I was out at the lumber yard this morning. Some of you are probably asking why. I am currently picking up some work on the side helping one of our staff members dry wall his basement. It is good work for my soul, as long as I don't have to measure too much. Exact sciences are not some of my spiritual gifts. Any way, I noticed this morning as I approached one of the clerks I automatically used the word "sir". This made for a very harsh response that puzzled me. I instantly remembered some other encounters with Canadians here that yielded the same result. They are very offended by that term that I use as a sign of respect. It's all really funny to me, but these people get really mad.
Here in Vancouver we are all currently suffering due to the strike that is going on. The city workers have been on strike now for at least two months while negotiations are going on. What this really means is that no trash service is happening and garbage is everywhere. It really stinks especially on hot days. I imagine they will get things resolved at some point, but as for now things are piling up all over. Image a major city with over two months of trash filling the streets and alleyways. I hope someone gives in.
This morning Carrie and I went for a jog at a nearby park with a dirt track going around it. It was so beautiful. There was a light breeze, the sun was out, and there were people all around enjoying life. There were people walking their dogs and children playing soccer. Other folks were out walking with no agenda. What is so great about Vancouver is that there are people from all over. I could hear the soccer coach yelling out commands to his team and I could tell he was from some South American country. It was great to see all sorts of people from so many different nations enjoying the Saturday morning.
This made me think of Jesus saying that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. I think that at certain moments or points our world and heaven overlap and we can almost seem to smell something perfect. One other group in the park this morning that I failed to mention was a group of special needs people or handicap enjoying the beautiful day with a little bit of exercise. They were being led through a few stretches and a light jog around. It made me feel like nothing else matters in the world. At that moment all of the darkness had lifted and things seemed to almost taste sweet. I love it when that happens.
This is a tough word. Where does it come from? Are we all compassionate? Since being in this city I have really struggled with what it means to have compassion for someone. To some extent I feel that compassion is something that drives us to act in situations of injustice or suffering. I am trying to sort this out in my head. Especially when I read the gospels in the bible in certain passages the author writes that Jesus had compassion and then he healed whatever the ailment. The bible doesn't always say this before Jesus heals someone. I think of how Jesus reaches out and touches people with leprosy and heals them. That is crazy. I know that I would have a tough time touching someone like that. I feel that having true compassion for the injustice and suffering in the world pushes us into action. Without it we could easily walk on by and forget about someone hurting.
That's right I feel like God has so many reasons for us to be here. God is shaping our hearts here. I know God is giving us a passion or vision for things to come. I see others lives changing as well. I am so exctited to see what is going to happen in our lives as we continually submit to his will. I have to be honest and say that things here in Vancouver are not very enjoyable all the time. We feel often that we are missing out on what is going on back home in those important relationships. Time is going fast and I feel that we are being equipped for something else to come. I want to display God by the joy that he gives me and not be held back by anything. How great would it be to constantly be joyful.
I am just shocked and amazed to think about how much stuff there is to do in the world. I am not complaining or overwhelmed by it all. Well maybe I am to some extent because I could be complaining that we are not doing enough in the world or that we are blind and many of the worlds big issues should not have happened in the first place. On a brighter note. I take comfort in that I never have to really worry about what to do. There is always something. I know this sounds wierd but there is always something to be done or pursued. God says that there will always be the poor. That is a good one to pursue or solve certain issues. So as Christians always know that there is something to do in the world.
Today I ventured into something new on my list of things that I can do okay. On Thursday I led worship for the first time. It was crazy. I really enjoyed it. It was definately difficult because I am not the most musically talented dude on the planet. I felt that if it were going to be the least bit engaging and not distracting it would have to be led by the holy spirit. I feel that it was. I did make many mistakes, but hopefully it wasn't too bad.
I am learning that I am fighting myself in so many ways. Feelings of inadequacy keep me from doing or trying so many things in life. That is a shame. I should not buy into those lies. None of us should. We would never do anything. There are so many biblical examples of people who are not adequate but God uses them anyway. Look at the disciples and how they were not the best of the best to follow a Rabbi. Not even close. Or Moses who felt that he was not good enough to speak to people and God was angered badly. It says in Exodus that God's anger burned. Ouch. I wouldn't want to tick God off like that. Although it is hard, if God is calling us to do something let's not let ourselves get in the way. Easier said than done I know.