a l i v e & a w a k e

Here are some pictures from a friend and one of the former elders in the Brampton Meeting House—Paul Bettings. Paul initiated the renowned ‘homeless home church’ back in 2006. It carries on today and has developed with Tim Molcjan at the helm.

Paul and I have been connecting over 5 years in a mentoring relationship. I have been so encouraged and excited to see the growth in Paul that helps connect me with God each time I meet with him. Paul is currently enrolling in international development and travels frequently with World Vision seeing some of the most destitute situations, yet seeing and capturing Christ’s beauty (enjoy)

As you look at these picture, look for journey/story Paul is on. Do we use the same ‘third eye’ to see Jesus in our everydayness of our lives. My challenge each day is to be more aware of Him. Pictures not only mean a thousand words, but can reveal Jesus.  Read through and would love to hear your feedback.

The railroad in Africa was once, and I guess could still be considered, a sign of progress. However, the steel tracks that once transported rubber, timber, gold and people are now just 200-year-old walking trails. The scene is the same throughout all of Africa. Where there are train tracks there are people walking and instead of a locomotive transporting the goods, it’s people carrying them. I find it is serene and calming. From a distance this visual looks like a slowly moving photograph of the sort you would see on the Discovery Channel, I never seem to get bored of it and always do my best to pause and take it in.

This photo was not taken from a distance; I was on the track. It turns out that in this moment I was one of the people walking on the tracks carrying goods – my camera. For about 1 kilometer I was part of the history and the people who use this track every day of every week of every month of every year. I was able to enter their space and use the metal rails and wooden beams as a trail, as a tool for a purpose.

Democratic Republic of Congo - 2010

There seems to be a simplicity in Africa that is humorous to foreign onlookers but perfectly normal to the local population. A man carrying 50 chickens that dangle upside-down off the front handlebars of his bicycle, two other men transporting a queen sized bed frame on their 20cc motorbike, a guy balancing 20 foam mattresses on his head while he transports them to whenever they need to go, 35 people who cram into a 12 passenger van and sit on the laps of complete strangers because there is always room for one more.

Staring at these situations in complete awe warrants looks from the people that are curious as to why I am in such disbelief – Canada has laws against some things that are so normal in other parts of the world. Those situations are not unlike this one, 2 boys back to back on their donkey using each other as a backrest. It’s so simple and logical but somehow it’s also a humorous visual. I think they wonder why someone would ever need a photo of such a boring event.

Southern Sudan - 2008

This boy is using a slingshot to throw rocks over his field; the way in which he releases the rope to shoot the rock creates a loud crack, like a whip. While doing this he whistles and shouts – all this to keep the birds from picking away at his crops. When taking this photo these sounds came from every field that surrounded me. Every person used the same method, they would walk and whistle and yell and crack their slingshot, when they finished a circuit of their field they would stop and talk for a bit and then continue.

I loved this feeling of closeness to nature and setting. These people had no machinery or pesticides or tractors or even scarecrows to help their crops grow, the only thing they had was interaction with each other and their surrounding. At this moment I saw the beauty in relying on nature. Everything can work naturally, it just requires more innovation – or less, depending on your perspective.

Mauritania - 2008

A look of curiosity, or a look of contempt? I am not sure. This is one of my favourite shots I took in 2009 and instead of saying too much about it I will just mention where it was taken. Maybe that will prompt you to do some research because it is an area with a very interesting history.

This photo was taken in an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp just outside Goma in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. This area is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been – volcanoes, rain forests, mountain gorilla’s – Goma, or more generally, the Congo, seems to have it all. But all this stuff, all the mineral and environmental wealth is the Congo’s downfall. This lady seems to encompass all the troubles of the area.

I try really hard never to offend anyone when taking their photograph. I don’t want to make getting the image more important than the actual person. That being said sometimes I don’t ask before I shoot (which is very nerve-racking to me, I don’t like it), I shoot then say sorry. This was one of those cases although, it turns out that she loved the image. I showed it to her on the back of the camera and she found it amazing!

Eastern DRC - 2009

Hey all, Here is another story of one who is seeking and seeing Christ’s activities in the world around them. It’s Ken Styles, the Lead Pastor of the West Hamilton site. I asked him to share this story because it has so many similarities to the many stories you are all sharing with me. God is working the same all over!  I see the things that cultivate this God-story: being close to people, observing/assessing, intentionality, and highlighting God’s activity.

Reflections on a Café Experience

Ever stop to observe others while sipping a coffee?  It’s a favourite pastime of mine and it has provided a unique opportunity to connect with the people in my community.  If you regularly return to a coffee spot, people start to recognize each other and observations can lead to smiles and conversations.  In this way, I have formed a number of friendships, with some interesting results! 

