritualese going way overhead

  • The Let – annoying biblical contradictions make us start over again

  • The Volley – smashing down an idea before it touches earth

  • The Smash – aggressive Christianity

  • The Rally – vibrant spiritual discussion where someone wins point but

    it’s fun for both players

  • The Deuce -  when we leave it up to God to get even

  • The Serve – beliefs that don't go outside the lines

  • The Doubles – me vs church

  • The Singles –  me vs me

  • Mixed Doubles – me and the church vs the world

  • Game Point – the point that says 'now prove it.'

  • Set Point - it's coming together or salvation

  • Championship Point – Pearly Gates

 

Two Pairs of Flipflops

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I am wearing one pair of flipflops and carrying another in my hands. Eventually, I will branch out fully into the new. I will throw those old flipflops to the wind!

I remember working in an office that was changing over from a Microsoft system to Apple.  We didn’t trust ourselves with the new system. We feared a potential loss of our historical data. We decided to continue to employ the old system as a back up for the new.  Understandable. Even wise.  But over the long term it became unhealthy.  We had paid over $25,000 for the new technology and here we were with more work—double handling.  There is a time to just work with the new.

 My flipflops have the same basic function — just different colours. Like the biblical illustration that talks about a patch being ill-fitted to a garment. There is a now a new garment – a new wine. A new worship.  A new freedom. 

I have no doubt that it is not the last of change.  In fact, the 2020 flipflops will become my old familiar flipflops for this season and then will come something new.

 What do you do now with that nudge or alarm that is calling for change? Your life work. Your mission.  Freshen it up?

The Characters of Everything

Mary Oliver - Poet

““I stood willingly and gladly in the characters of everything - other people, trees, clouds. And this is what I learned, that the world’s otherness is antidote to confusion - that standing within this otherness - the beauty and the mystery of the world, out in the fields or deep inside books - can re-dignify the worst-stung heart.””
— Mary Oliver

We would do well to stand willingly and gladly in this world’s otherness — standing with and grappling with the other as our antidote to confusion and hate.

Spare Me the Details

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Do I need to know all the details?  Do I need to know all the variances?  The consequences. The possible outcomes.

Jesus seems to be saying to us to trust in Him and seek wisdom and understanding.

I have not forgotten these words said at a conference we attended in Vernon, B.C. a couple of years ago….

“‘Knowledge is linked to the mind. Wisdom is linked to the heart.
Knowledge doesn’t change who I am.  Understanding does.

— James Jordan - FathersHeart Ministries

We live in a world demanding answers for unfathomable situations. This is the culture we try to help and love.  We are so wrapped up in our search for the perfect answer.  The fine line. The distinctions between good and evil.

Instead, I suggest a path towards understanding.  To set aside our Pharisaic nature and breathe a little deeper into our heart.  Ask God to give us eyes to see a little better. And a new hearing to hear a little better.

“That they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts. And turn and be healed

— Isaiah 6,10

Grubby fingers

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I love licorice. It comes a close second to chocolate in my personal candy ratings. I had a habit – in pre-COVID-19 days – of ducking into the small corner store on the home stretch after a long walk down to the sea. The store is small and friendly. There is often a dog waiting outside on a leash, and the newspapers become faded by the end of a hot, sunny day as their wire rack spills out of the store. The name Gourmet Deli is painted proudly above the awning which is, in my view, a slightly vainglorious title. I've bought the occasional piece of fruit, loaf of bread or litre of milk, but my most common reason for the diversion inside is to purchase a licorice strap to eat as a reward as I walk the last 500 metres home.

Each strap is 30c and in order to buy one I have to dig my slightly swollen and unwashed hands into the box at the shop counter – I have to bend down and find the container hidden between the Hubba-Bubbas and the strange Ritters Sport chocolates and Lara Bar selection.

That's right, my ungloved fingers separate the flexible straps of black sweet originating from the glycyrrhiza glabra plant and peel away a black belt for my consumption. The remaining stock lay ready for the next customer to fondle and reconfigure.

After successfully fishing one out, with those same fingers, I hand over a few coins to the cashier.

No, I don't need a receipt.

And depart.

I'm as happy as a clam as I saunter up the hill, eating my treat.

Those were the days my friend.

I thought they'd never end.

 

 

 

 

                                                                                            

Will you be my Isobar ?

“So in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
Romans 12.5”

Isobars are lines on a map connecting places of similar atmospheric pressure.

During a flight on an aircraft when air pressure is compromise, the masks drop, and we are encouraged to help ourselves first before helping children and others.  

And so, governments and their citizens, naturally focus on their own backyard. I pray we keep an eye on what is happening along our line.  Where can nations assist other countries struggling with a dire forecast?  Where can humans demonstrate kindness to others whose pressure is on the rise and no help is in sight?

