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February 2006 It’s already February -- but, here in Niagara region of Southern Ontario, winter is just beginning! We had our first real snow-fall of the year --For some people however, the ‘season of rest for the earth’ seems to be dragging on too long! They may feel they have to ‘shake things up a bit’! Southern Ontario has been plagued by a rash of murders, violent crimes of all sorts, and thefts of valuable art ... Even our small church was hit by two break-ins this week. How does one respond to such a violation? Instead of being really angry about this, I find myself wondering what kind of homes these criminals have come from? Are they in fact the real victims here -- the victims of unhappy homes, of exploitive and abusive friendships; victims because they can’t hold down ‘a decent’ job ... ? They have broken with the rest of society -- but have also damaged ‘ours’. Some of our members are now apprehensive to enter the church building alone. -- Admittedly, I got the ‘willies’ too, as I checked the doors and windows by myself before leaving the facilities for the night -- knowing our ‘night visitors’ might be back at least one more time to see what we replaced our stolen merchandise with. In times like these, it would be easier to cancel studies, to not respond to the suicide cal, to not meet with distressed congregational members or not to volunteer at the local shelter for refugees -- One’s faith and confidence in God sure wavers when attacked in one’s own ‘safe’ space or sanctuary! * The intention of the enemy is to paralyse his victim to feel totally helpless and vulnerable. Instead, I find comfort and new courage in God and in God’s Word. The psalmist wrote: "But thou, O Lord, art a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness." (85:15) When no one is there to give us comfort, God is and can. When no one understands our fears, God does. When we have no one to turn to for a sign of his presence and favour, God’s sign -- the cross -- stands boldly in the world and in our hearts to point us to Himself. God wants to shame "those who hate me ...because thou, Lord, hast helped me and comforted me." Amen It’s in times like this that we really have an opportunity to trust in God, and to hear God’s Words to us: not to fear! Our Lord Jesus did not hate his ‘haters’. Instead, he loved them to the point of dying for them. That’s the way I would like to live. Don’t you? Call on God for spiritual strength in those emergencies that threaten you -- but, call on God any other time too! Then, embrace what God offers you to be or do -- AMEN
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