One of my friendships has included a connection with a fellow amateur writer.  We sometimes throw each other writing challenges, amongst which was the challenge to write about some of the “regulars” we encounter in the café.  The following represents a quick effort at describing a person my friend and I had observed, but not yet met. 

What was his story?  How would we describe him, from what we saw?  He clearly loved music (listening to multiple CDs stacked up), seemed to walk in from the area (as opposed to drive), love to connect with others who passed by, and demonstrated an active interior life, from what was reflected in his eyes. 

Café 3

You rock to tunes we never hear

Your bespectacled, angled gaze

Bumping over heads

In time to hidden beats

The discs which lie scattered

Across your small kingdom

Are handled with loving care

Their treasures known and often visited

A life more lonely,

Yet not without its joys

You leave regret to seek new vistas

In lands too seldom seen

The local crew’s cheer and lively banter

Break out – and you,

With chortling savvy

Stake claim in social soil

The jiggling knee and ruddy complexion

Betray a passion – your lilting gait,

Beneath the tails of your practical coat

Carries you ashore - alone, but not forlorn

The point here has less to do with the writing than with the way we see others.  Do we see them?  If so, can we enjoy a “holy curiosity” about them?

So here’s the after-story -  this person ended up showing up one Sunday at our morning service shortly after I wrote this – I was walking by and noticed him sitting in the front row of the theatre!  I didn’t know whether he had noticed me at the café, but it was impactful to see someone I had actually stopped to observe and write about sitting right there …

After service, engaged in conversation with another, I noticed this same person standing in the middle of the hallway, gazing about, clearly alone, unaccompanied.  I excused myself from the person I was with, went over and introduced myself.  Brad (made-up name), a 50 year old man, had not been in a church since age 17.  He had hit some major bumps in life, saw our truck, decided to come and check us out.  I heard a good amount of his story in the next few moments.  My writing suddenly assumed a 3-D aspect as I encountered the real person, with a real name and a real story.

Brad continued to connect, both at the café and at Sunday services, even as aspects of his life continued to unravel.  Was God for him or against him?  Shortly thereafter he joined a local Home Church and recently referred to this as the best space of his life, in an extended family experience which has become critical as he navigates some really tough waters.  His love of music has been tapped into as well, as he has burned CDs for the parties which have been held within his Home Church.

The poem used some (pirate) ship metaphors to convey a sense of a man at sea in his interior life, searching, challenged, but bravely hopeful.  Turns out that “holy imagination” actually tapped into something true about Brad and provided a readiness factor for the time when he and our Jesus-following family would enter each other’s worlds.  Is it possible that if we offer God our eyes, he helps us see?

An additional note here – my writing friend comes from another ethnic and religious background and has watched all of this unfold … she has seen Brad going through his current crises as well, and has watched our community become a part of his life.  It wouldn’t surprise me if she too shows up in Home Church or in a Sunday service some time soon.  We never travel alone.

We are trying to develop a culture of stories that share the activity of God in our Home Churches. How can we encourage people to share like this in Home Church? Are there individuals who naturally have these encounters but don’t have a place to share them? (Our Brampton community has over 1200 ongoing/intentional relationships, so the stories are there).

How can we help others to be intentional, close to people, assessing and highlighting God’s activity?

Feedback?

Hey  all,  Here is a journal entry from someone I have been mentoring for a few years. Some great insight and challenge in this reflection on Compassion.

We have an amazing witness and testimony on serving compassionately in our community right now (gives me a sense of awe in fact). But this strength could turn out to be our biggest weakness. We may look like a group of ‘religious doers of compassion’. Read this and I have a couple of thinking questions at the end.

"I’ve had the chance to become friends with Richard over the past year, through a series of difficulties he is now living on the street in a wheelchair. About a month ago I was hanging out with him in HIS home, this is a area under a roof in Nathan Phillips Square that he has unofficially claimed as his. During this time a group from a local church came to the square with warm food to share with the homeless on a cold night. As soon as Richard saw them he became angry and aggressive and was telling them to get out of his area. I was surprised with his reaction until he calmed down enough to tell me what was really happening.

A week earlier the group had showed up and were distributing food to everyone but failed to recognize what problems they were actually creating. By bringing food to the area they had attracted a lot of addicts (of whom Rich is not) and left the place a mess with litter and didn’t even have enough for Rich, who couldn’t get to them as easily because of the wheelchair. The mess is what most upset him, how would you feel about people leaving garbage all over YOUR property. To top it all off they had also told Rich upon him asking them to leave that this is “public property and they will do what they want”. Ouch, can you imagine someone reinforcing to you that you are homeless and powerless, that’s just something that doesn’t need reminding.