This time has shown the connectedness of us — humans.  We can be proud of the resilient networks and pathways created by technology, science and human solidarity that hold the map in place and indeed deliver news of areas caught in a struggle that appears way outside our pressure range. We hear the ‘weather’ forecast each evening and see brooding storms and hotspots.

Not all places are seeing the same form of connectedness, and, information is not always delivered equally in prime time. That will become more obvious as the days go on. Hopefully, as one part recovers,then help and knowledge can be provided to those along the same isobar line.

We are connected. What happens in Mumbai in August or how this pandemic is handled in Florida or Edinburgh this week affects us all.  That seems obvious, but as we discuss the opening up of places along the line and declare better or worse regional weather forecasts, we need to be mindful of the global atmospheric repercussions - and stay ready to help others.


“Bear one anothers burdens
Galatians 6, 2”

 

 

 

A fruitful loneliness

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It was a time of a fruitful loneliness

Blossoms barely holding

So heavy from sainted branches

Compost quickly swept away to iron traps

While carelessness flaunted herself

Until they slapped her face 

Falling like skin after Cancun

Then gathered with the plastic hand and booted out to sea

Those who once were free became lost in small fires

And those whose freedom was not won were fine and happy

Winners and losers

Just like old times

Except the clock got longer 

And the refuse more tainted

Welcome Home George

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Dear George,

We so look forward to your visit. Things have been rather mad here, so, I am scrambling to get ready for your arrival. The weather has been kind, and you'll arrive at the peak of autumn — the weeping maples and liquid ambers are just glorious. Yesterday as I went on my walk around the grounds, I swear one of the magnolia blooms was large enough to have made the perfect face mask. I could have reached up and snipped it off and then twisted the woody branch to make a perfumed shield over my mouth and nose. Five thousand magnolia masks for the Faithful. Now there's a project.  We are contemplating wearing masks when we go out. The sisters are meeting to decide on a pattern that would be suitable for both the convent and us. But I think Michael has communicated these things to you.

Of course, this year will be quieter than usual. It will be just you, me and the boys for Thursday evening. No services. If you arrive before nightfall, we could stroll down to the river. They've stripped back those tall reeds. It looks so beautiful now. Vast and pure.  I cannot remember when you were last with us. It is quiet here, and the water is so still, the vista broken only by those ugly fences across the way acting like a barrier between the smooth and the rough. Who knows what is going on. I won't hazard a guess as to your feelings. We all wait now with a full belly for times to change.

We've planned a quiet day for Friday. We will give you space to get acclimatized again. Please use the library as an office to sort yourself out. Rest or whatever one needs after this ordeal.

Remember this time last year – Venerdi Santo – how we cried when that happened. Listening to Father Canatalamessa speak while Francis bowed his head.  I don't understand the movement of the human heart. What causes us to lament? To find joy? The most beautiful of all being found in the mix of both. You will have much to impart.  Promise me you will speak up if any of these plans don't gel with you. You are our priority. We've only got you with us for Holy Week. Then you will enter back in. You'll go home, I suppose. Or to Rome? Have you heard directly from the Holy Father?

Lent has come and gone.  I'm usually busy right up until Thursday evening and this year was supposed to be different. It certainly is.  We will have a car outside for you and station security guards at our front gate when you arrive. We will take care of the media.

I hope we have some rain.  I have been longing for rain and storms, but they haven't come.  We will all remain inside for the weekend. We could read aloud to each other and sing on Saturday evening. How does that sound? Father Tom has offered to say a special mass for you.

George, we hope you will find peace here.  We have no expectations.   We've ordered a box of wine that your assistant tells us is your favourite.   See you on Thursday or whenever you get here.

Peace and grace

John

 

Social Noticing

For me, this time of social distancing provides stillness and a time for social noticing.  I notice on my walks, so many neighbours are on the footpath outside their apartment blocks or houses. In hand, they have a broom or a rake. They tidy up the sidewalk gathering up the fallen leaves. They find satisfaction in cleaning up the way for others.

We do our part – tidying up and tending to the fallen while God tends to the roots.

 

Shalom

 

God Sufficiency

God is sufficient for all my needs.

I am excited to start watching an online course offered by my friend, Dan Whitehead and his team here in Vancouver at Sanctuary Mental Health. Now is the time to attend to our mental health and become equipped to help others who are limping through life sometimes or always. These times of strain and stress will take a toll unless we are proactive in finding time to enter into emotional. physical and spiritual practices that will help us cope.

Sanctuary as a gift is offering the course ( usually $100 ) free online. Please avail yourself of this fantastic offer and join with friends or family to do the course while you are at home during this time.