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The weekend was spent in watching a play in which Cynthia’s daughter and her husband were acting.  Bryan was the lead character, Samantha was a part of the chorus.  The production was well done.  I can see why Bryan’s push towards being a professional actor is certainly well directed.

The rest of the weekend was here and there with meals and people.  Friends and family brought forward updates and advice and fun.  The difference in visiting in Calgary vs. Kindersley is that you have to travel.  Most treks were at least 20 – 30 minutes in length.  Timing your travel amidst traffic can be a bit of a trick.

On the other hand, I have been fighting a cold that has begun to blossom.  Right now it is just irritating.  I expect the next few days will see an increase in coughing, tiredness and whatever else goes along with a cold.

One of my takeaways from the weekend relates to playing a role.  In the theatrical production the one character uses the Bible to prove a point, one of the main protagonists is a conservative southern preacher.  In “real life” the  actor who uses the Bible would characterize himself as an atheist and the actor who plays the conservative preacher is a homosexual.  In a very real sense, the actors play the opposite of their daily lives.

How we perceive the purveyor of words may affect whether we will eagerly listen to them, but are the words themselves voided by the character of the one who speaks them?  This question goes back millennia – Paul sits in a prison and others speak about the Good News of Jesus, but do it only for selfish gain. or out of envy.  Seems that Paul still accepts that what is spoken is powerful regardless of who does the speaking (Philippians 1:15-18). 

A bit of an argument to listen to others – even the worst of people may have a nugget of truth tucked away in their arsenal of words! 

This is the time of year where we run our annual meeting.  With transitioning that is happening, I ‘m thankful the meeting was scheduled for a little later this year.

Our Associate Pastor is headed out of town by February 28th.  His goal and the vision God has given him relates to reaching Montreal for Christ.  The picture is huge, the first step is getting there.  One way or the other, he will be headed to Montreal in the next few weeks.

Meanwhile, a transitional plan which would have propelled me into retirement, has been set aside.  What the next step is, I (and we) are not sure.  I’ve spent time in personal retreat and am starting to contact others for advice. 

Looking over our annual report one characteristic stands out.  The reports are basically the same, but each one seems to be abbreviated from the previous years version.  I had somewhere around 8 pages – this year 2. 

We were in the midst of the year talking about waiting.  I think I begin to see the sense that was there.  You can’t make huge long reports when you are waiting to see what is coming.  You might catch a glimpse of  the train that is on the track, but you can’t yet describe it.  There is a light on the front!  The rest is still to be revealed.

God knows, and we will discover!

I have found the internet to be unsettling!

I have settled on many things in my life.  I do believe that there is objective truth.  Just not as many of them as I used to think there was. 

I have been certain about many things that have been proven wrong over the years.  I figured that fat was good for you – so I eat lots of margarine.  Better rethink that one!  I was certain my genetics would help me grow old easily and for a long time.  I’m not so certain about that after double knee replacement and cataract surgery – all before I reach 60 years of age.

Recently I heard the phrase that vision influences through clarity, not certainty.  When you are leading people, vision casting is one of the main things that you are called to do.  For years the idea has been that we need to tell people exactly what needs to be done – to be certain about how life will unfold and where people fold into that life.

I’m not so certain about that! 

Lately my optometrist has seen “floaters” in my eyes.  He says the brain adjusts to these annoying things, blocking them out.  But they are still there.  I think sometimes we block out what we don’t want to see.  And we are certain that the “floater” is no longer there. 

Perhaps our calling as leaders is to open up the eyes of those who follow us by helping them to see.  Helping them to see a little bit more each day.  Helping them to see without blinders.  Helping them to see with clarity.

For when clarity is combined with courage and our calendar, our lives end up being lived simply – simply for what counts!

The closeness of an object magnifies it’s significance.  Or completely blurs the big picture. 

I’ve been in the midst of circumstances lately in which I needed to take a bigger gaze than just upon the circumstance itself.  I’ve called this gazing on God.  When I put things in the lens of God, things come into some perspective.

I can’t say I’ve always achieved that sense.  I’ve started to use a phrase – “Even if” that helps me view my circumstances. 

In that phrase is tucked the sovereignty of God.  When I begin with the idea that God is in control, all of a sudden other things become less menacing. 

With the resignation of our Associate Pastor, I was placed in just such a circumstance.  Our plans were turned completely around, and I was left without a plan.  That is unusual for me, and perhaps a bit frightening??? 

In a feeble way I have tried to fix my eyes on Jesus.  Over the past few weeks, various meetings have proved to be opposite to what I had expected (which was along the lines of worst case scenario).  As well, I have tried not to become defensive but rather to receive wisdom and instruction as needed.  Again, not always done well but I’m finding a measure of peace.

May God grant us all peace today!