As this confrontation was happening I was trying to explain to Rich that their intentions were good, that they had come with food to help out. Though they were failing to help in every aspect I didn’t want him to see them as malicious or selfish, especially because of the association with Christianity and my understanding of where their motives were originally from.

What I learned is that each party’s perspective was selfish and that neither could see the others point of view and therefore couldn’t appreciate their opinion. I don’t want to condemn the church group because they’re giving more than a lot, or even most Christians but they still have a responsibility. A responsibility to know the situation they’re walking into and to truly serve, not to dictate what the need is and expect a level of thankfulness because YOU are serving."

 If we inform ourselves first we walk into a situation knowing what to expect and where to focus our efforts to be most effective.

This should also prevent us from establishing a level system that we are the ones serving and we know everything and can’t learn from others.

So, I guess we can’t just put the time in and check “serving” off the list for the week (not good news for the task oriented individual like myself)."

Questions: Do you feel like you or others can identify with the feeling of ‘checking off serving’ on our list of ‘to do’s?

How can we cultivate ways for people to engage fully the person of compassion rather than the activity of compassion?

Feedback?

Too many times we think our problems can be fixed by taking them head on, handling them or destroying them, only then can we be released because the ‘demon’ is destroyed. Jesus lived a life that modeled something different than a campaign of remove all evil. That being said, as Jesus walked and moved and lived on this earth, we could see the fruits of evil and its power being removed. How can the 2 concepts be true? How can it be that Jesus didn’t come destroy to evil but yet evil took a huge step back as Jesus lived?

This is what I believe should be a point of focus: Jesus came to bring ‘life and to the fullest’ John 10:10. In the campaign of abundant life (synonymous with ‘shalom’) evil had no place. Evil wasn’t focused on. Evil lost its power because it was ignored, neglected and dismissed. Granted evil can attack from different angles in life to make its voice heard and attempt to regain power, but the focus choice is still the same ---full and abundant life. Neuroscience reinforces this same principle at a cellular level.

New channels in our brains are constantly being used, made and reinforced every day. With the trillion plus options to adapt, change, and build, our brain watches for new pathways to travel, but it mostly likes to save as much energy as possible and will choose familiar pathways. Even if those pathways are destructive to our overall well being, the brain just sees the easiest path and takes it. It does it in such a way that we don’t even notice.

For example, as you are reading this, you have been breathing 10-20 times, but haven’t thought of it until now. In the same way we are behaving in certain ways that is off of our conscious radar. Whether they are good behaviors or bad, this is how our brain works. But… focus is the key to a change towards abundant life.   Ultimately as we focus on Christ and His attributes (Phil 4:8) we are shaped, changed and cultivating more of His fullness to dwell in us. Like the man who was late for work every day at his new job.

Neuroscience and Lateness

Sean received his first career job since university. He was ecstatic and couldn’t believe he got what was potentially his life work at ‘PT Consulting’ so early in life. He knew he would have to work his way up the totem pole of roles in the company but the CEO said he had the right stuff for partnership. The CEO was also clear on a few values of the company that Sean needed to abide to without fail and his direct report would oversee Sean. The biggest haunting value was ‘Do not be late!” This was a bit of a problem for Sean who lived across town without a car and was dependant on a bus system that only began the route by his house at 8am. The 50 min bus ride was followed up by a 10 minute run to the building from the bus stop. It took exactly 10 minutes to get from the bottom of the building to his desk. This always made Sean 5 minutes noticeably late to his new manager.

Why? Because the office was on the 11^th floor which was an average of a 5 minute elevator ride to the floor #10 which was a cafeteria  for all businesses in the building. It took Sean at least 2-3 minutes at least to make quick movements through the line ups, tables and people to the stair well which took him to the 11^th floor where he at best could stride to in 30 seconds. Running through the corridor, into their business entrance took another 15 seconds and making it to his desk in the south-east corner was another 30 seconds. Average total time 9-10 minutes- totally unacceptable. In addition, Sean would arrive quite sweaty. Not the most professional appearance. This was more noticeable because his department always had a 9:00am team meeting to go over the day.

Here is how Sean took this challenge on.

First he told his manager this was his first priority and to give him a week to improve. If there was no change, he left it to his discretion.

-began running, stretching and conditioning training so his speed and agility could increase for run time from the bus to building, the run on the 10^th floor cafeteria could decrease and the run up the final stair and hallway increase.

-brought a change of clothes and deodorant to make a quick tidy up

Day one, he was a bit stiff and sore from his training outside of work so he was actually 11 minutes late, but that was okay because he was careful that day to chart out the best way to run through the cafeteria without meeting the most obstacles.

Day two, Sean’s time was cut by 3 minutes.

