The antidote

After 15 months of loss because of a deadly virus, after ignited racism in the United States and here at home, as we grieve the cascading affects of Canada’s Residential Schools, we are horrified again by the violent, murderous act carried out on an innocent Muslim family. Our hearts are breaking.

The four people who died in London, Ontario were targeted because of their Islamic faith. They were intentionally hit with a vehicle by a man consumed with unthinkable hatred. It was an act of terrorism. 

Terrorism is the unlawful use of violence and intimidation. The purpose is to put people in a state of fear, to make them feel totally unsafe, and to somehow gain power over them.  It is inconceivable   that someone would be so consumed with hatred that they would deliberately take the lives of innocent people out for an evening stroll.

As I reflect on all of this, it is as though both Covid-19 and the hatred brought about through racism are deadly viruses that desperately require a vaccine!  Perhaps that is where our hope lies, in the vaccine against Covid-19 and the vaccine of Christ’s love against hatred/racism.

As followers of Jesus, our response is important and God’s love is the antidote. 

We must overwhelm and undo hatred with God’s love. 

We must surround those who are feeling targeted, both physically and figuratively, with God’s love. 

We must pray that God will give safety and peace to our Muslim brothers and sisters, in God’s love.  

We must work to disable the structures and systems that propagate racism, sexism, homophobia/transphobia and religious persecution, in God’s love.

We must pray for the young orphaned child who is facing a tragedy no child should face, that somehow, someway, God would heal his body and his heart of this atrocity. May God give him and all those hurting and fearful, comfort and peace, in God’s love.

We must be the people of God’s Light and Love. And if we along with our brother and sisters hold our opinions loosely and show God’s love fiercely, imagine how we could change the world!

Join me as we pray, act and illuminate.

Who are you most like?

“But while he was still a long way from home his father saw him, and his heart went out to him; he ran and hugged his son and kissed him.” (Luke 15:20)

Jesus told a story about a father with two sons.  Many of you reading already know this as the Parable of the prodigal son.

What I love about this story is that there is something for each of us.

Some of us are the prodigals. We’ve wandered far from home, far from our father, and far from our true calling.  We have gotten caught up in the pleasures of the world and ended up empty and lonely and even hitting rock bottom. With a renewed appreciation and understand we swallow our pride to go back to our father’s house.

Others are the older sibling—the one who stayed with the father and worked hard while his younger brother squandered his money away. We are the ones with a sense of duty and obligation, the responsible ones who obey the rules and get the job done. And when the partier comes home to a warm welcome from our father, we struggle to rejoice. We become bitter and resentful not only towards our brother but even our father. Shouldn’t our little brother be punished for his betrayal? Why does he get special treatment after he walked away? 

Sure we know our Father’s rules but we do not understand his heart?

There may be times in our lives we’re like the prodigal and other times our attitude is more like the old brother’s, but the truth is we are all called to be like the father. 

This isn’t just a story of a boy who wanted to experience the wealth of this world or a brother with the heart of a Pharisee. It’s the parable of the compassionate father. 

He loved his sons and showed them grace and forgiveness in different ways. He embraced and celebrated the prodigal who felt so unworthy. But even in the midst of the celebration, he left the party to affirm and encourage his eldest son, while gently correcting his attitude.

Our heavenly Father’s love for us is beyond measure. When we are far from home, he eagerly awaits and yearns for our return. And while we are still far from his doorstep, he rushes to meet us and walk with us the rest of the way. In the same way, he has such compassion and understanding for those who have trouble welcoming the prodigals. And he will walk us into the party too. We are in his family and our Father loves all his children.

History today.... The Church's involvement in residential schools.

The recent discovery of the remains of 215 First Nation children in a mass unmarked grave on the ground of the former Kamloops residential school, has sent shock waves throughout Canada.

It is a disturbing part of Canadian history that is difficult to look at, and yet it is so important that we not look away.  The Presbyterian Church in Canada played a role in running eleven residential schools spanning almost nine decades from the mid- 1800s until 1969.  In 1925 the majority of these schools were transferred to the United Church.  The Presbyterian Church oversaw the remaining two schools - two too many - until 1969 when the schools were transferred to the Federal Government.

At Amberlea, we so often talk about family, the faith of generations, and legacy - and my heart aches to think of how the lives of generations have been so horrifically affected by Christians who undoubtedly believed they were furthering Christ’s kingdom.

In 1994 the Presbyterian Church in Canada publicly repented, and we, as a denomination continue to seek truth and reconciliation.  

As more truths of our marred history are unearthed it is important for us to look, listen and seek to understand.  To that end, I have attached a few resources regarding the involvement of the Presbyterian Church in residential schools.  As you read it, would you join me in praying.

Let’s not look away as we would want to do instinctually, but instead let us pray for God’s children; for the families who lost their loved ones, never to be seen again. Let’s pray for those families who are facing again the pain and suffering of that loss.  This is history today. 

And please pray for God’s mercy and forgiveness over the Canadian Church.

I believe it is also important for us to ask, what can we do at Amberlea? How can we be a part of the change? How can we be a part of finding true reconciliation?

May the Lord bless you and keep you as we together mourn, together learn, together listen, and together become the Light of Christ in these dark days.

https://www.campkintail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Administrative-History-of-Residential-Schools.pdf

https://presbyterianarchives.ca/2018/08/17/narrative-history/

https://presbyterian.ca/2021/05/31/pcc-prays-for-the-lives-lost-at-kamloops-indian-residential-school/?fbclid=IwAR2LaJb-OPxan5dumIjh5HpTzZpSKmUBQbqlJp5PQb-v6F9-DOiN4j4YK_8