ALASKA

How can an experience feel desolate, detached and calm all at the same time? As the cruise liner

entered the mouth of Glacier Bay, Alaska; it’s engines slowed as some 1500 rubbernecks including myself were dashing on all decks to get the best view possible. Why are more than 2 million tourists from all over the world drawn to this place every year?  Unpredictable weather could include rain and dense fog, which at times have made the glacier invisible.

Today the sun is shining, the water is calm allowing the surrounding mountains and glacier to be mirrored in a most sacred beauty. The ship turns a 360-degree angle to give all passengers the ideal view. It is fairly quiet on deck; everyone has a camera of some sort endeavoring to catch any changing mood of this magnificent scene. As the Sun shines on this ornate piece of original art the colors reflect hues of blue, green, turquoise and as the clouds cover the sun another portrait appears.

We watch the landscape changing before our eyes as giant pieces of ice break away and display diamond like bergs in the icy water.

 I ponder this majestic intimidating and ever-changing landscape. It is one of the world’s largest protected natural areas. The ship moves slowly out of the bay and I see new growth along the shoreline, as the glacier melts away to give birth to life which 250 years ago was once covered in a blanket of ice. Here we see the possibilities and resilience of nature. I am so reminded of how connected we are to the earth and all creation. And for whatever reason this journey through time became both a therapeutic and spiritual experience.

A life in the day of Facebook.

A life in the day of Facebook.

 Whether we like it or hate it, if we are part of it we are addicted somewhat. If you don’t post it you stalk it. It’s your complete resource for living. It supplies your breakfast, lunch and dinner, takes you to exercise class, feeds you vitamins, informs you about all the poisons in our food, how much sleep you need, takes pounds off in a matter of days, cleanses your colon, does your devotions and preaches you several sermons a day. It keeps you current on world events, tells you what political party to support and what will happen to you if you don’t.

More than anything it reconnects you to your history, brings back old memories; gives you a greater appreciation for the people who have been a part of your life over the years and enriches you with the gift of friendship.

 After living in some ten towns and cities in five provinces it is difficult to keep track of all the people you have met. I occasionally get a friend request whom I can’t seem to place, however after looking at their profile and seeing we have mutual friends then I don’t hesitate to accept their request in hopes that something will show to jog my memory. That being said, it has been a wonderful ride back into cherished memories of the past and keeping up with current events in the lives of people you care about.

Communication has changed considerably in my time. We have come a long way from Lily Tomlin’s one ringy dingy two ringy dingy. We have stripped the phone off the wall and put it in our pockets, we text, tweet and seldom talk. We send photo’s all over the world in a matter of seconds and by the time we hear Good Evening this is the National and I’m Peter Mansbridge the news is as old as the commentator!

O what a wonderful world!

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A LIFE IN THE DAY OF FACEBOOK

A life in the day of Facebook.

 Whether we like it or hate it, if we are part of it we are addicted somewhat. If you don’t post it you stalk it. It’s your complete resource for living. It supplies your breakfast, lunch and dinner, takes you to exercise class, feeds you vitamins, informs you about all the poisons in our food, how much sleep you need, takes pounds off in a matter of days, cleanses your colon, does your devotions and preaches you several sermons a day. It keeps you current on world events, tells you what political party to support and what will happen to you if you don’t.

More than anything it reconnects you to your history, brings back old memories; gives you a greater appreciation for the people who have been a part of your life over the years and enriches you with the gift of friendship.

 After living in some ten towns and cities in five provinces it is difficult to keep track of all the people you have met. I occasionally get a friend request whom I can’t seem to place, however after looking at their profile and seeing we have mutual friends then I don’t hesitate to accept their request in hopes that something will show to jog my memory. That being said, it has been a wonderful ride back into cherished memories of the past and keeping up with current events in the lives of people you care about.

Communication has changed considerably in my time. We have come a long way from Lily Tomlin’s one ringy dingy two ringy dingy. We have stripped the phone off the wall and put it in our pockets, we text, tweet and seldom talk. We send photo’s all over the world in a matter of seconds and by the time we hear Good Evening this is the National and I’m Peter Mansbridge the news is as old as the commentator!

O what a wonderful world!

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VALUE

Value

Oscar Wilde wrote; Nowadays we know the price of everything and the value of nothing.

The word value as a noun is in regards to the importance, worth or usefulness of something. It also refers to a person’s principles or standards of behavior. One’s judgement of what Is important in life.

Honesty, responsibility, adaptability, loyalty, confidence and compassion are some of the 500 values that have been listed.

The word value also depicts the numerical math number and the duration of sound signified by a musical note.

As a verb, value is the estimate of monetary worth. It also refers to the consideration of someone or something to be important or beneficial.