By day 5 Sean had a five minute decrease, but he was winded and still very sweaty. Sean was discouraged because this was the best he could do and there was no hope of this ever getting better (until he could save up to get a car).

What is Sean to do? In two days he would have to face his angry boss and he could not deliver. The problem may have been that Sean was focusing on all his problems.

What? Doesn’t it seem Sean was focusing on all the little solutions to the problem? This is what Sean’s coworker told him after the day 6 sweaty appearance. “Sean I have heard all the things you are doing to improve but you are so focused on this running, bus, sweaty problem and using so much effort, energy to solve it. Maybe you need to abandon the plan altogether.”

Sean didn’t understand at all. The coworker pulled out of his pants a pass card for the company (same one Sean had). He told him that it was a special company card that gave access to the company elevator that took only one express minute ride to the company. There was a whole new path! Our brain works the same way.

Studies show that when we learn a new behaviour, it forms a neuropath that it begins to hard wire (whether a good thing or bad). It is reinforced by behaviors, experiences and strong emotions that come from the behaviour. Over time that path will become the freeway of that area of your life and be the preferred track for communication and supplying the body with nutrients. For example the common practice of addiction (negative behaviour) was started at some point and has become a major freeway in the mind. The individual will incorporate some behaviour during the day that thinks, acts on or craves the addiction because the body is best fed by the addictions. Meanwhile other neuropaths will be under developed. It is precisely the hard task of using new pathways that will stop the destructive behaviour; it is not healing the old pathway or trying to dismantle it. It’s just simply leaving it alone while strengthening the new pathway.

As foolish as this example with Sean is, we are the same in our approach to spiritual life problems. We encounter discouragement and we think we need to pray and study on the topic of discouragement and its opposite. We find an obstacle in a relationship and we look at improving that person or our personality to hopefully change our behaviour and resolve the problem. Don’t get me wrong, we sometimes can make a smoother ride in life by examining these issues but I would venture that the problems we face and are sometimes consumed with are easily fixed by not focusing on them at all. I would also include that for those who have physiological issues, a simple chemical assessment and balance through food medication could make a tremendous difference. That still doesn’t answer the neuropath. We redirect our focus on to what we are built for - good, worthy of praise, excellent, and godly (Phil 4:8). It is taking some time to see what God has built us to be, and responding to how Christ is acting in the world around us. We develop a whole new muscle group spiritually speaking. Taking these actions will at least minimize the previous behaviors.

We are in a great position as influencers to help cultivate environments for people who deal with strong negative behaviors. We can create opportunities each week in how we develop study, compassionate and connection. The focus is to help behaviors that compliment and encourage the ability to see and respond to Christ in every moment. The temptation will be to help people (including ourselves) in their problems when it is the first problem that needs to be addressed – We are not looking for, recognizing, and responding to the ever present Christ.  When we don’t see or desire that, we will go about our business and fill in our best interpretation of the activities that are pleasing to God. They may be good but over time the direct connection is what we need. He will be the voice that partners with us in the renewal of our minds.

This is a long “thought” but I hope you follow my thinking here.

Question- What are some practical ways to help people we see to desire, recognize and respond to Christ? (Individually and in a group)

Feedback?

1.    Church for people who aren’t into church

This statement has been the slogan since day one of The Meeting House community back in 1986. There are 2 different types of ‘church’s’ in this statement: the church people aren’t into, and the church we are truly called to be (my take).            

I’ll start with the Church that people aren’t into. What comes to mind? It is what the church is regrettably mostly known for: religious, money taking, self preserving, guilt and shame, prejudice, dogmatic, angry, punishment, a building, a bible.   The list goes on but you can fill in your own impression. It is not all bad of course, but it means crossing many social and sub cultural barriers before you can get the ‘goods’. You belong and prove yourself worthy of those goods once you look like, talk like, pay like, and think like the group of people of this particular expression.  

At best this people group will try to attract others into their sub culture by promising the good news. It will have many programs and events for people to dedicate themselves to and the upkeep of the places and programs in essence will need the new people they are trying to attract.

The other ‘church’ term is maybe not as understood but much more powerful. It is a group of people who are given the name church because of the person of Christ. IT is a relational term first that involves an inward process of transformation. That transformation speaks of the growing attributes of God revealing Himself in and through the people.  Attributes like peace, love, forgiveness, joy and generosity that are shown in real tangible ways to people who are suffering, alone, financially struggling, abused and poor. It is a people not restricted to space, events or time slots in a week but are called to be active in every moment, place and situation. The people called church are sent into the world and the only ‘attractional’ thing about them is Christ in them (not relying on buildings, events and catchy methods).

