Every Moment Matters

Driving home this evening from visiting friends I drove past a church that I once considered attending as a teenager. I was immediately hit with the sobering question of what my life might be like today if I had attended that church instead of the one I ended up attending, the church I still call home twenty years later. The simple story is that I was invited by a friend, but the bigger picture takes me back further to a completely unrelated conversation with my grade 11 history teacher.

I was nearing the end of Grade 11 and holding very good marks in history and my teacher approached me recommending that I take a special level world issue course the next year. Although at that age my confidence level was quite low, this teacher's confidence in me convinced me to step out of my comfort zone and take this course setting a chain of events in place that would lead me to where I am today. In taking that course I was required to complete volunteer hours. I chose to volunteer my time at Youth for Christ, leading me to meet Harvey who would quickly become a close friend. Harvey, seeing that I was not connected to a church, invited me to his. I was welcomed warmly and within less than a year was baptized into membership. The next month I began my first summer of camp ministry which soon transitioned into a year round ministry position financially supported strongly by my church family.  Eventually the call came to move into pastoral ministry in this same church, starting with worship ministry, adding small groups to my responsibilities, and then exchanging small groups for middle school ministry where I am still serving today.

As I traced these things back I was struck by how different my life would be if my teacher had not had that simple encouraging conversation with me. It is quite possible that my life would be almost unrecognizable from what it is now and it shook me because of how the last few days have been such a reminder to me of the blessing of friendship and community that I enjoy. My lesson from this is that every moment we spend with others matters and may in fact be eternally significant. As a youth pastor I will never be able to pick and choose which moments with my kids will be impacting. I don't know if it will be a opportunity I offered, an encouragement I gave, or something I taught from scripture, or even just some time spent together. I pray it's not the time I lost my temper, the need for attention I ignored, or the opportunity I failed to give because I wasn't watching close enough to see the gift God was forming inside of someone. I can only pray for God's grace that my impact, every day and every moment, will be positive and that the good things will be remembered.

My Lighthouse

After another late night at church I turned on the TV for some mindless entertainment and was instead enthralled by the account of a mission hospital ship in its travels to West Africa. While the focus of the show was on the ship itself, my interest was in the human element and I was fascinated by the way these people worked together with a common goal in mind of bringing hospital care to those who would never otherwise have it. As the show began the ship was docked safely at port, but it was soon revealed that a storm was coming and so despite the clear sky and calm waters the crew were doing everything they could to prepare the ship for the storm.

As detailed as their preparation was, the storm was a severe one and the ship did not come out unscathed. In the rocking of the waves the food storage area was left a bit of a disaster with eggs, flour, and milk spilling and mixing. All in all it was a minor incident, but it proved that even the best preparation doesn't mean complete escape.

We all hit storms in life; I happen to be in one that feels like it's gone on for far too long and all it took was looking at an email today to feel like the waves were going to wash over me one more time. As I look back I feel like I've taken all the steps to counter the storm, but the truth is that even the best plans and intentions don't always mean the storm won't arrive.

I just bought a new instrument this afternoon, a mandolin, and before I had checked my email I was happily learning how to play a song that has stuck in my head since the day I heard it. Suddenly it was like the storm had sucked the joy out of me; and then I recalled the words of the song I had been worshiping with.

"My Lighthouse, my Lighthouse, I will trust the promise, You will carry me safe to shore...."

I have so much to be thankful for, but it's all nothing compared to the treasure I have in Jesus Christ my Saviour. He does and He will carry me safe to shore. As I pick up my mandolin again and go back to worshipping I think I'm going to sing these words with a lot more meaning because they suddenly came to life.

My Lighthouse - Rend Collective

That last home win.... #gojetsgo #1996

The memories are fuzzy. After all, it was 19 years ago. The date was April 21, 1996 and it was Game 3 of the Jets Detroit series. All I remember is noise and a sea of white. There is nothing like playoff hockey in Winnipeg and I was lucky enough to be at the very last home win of the Winnipeg Jets of old as they beat Detroit 4-1.

Okay, I remember a few other details. I remember at least two of the guys I was with, and I remember that it was impossible to even scream at each other and be heard while sitting side by side. I also remember getting a throat infection from screaming it raw during the game. Yeah, it was really all about the noise....

Tonight as the Jets 2.0 clinched their first playoff spot for our city since that series I decided to search a little bit and found some video of that game! It's just as crazy as I remember it....

Playoff hockey is back. I won't get to be in the crowd this time but I think the parties with friends around the TV will be just as fantastic as that final home win so many years ago. I really can't wait...