Perceived Value

We are inundated by institutional ideology whose purpose and goal for us is to believe that our value is based upon, among other things what we wear, the car we drive and house we live in. They are for the most part more concerned by what you consume than your net worth. 

The value of an artifact which has been sitting in the closet or on the back shelf may drastically change after the Antique Road Show experts have given their appraisal. 

People are often assigned values by their perceived worth. They are successful, have financial resources, status and skills. Our own self-image can be affected if we try to measure ourselves to others perceived worth. It is important for us to have a well-grounded understanding of who we are.

Statistics reveal that teenage suicide is on the rise and according to the Canadian Mental Health it accounts for 24% of all teenage deaths in 15-24 year olds. It is the second leading cause of death for Canadians between the age of 10 and 24.

Studies show that 90% of those who end their own lives have some sort of mental related illness as well as drug, alcohol and behavioral abuse. While teenage abortions have decreased over the years, twenty-five percent is still too much and suicidal tendencies plague this group of young women. 

 Self-esteem and perceived values can play a major role in how these victims view themselves.

When Darwinism survival without purpose is taught in our schools, the most vulnerable can see themselves as nothing special. They are a product of chance. Billions of years ago, lightning struck a pool of water filled with inorganic chemicals that started a chain reaction which produced simple forms of life that eventually evolved into us. We are nothing more than dumb random luck with no intrinsic, eternal value.

Young people happy living on the streets and eating out of garbage dumps must see their perceived value and self-worth in relation to the circumstances they find themselves.  

God’s Value

The Bible tells us that God created our inmost beings, He knit us together in our mother’s womb, we are fearfully and wonderfully made and all the days of our lives were written in God’s book before we were ever born. We are of inestimable value to him.

Of the 400 million seeds from my father and 2 million cells from my mother that swam together in the dark oceans of the womb, only one seed and one cell persevered and came together and made me who I am today. 13 billion nerve cells which include more than a 1000 billion-billion molecules make up my brain.

How precious to me are your thoughts O God!

It is not because of our own self-worth but it is because God ascribed to us his own righteousness through Jesus. He loved us despite our condition.

Even if you are forsaken by family and friends you are always cherished in the heart of God. His thoughts towards you are wonderful and he has great plans for your life.  If the birds of the are taken care of how much more does he value you.

You are of more value than all the species of birds!

Endnotes: Psalm 139, Jeremiah 29:11-13, Psalm 27:10, Matthew 10:29-31, John 3:16

SILENCE & SOLITUDE

Silence is a lack of audible sound or the presence of sounds of very low intensity. It can also refer to the absence of communication or hearing. It is also used in reference to nonverbal communication and spiritual connection.

Solitude is the state of being alone. It can emphasis the quality of being or feeling lonely and deserted. It also can develop in us a peacefulness stemming from a state of inner richness.

They say silence is golden. Silence can be a blessing if you don’t have a good answer.  On the other hand, silence and emptiness can cause a feeling of being separated from the world. Silence is also a source of great strength.

 The author of Psalm 19 tells us that the heavens are pouring fourth speech and displaying knowledge twenty-four seven, filtering through every spoken language on the earth displaying the glory and the work of His hands.

God speaks to us through silence. Through the little things, the mundane things of life. Not necessarily in a dream or a great show of light beaming down on us. In a challenging circumstance we may hear, be brave, be merciful. Show kindness, pick up the phone, send an email, feed my sheep. He speaks in crisis to. There is so much turmoil in our world; hate, jealousy, crime, people we love are dying, failures, betrayals, greed which can rob us of peace. Fear not…be still and know that I am God.

In order to have a greater impact on melodies and sounds, even music requires silence. Most music scores feature rests denoting periods of silence.

Silence has a peculiar speech. I remember going to see the movie Schlender’s List. The hustle of everyone getting to their seats, buying their popcorn and talking to one another. After the movie ended we filed out of that place in a deafening   silence other than a sniffle of someone blowing their nose. That was a few years ago. I still remember the little girl in the red coat and the silence that followed. 

Solitude can be a means of detoxing our inner self. Solitude helps us become who we really are. It can be a sense of achievement, a preparation for change in our life. It is important in the development of discipline in our spiritual lives. The art of being alone without being lonely. It can lead us to a better sense of self-awareness. It can take us away from the daily responsibilities and yes even people for a while. It is a way of helping us to not try and be productive and make things happen.

Elijah spent the night in a one room getaway in solitude and the Word of the Lord came to him. 2 Kings 19:9,12.

 Some of the greatest ideas have come to people in solitude.

Paul was in solitary confinement when he wrote Phil 4. Rejoice in the crisis, turmoil, again I say it, rejoice. Solitude will enable us to more clearly think upon the things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable.

Who knows what God will say to me today? Or what unlikely moment He will choose to say it.