So what can that look like? Ideally at the Meeting House we believe the power of a group of people who support and cultivate the fullness of Christ in each other will change their city –we call it Home Church. We have talked again and again about what it means to have Home Church and the intentional community relationships there to be an entry point into our community at large. Nice ideal, however how do you start? I have seen people enter Home Churches in Brampton who knew nothing about the Meeting House, Bruxy or our services yet they knew people who knew them, supported them and did life together as neighbours. When the neighbours saw Christ working they asked more questions and wanted to check out what was going on. They had an easier time going to someone’s home with their friend to learn more about what compels them.

Getting close to people and intentionally building relationships was the first practice.

I find new thoughts can come when we take a look at our beginnings. It is true for an individual as much as it is for us as community.

Feedback?

A Homeless Man on Street

Another Guest Blogger Paul.

I have had the privelege of meeting Paul and seeing the way God works in ourlives. More importantly he is capturing the Way God is meeting Him.Paul has the eyes to see Christ in the seeking and finding of life. He is just starting to put this story down in journal form and felt he could share it. It is encouraging me to have a heart to seek God's story evidencing in my own life. This is the first insightful journal from Paul;

Looking back on everything that I've accomplished has brought me great joy and pain. There is so much history that took place. A lot of that history took place when I lived in Calgary, for it is there I  truly believe God was speaking to me.

At the time I was homeless and lived on the streets, and having a christian background just opened my eyes to a lot of hurting and confused people. Although I was struggling with my own sins and troubles, at the time, God was still able to use me. I had a deep hurt seeing the different types of people just living their lives, some with the idea that there was nothing in life worth living for. There were others who, pushed and fought trying to regain some sort of life without the pain of addicition and the slavery of the streets.

Everywhere I looked I saw mass addiction to drugs, it was a means of escape for them. A way of forgetting the troubling past that haunted them day to day. Everyone had a different story to tell, and had a different history they carried with them. But apart from all the pain and selfish lives some people lived, there were good people.

I had flown to Calgary in hopes to attend Teen Challenge because of my drug addiction, but 3 days into the program I was kicked out. I was left next to a subway station with nothing but the clothes on my back. I knew no one and had no idea where I was going. It had to be the most frightening time in my life. All I could do was pray that God would lead me in the right direction and give me a sign. So I was on a train headed to no where, unsure of what was going to happen and still in shock. About 30 min in I saw a church off to the side, I stopped in and was given directions to a christian shelter named "The mustard Seed".

Upon my exit of the train I saw a man and a women having a smoke, I told them briefly what happened and needed help. They too were headed there, and it was those two people that taught me everything I needed to know and succeed on the streets. For one whole month they cared for me as if I was their own. You could say the woman was kinda my street mom. She was someone I could go to when the times where down.

Even when you think that you're alone and have no one to turn to, God has your back. He was watching mine, and it's because of his help I was able to accomplish a lot of ministry work within the months to come.

Welcome friends from Meeting House! From time ot time I invite guest bloggers to tell their story of where Jesus is working in the hearts and neighbourhood. Enjoy. -joe

It was a real eye sore. It stuck out like a sore thumb. I found myself saying NO! It’s too hard. I’m too busy with my own family, my own problems, and my own responsibilities. These are some of the reasons why I did not readily seize the opportunity that came. I passed by it daily and it called out to me, but I ignored it with my excuses.

      I think the thing that finally guided me into action was a conversation with a new neighbor who because they were next door to the house agreed readily when I mentioned it. Yes, she would indeed help me to fix up their lawn and tackle cleaning it together.

     I have to say here that we knew the family who lived in this house more than she did., she was too new for all the stories yet she seemed to know most of them.  Five years prior our son was closest friends with this neighbor’s son. They were inseparable. Then things radically changed.  My sons’ friend saw his dad die a painful death due to cancer. It made him bitter.  He started hanging out with the wrong crowd. He got into trouble with the law. He started drinking and doing drugs. His mom slipped into depression.  Their house used to be kept up, now it was overgrown; the place was full of weeds and littered with old Christmas lights and garbage.

     We got permission to help when the family was away on vacation and I convinced or rather bribed our son that he should help too. Didn’t he remember all the good times he had there in the past?

      To my delight he came with his buddy from school to cut the lawn and trim the bushes. So along with the new neighbor who did I mention has four kids under six, we set out to do the transformation. It was a good thing that her mother-in-law was visiting!

      While working in the heat I found out that this new neighbor of mine was just like me in many ways… except she had many beliefs that I totally disagree with. How could this be? Was Jesus into doing this project with two people who would never see eye to eye in their beliefs? I found myself cringing when she was talking to everyone while I was working. My fears kicked in…. Uh oh was she being more friendly than me?  Would they listen to her beliefs more than mine?

