Remembering

I remember vividly as a young child in public school reciting the poem In Flanders Fields.  Did you do that too? Followed by an afternoon of colouring pages of poppies during art time. We would do this every year after Halloween and before Christmas.  And to be honest I had no idea of the significance of what I was doing.  Today, as an adult I have a deeper, more profound understanding of why we stop and remember.

On Sunday at Amberlea we will pause to honour those who fought for our freedom, to reflect on the price they paid, and to acknowledge the benefits we gained through their sacrifice.

News outlets provide daily reason to appreciate the freedoms we enjoy in Canada. My heart aches for those living in countries where simply stepping into the street means risking one’s life. Or casting an election ballot threatens one’s personal safety. Or converting to Christianity is akin to signing a death wish.

A colleague told me of her recent conversation with a woman from Iran who had just received refugee status. “God has answered our prayers. If Canadian authorities had not said yes, then I would have returned to Iran,” she said. “And as a Christian, would have meant death.”

Just imagine her fear. Imagine her relief and gratitude. Oh, the freedoms we take for granted in our land.

On Monday, as a nation, we will pause to reflect on the freedoms we enjoy at others’ expense, but let’s also remember the sacrifice Jesus made for humankind.

Hebrews 10:19-20 says, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place.”

Jesus’ sacrificial death paved the way for us to have access to God. Because of what He’s done, we can know with certainty that our sins are washed away. We can enjoy moment by moment fellowship with the Divine. We can bring our concerns and needs to Him in confidence believing that He’ll care for us.

Let us never take our freedom for granted nor the price that Jesus paid so that we might enjoy spiritual freedom, too.

Be kind

As Canadians, we are linked in many ways to the happenings of our neighbours to the south. Like many of you, Brian and I were keenly watching the outcome of the U.S. Presidential election yesterday. As we watched each state turn red on CNN’s “magic wall” it reminded me of a scene from Friends, where the group gathered around Monica and Rachel’s apartment window to spy on the “ugly naked guy” across the way—they just couldn’t look away.

This morning, like many of you we woke up to the headlines: Trump Retakes Power.

Regardless of our political views, or how we may feel about the election outcome, the reality is that now both sides must come together. And we, as neighbours, are very much a part of that journey.

As Robert Frost once said, "In three words, I can sum up all I have learned about life: it goes on." But we get to decide how it goes on.

Rejoice or mourn as you feel led, but let us also be kind. Let’s resist the urge to deepen divides with our words or responses.

In my heart, I can sum up all I have learned about life in five words: God is in this story. And as we walk forward, let's hold on to this hope: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).

May we move forward with compassion, strength, and unity. God’s grace is more than enough for the road ahead.

Halloween

Today is Halloween—a night filled with zombies, goblins, witches, and other spooky things. Honestly, I’ve never been a fan of Halloween. Sure, I enjoy the candy, especially those mini Caramilk bars! I used to make sure my kids' stash was safe by taste-testing the chocolate. It’s a real job! I was like a modern-day Nehemiah! But aside from that, Halloween feels a bit too dark for my taste. The verse that resonates with me during this time is:

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear…” (1 John 4:18).

Halloween is rooted in fear.

Did you know that Halloween originated as the festival of Samhain? This was part of the ancient Celtic religion in Britain and other parts of Europe, which believed that on one particular night at the end of summer, the ghosts of the dead returned to earth.

According to Halloween: An American Holiday, An American History, some Celts wore ghoulish costumes so wandering spirits would mistake them for one of their own and leave them alone. Others offered sweets to appease the spirits.

In medieval Britain, supplicants moved door-to-door asking for food in exchange for prayers for the dead. They often carried “hollowed-out turnip lanterns, whose candle represented a soul trapped in purgatory” (Halloween — From Pagan Ritual to Party Night). Others suggest the lanterns were meant to ward off evil spirits. In the 1800s, pumpkins replaced turnips in North America, as they were easier to carve and more plentiful.

Halloween is rooted in fear.

But there is no fear in love. Perfect love drives out fear…

In 1 John, we learn that God’s perfect love drives out fear. When we are certain of God’s love, we don’t have to be afraid—not just at Halloween, but always! It’s as if God is the parent who comes in at night, tucks us in, turns on the nightlight, and reassures us that there are no monsters. In God’s great love, all fear melts away.

As we reflect on our fears, I pray you feel God’s protective and redemptive presence, just as He has been for those who have come before us—even in the face of death.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10).