IMMANUEL

IMMANUEL

The word Immanuel appears in in chapters 7-8 of the Book of Isaiah and in Matthew 1:22-23. It is a Hebrew word meaning God with us.

In Exodus 33:20 Moses was explicitly told by God; You cannot see my face. No one can see me and live.

Who is God? He is the high and lofty one who inhabits eternity.

How is He with us?

At a practical and unusual time in history God came to be with us himself. The high and lofty became lowly and humble and helpless. He put himself at the mercy of a young teenager who was engaged to be married. That in itself made things a little complicated.

Don’t look up, God said to Moses. Now the shepherds are looking down at him wrapped in cloths that came from who knows where and laying in a bed of hay. His name shall be called Jesus.

For the last twenty centuries, the story is told whether seen as absurb or holy, the world takes notice.

This event changed the course of history. We date our letters and checks, our children’s birth and loved one’s death by what happened so many years ago. It has impacted art, literature, political institutions and our understanding about ourselves. While he never wrote a book or a song, libraries of the world could not hold the books written about him. He has inspired more songwriters to write about him than any other theme.

While many of our Christmas traditions stem from pagan rituals it has evolved into a celebration that resonates around the world. The lit-up streets and homes, the carolers, the food, cards and presents; the world is telling a story.

One of my favorite memories of Christmas other than the excitement of receiving gifts as a child was Christmas Eve 1995. Our family attended the Christmas Eve Service at St. John the Evangelist Church on St James Street and Wellington. The church was built in 1888. Its tree lined walk, gothic stained glass windows, among them to the west wall was one honoring those who served in the war; The pipe organ and the choir created a spectacular atmosphere of celebrating the season. I will never forget the message given that evening. The minister talked about the Christ and the manger and the one quote that has stayed with me all these years; ‘The manger is within.’  As we left the service the 14 bell Carillon rang out the news at midnight, as large flakes of snow came gently falling on the evergreens. It was Christmas Day!!  

The story of Christmas was re-birthed in me on that occasion in a way that I had not previously experienced it.

The word became human and made his home among us. John 1:14 NLT

No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us. John 1:18 NLT

It’s the face of the one who was born that night that the world has been haunted by for some 20 centuries. Immanuel: God with us.

STORMS

 

STORMS

One day Jesus said to his disciples,” let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into their boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.

The disciples went and woke him up, saying, “Master, Master we are going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided and all was calm. (Mark 4:35)

There is something comforting about hearing the wind howl when inside my cozy little condo. I am surrounded by three inner walls so the drafts from the wind are minimal. My balcony protects the outer wall from the elements. My car is in the underground garage. All is well.

 As the trees display their enormous strength against the powerful wind, the sky a thick layer of pewter, there is a sense of peace and security because of my shelter.

Storms appear in multifarious forms; snow, dust, rain, wind, ice storms. A snow storm will change the earths landscape to a winter wonderland. Torrential rains, hurricanes, and ice storms will play havoc on the land and individual property.

In spite of the destruction caused by hurricanes, it is said to be important rainmakers in certain regions of the world. It helps to maintain global heat balance and assists in cycling nutrients from the sea floor among others.

Storm chasers who fly into hurricanes report that there is an amazing calm in the eye of the storm. There is no wind, nothing moves, silence.  The eye has an average diameter of 30- 60 km. Above the plane is clear blue sky with the sun streaming into the windows. Surrounding them is total darkness of the eyewall thunderstorms and below them the roaring ocean stirring up waves up to 60 feet high.

The storm ceases and we see the sun scorching its way through a hole in the clouds, as there has never been a storm that didn’t end.

The storms of life; we have experienced them, all of them. We have been caught in them, helplessly lost in them and sometimes, because of our own making. We’ve been blown of course with clouds of fear, helplessness, doubt, insecurity, losses, but we survived. Life is precious.

In the storms of life, God speaks to us.  Sometimes in the eye of the storm, in the dead silence of life when there doesn’t seem to be any sense to anything. Through the little things, the nonsense of life. Nothing profound like written in the stars or reveled in a dream. Just a word or a thought like, don’t give up, show grace, forgive, keep going.

We must keep walking through the storm and not fear the darkness of the eyewall as nothing can separate us from the one who calms the storm.

It is sometimes in the storm that we see real miracles. They are not the miracles that create faith because we saw something. They are miracles that it takes faith to see.

Go to the other side, who knows where that is in our lives or what awaits us. No matter what happens, we have Jesus asleep in the boat, which gives us hope and courage.

Nothing can compare to the mystery of the absolute knowing that even in the silence, whether it is in the eye of the storm or the calm after the storm, that the presence of his holiness is there. Listen for it.

As we keep going to the other side may the one who sleeps in the boat become awake in us.