      When we needed a power washer, I asked another family from the Meeting House for one and they too joined in.  They told me that they had wanted to do something and initially thought that it might offend the people. By this time many others on the street were noticing. A few days of work and soon many people got involved. Some neighbors who stilled judged them came over with flowers for their garden or recycling bags for the trimmings. Three days we worked hard on the front lawn. Fourteen bags of garbage brought us such a feeling of accomplishment. We started cleaning the new neighbors’ front lawn too. With all of us working together it was easy to do it all.

     As I reflect on the experience, I learned many things about my neighbors.  I learned to care in ways that I had not before. Getting dirty for Jesus has great rewards; I do not know who benefited more me or them.   

Guest Blogger in HOme Church

Lately in our city of Brampton we have had people complaining about the prostitution and drug problems in a couple of key downtown areas. Most of the solutions have been to increase the police presence and arrests. I was encouraged at one article my wife Bek showed me on a city gathering on the topic that a man who admitted he was a former addict said something like “we have to understand that the people we are complaining about do not want to be in their circumstance and so we need to give dignity and understanding rather than judgment and police”. It’s so true that the problems that we face in community don’t go away with rules and the enforcement of them.

I had an encounter recently where this topic hit home for me. I had some time before a meeting so I went to the main square of the city (recently beautified) to do some journaling and listening to God. I had in mind the problems our city is facing and wanted to God to reveal His heart for the ‘poors’ of Brampton (focus in our community lately). I also had been going through a rollercoaster of emotions dealing with what I felt people were judging me, misunderstanding me, even to the point of feeling like I was being attacked (I had others confirm that it looked that way as well). It was from people that I hoped would have been supportive of my recent efforts but instead was not taking the time to know me and using group scenarios to correct me.

It’s funny because I have been celebrating some really good things in our community lately that reflected so much of Christ working through many people. Yet once I encountered these 2 situations, I felt devastated and the world seemed grim (even though it was peak spring time, amazing clouds, great smells, warm sun-perfect worship atmosphere). I wanted to hear from Jesus on that and had some supportive companions who helped affirm me and gave me some good perspectives. I was still processing though (maybe still am).

When I am in between meetings I find it most helpful and efficient to write, listen and process my perspective and prepare myself for the next encounter. I was sitting by a newly renovated spill fountain and it was really hot (real unusual for spring time). I sat for only a couple of minutes when I was approached by a thin woman. She had the typical, what I call, 80’s look for summer. Ripped jean shorts, thin spaghetti strap tube shirt and walked with the too familiar really drunk walk.  The 30 foot bench was empty except for me and she sat 3 feet from me and washed her feet, hands and face in the water. She looked over at me and I knew she wanted to talk. I internally felt like this was a bit of an interruption form my productive and efficient listening time. She quietly muttered something to me and I leaned over to hear her better and said something like “I’m sorry?”

She said things in broken sentences (something I speak and understand quite fluently). “I just saw you..seemed nice..it’s hot you know”.  “yeah it is”, was all I could really reply. She was pleasant looking and deep down you could see a caring heart. She had a sweet Irish accent and well groomed reddish hair. To not be too busy and cold I continued, “Are you just out enjoying the sun?” She replied, “I just got laid off work last week..company of 27 years.. downsizing..not sure what to do.” She went on to why she really approached me.

“I was out here actually prostituting myself and you came along.. seemed like a nice man”. I wasn’t sure where to go with that. I first asked if she was serious or was I mistaken in what she said. I actually couldn’t believe it was true because despite the drunkenness she was seemed really put together. She clarified she had been prostituting herself for a while and that she was quite serious.

The ‘pastor’ in me responded with efforts to help, find a new job and connections that would help her out of her predicament. She told me more of her story; Her name was Francis, she lived in a nearby town but was there today because she was getting dental work (dentures for her two front teeth). Her benefits and payout ended in a few months and she was almost 50. She felt foolish reinventing herself for a career and even more to make a resume.  I asked her if she was doing this because of money and how I could help her. She wanted to stay in limbo and the payout was for enough time but then hung her head a bit and changed the subject to me. I felt a bit unhelpful at this point having to face the fact she wasn’t going anywhere even after I offered help. I couldn’t help her but now she seem to linger on.

She asked me what I do in life. I told her I was a pastor for the Meeting House. She immediately said ‘oh you have a connection with the ‘divine force’?”  We talked about prayer and how she prays every morning. She pulled out a wrinkled piece of paper that is given out for people from Al Anon meetings. There was an obvious long term use of this paper by the writing and highlighting words of importance. She wanted me to keep it but I refused because the paper to me would be like taking a very sacred thing from someone, like their only family photo. I was amazed how she so quickly would give it to me. Like most people who have had too much to drink, the topic went deeper. She said “you know I have self esteem issues”. I didn’t need to be convinced of that. My heart went out to her.

