a l i v e & a w a k e

I had a great experience recently with my new Sikh friend Sukhminder. He gave me a tour of a Sikh temple. This has been the page I’m on right now as I take on the role of been a pastor in Brampton which has a large growing number of Sikh people. I was definitely out of my element, but Sukhminder assured me that I was ok to go. I took Liv with me (since she was really the one who introduced me to Sukhminder).

We went to a fairly large facility in Brampton that has two huge kitchens and four different worship areas. It was Sunday so there were many people there in those rooms. As we came to a dining area, I was surprised by the only thing set up was long carpets for sitting and people waiting to be served. Many workers were there in the group who served the food, swept the floor and cleaned and cooked in the kitchen –all volunteer! I ate some Indian food with Sukhminder who assured me it was ok to let Liv wander during this time. This was hard from me because becoming a new dad I have been aware that watching where she goes and who she interacts with is pretty important. In this place, Sukhminder assured me that letting her go was ok, so I watched---very closely but I let her go (incase Rebecca reads this). So I watched her walk into the crowd of seated diners.

She wandered through the whole crowd looking for everything that appeals to a 14 month year old girl. As I nervously squirmed trying to hold a discussion about Sikhism and being a Christ follower with Sukhminder, Liv just ran around meeting and being received and parented by every family seated. The community aspect that accepted children was beautiful to watch because all the children ran this way and were allowed to be themselves and all parents were the parents of my child. There was peace and freedom in this. We tried some great tasting Indian food which was given to us for free and I had some discussion with Sukhminder about all the ways we agree on a life abundant.

For instance I found out the meaning of the most common symbol that is on all the buildings (see diagram). It is mostly about the word of God that has similar principles to the biblical view that has a two edged sword (Heb 4:12).

My learnings continue but I felt like I saw the face of Christ in so many ways –the serving of food, the community care of Liv, the teaching about life, and the search for true spirituality. I still continue to talk about the living Jesus and that has brought deeper conversations with Sukhminder.  He believes that for me to see the living Christ, I need to have a pure heart –which has encouraged me. It is very much a confirmation with scripture that says ‘you are the righteous’ (1 Cor 1:30).

This journey continues and I will look to see where God is working and more about what He is teaching me through this beautiful community.

-joe sept 06