As her spaghetti straps kept falling down and she casually pulled back up she went on, “People judge and they shouldn’t judge on appearances”. My immediate response surprisingly came from my own current baggage, “I know! It seems people get opinions formed about people before they get to know them”. She added that we are really all the same as each other and that if people would just realize that, we’d be better off. I saw that from her side of life (much worse circumstance to be judged than mine) but yet could identify with that just that week. Her one liner street prophecy didn’t end there.

She said “I have eaten a bit of humble pie this last little while. It is sometimes really good to have that just so you can touch base with what was really important”. That started to hit me harder as I felt with all my indignation, and righteous anger from my attackers was actually my struggle for power. Lately the word ‘meek’ has been a focus for me lately in my personal studies.

My best understanding/version of the word meek is ‘withheld power’. There are two ways I can see this to be true; 1. A capable person chooses to not exert their power, or 2. A person has been stripped of their ability to exercise their power by circumstances or people. Jesus said to a crowd “blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth” (Matt 5:6) With my take on that you could read ‘blessed are those who withhold their power or have their power withheld’. The next part is incredible—we will inherit. There is nothing you can do or change to receive an inheritance. We hear so much in the world today of so many who undeservedly take on places of power, fame, and wealth and it bothers us. Yet Jesus talks about a greater life changing inheritance that we are internally hardwired for and built to manage even if we are oppressed. Unknown to Francis, I heard her message of humility (meekness) loud and clear as though Jesus Himself said it to me.

We ended our conversation with her saying "now you take of yourself, you hear?", I had to bike to my next appointment. As I pedaled  on I realized my most important meeting of the day had just happened,,, the one I didn’t put in my planner. It was to receive this message from Jesus:

-“Even though you are feeling not heard and that the current circumstances of life are discouraging, I hear you. If I hear a daily prayer of a prostitute who is confident in my presence, you as well can take her same understanding of my presence”.

-“Joe, you need to know I am not happy with judgments made by people on you, but also the ones you have been secretly hiding judgment towards people who seemingly are attacking you. We are all the same”.

-“You are to walk with humility and meekness. I have a special preparation and gift for you each day as you learn to embrace moments that supersede power of any kind”.

There a few stories where Jesus encounters a prostitute but I feel some affinity with the ‘immoral woman’ in Luke 7:36, who breaks open expensive perfume and washes Jesus’ feet. Many looked at the action as wasteful and dirty yet Jesus looked at it as preparation and sacred –elevating her above the rich company He was in. Even though it was literally her washing her own feet, the words of Francis' wisdom and affirmation had oil like element of healing, richness and sweetness that was sacred to me and my broken soul.

And it important to note that the most powerful man who ever took on flesh used the same example of meekness to wash feet of His followers. Maybe that was planned from before time or maybe He learned it from a woman who encouraged Him in the same way. -joe

Separation

“as a person thinks in his heart, so it is.”

As we continue this series of the many facets of a killer, we come to the most profound and subtle of this force (in my opinion). There are many indications that we as a society, value and pursue being separate from others. Detached from the “relationship” internally which is spiritual and ultimately with God (Genesis –garden) we practice detachment from others in an outward fashion. This is what the Proverb means, our heart (internally) feels it is rejected so we can only give what we own so we give separation. Grieving expert Bill Bates says that ‘humanities greatest problem is that we perceive we are separate”. I believe this and we see it in how so many will knowingly/unknowingly push others away to make it true.  The gods of today show us this value, “the richer I become, the more separate I want be.” In this case money, power, fame are only accelerates to this deep value.

 Today we see people who are powerful, famous and wealthy choosing to live away from others: Homes -mostly guarded and protected, walking -with body guards and keeping people at a distance, travelling—in their own private or exclusive ways, communicating –from private lines. Now I want to make it clear—there are sometimes really good reasons why these measures have been taken, however it can send a message of ‘the more you have, this type of life is what we need to seek out’. So people who grow in wealth will move from the townhouse/semi to a detached home or home with property. Even further if we could ideally live better, it would be so that we have our own view without others around (again nothing wrong with that). Is it fair to say that if we all got out wishes, we would have to live on a much bigger planet, with amazing homes and quite alone.

The highest form of punishment in our country Canada is solitary confinement. Yet we seem to be pursuing the same outcome in the ‘free’ world with directed energy, effort and resources to accomplish it.

Already people choose to have less and less interaction with others. Take a test:

What do you think people prefer, automated teller or a person?

Do people prefer drive through or going into the building?

Do people prefer to ride the elevator alone or with others?

When driving, do people prefer to make eye contact and acknowledge the people in the car, or just see the object of the car and avoid eye contact?

Do people like sharing a toothbrush or……OK I’m going too far.

But you can see enough that we have a preferred default switch in us that will choose the path of less contact in general. Why is this when deep down we are geared to feel like we belong, connect and interact with others?

So what kind of ‘compassion’ is derived from this value? When we do want to help people, it maybe lacks compassion (suffers with) and is more in the helpful category. Compassion though is an attribute of God and is the source of life. Being helpful can look godly yet lack in so many ways.  When we value separation as a community, we may see a different form of compassion (less like God).

For instance separation compassion may look more like:

-writing a check to someone in need and not care about the people all around you in everyday life (neighbours, grocery store, driving, walking)

-going into a soup kitchen to serve food to people rather than intending first to be with people in relationship as they are fed.

Just a story to go with this. 

A friend of mine Greg Paul runs a downtown ministry/church called Sanctuary, for inner-city people with many high visible needs. He tells a story of a ‘high powered’ banker who heard of the great things going on and decides to come help out in the food program. As he enters and meets Greg, he is taking off his ‘high powered’ jacket and rolling up his ‘high powered’ sleeves to go serve food out of the kitchen to the many people waiting for their meal (sometimes the only one they get). Greg stops him and says “You won’t be in the kitchen today (reserved for people who work their way up to that). Go and grab a plate and eat with the community.”

This wasn’t comfortable for the man. He said “I can’t eat someone’s food, I came to help, not take”.  Greg’s reply was something like “what you will give to help today will be relationship. When was the last time a homeless person got the chance to sit and eat with a high powered banker? Do you know how many doors, people and barriers they would have to go through before they’d even see you? What you give today is community with people who are excluded-probably their greatest need.”

I have been studying/speaking on what it takes for us to be actively bringing about the work of community and compassion to our sphere of living. A part of the talk has to with what holds us back from joining Christ at what He is doing. First I have really liked the simple definition of ‘compassion’; com = with, and passion = suffering (like the ‘passion of the Christ’) so in turn ‘suffering with’ is the best definition to me and for my purposes. The other part is talking about joining Christ and walking a very ‘alive and awake’ experience of who He is in our world despite the prevalence of the issues that hold us back.

Capitalism

..equality can never be achieved in a capitalistic society that is based on entrenched inequality. –Judy Rebick, Transforming Power, 2009

This concept of “an economic system in which wealth, and the means of producing wealth, are privately owned and controlled rather than commonly, publicly, or state-owned and controlled”, sounds closely associated to consumerism and may have been birthed from the philosophy of it.

There is something else a part of capitalism the merits its own point- The need to be better than others. What we are taught by from a very young age is to look for what is different, prejudice (forms into racism), and competitiveness.  Whether it is in the play ground of ‘I’m first’ or ‘me first’, or at the school years of ‘my team can beat your team’ or ‘our school is better than your school’ (my dad can beat up your dad, etc), the message is clear –if you can win, be ahead you are really living the best life.

Problem is that we are built to be in community and relying on each other. In fact we have so many weaknesses, we are built to be interdependent –with God and with each other (God in them).  The compassion that comes from capitalism is at best to give to people with need, but not too much otherwise they can exceed you, or it is subtly laced with prejudiced emphasizing the differences, which in turn looks like pity. Or the giving has a ‘how can giving to this need benefit me?’ kind of air. There is little dignity in that giving.  This is the opposite of Christ.

Jesus was about giving His life, time and energy not only to die for others but to give a purposeful ministry of giving ‘greater than His’ (John 14). This is the antithesis to capitalism.  His compassion looks to suffer with people not pity. His compassion will have no problem walking through cultural or human social barriers and gives rather than finds a better way of life that preserves His life.

Also Christ is not threatened when challenged or when people try to compete with Him. He holds everything with open hands and is able to let prestige and power go. Compassion can truly work at that point. In some profound way we recognize we need the poors in our lives and can bring them close to us. Their poverty reveals our poverty that is more cleverly hidden behind ‘successes and achievement.

Practically what this looks like:

-Taking time to check yourself each day if you are in a competitive mode (for me it is ‘am I ok to let someone cut into my lane in traffic?’, or in line at the grocery store, or if ideas are being asked for and I try to come out with the good insight before each other has a chance to say their bit).

-Find ways to promote others at work and in family life. If someone has an idea or ability that helps out, let them have the credit and let them have the first chance at a solution even if they will do it at 60% of what you could do at a 100%.

-Give sacrificially. When you know you can give in a way that can make you uncomfortable,  you are stretching your capacity to be used of Christ (making more room for Him). This kind of giving will remove the chance of competing with others overall and bring understanding of others who feel needs every day.