Reconciliation...

"The re-consecration of desecrated places" is one of Webster's definitions of reconciliation. As followers of Christ, we are called to the ministry of reconciliation. When I look at this definition, I am immediately excited and overwhelmed in the same breath. Is not our entire earth "desecrated"? Are not each one of us "desecrated"? Then I am reminded...I am not taking the lead on this. It is not my power, my might, my strength that brings this about. I am merely tapping into that groundwork which has already been laid: Christ's sacrifice.

Yesterday, while many men scurried around the city looking for last minute flowers and chocolate, I, along with about 400 others, said good bye to one great man. Together we celebrated the life of George Schmidt. And I miss him.

This last year, we also said good bye to another great man, John Schmidt. Cancer claimed both of their lives. No, let me restate that. Jesus claimed their lives...cancer ended them. John, whose role in "pastoral care" at CBC, continued to write me emails of encouragement, even in his retirement. These emails always came at the most important times. George, who, in one of his last acts as "Dean of Students" at CBC, hired me as a Residence Director 5 years ago, and convinced me that I was able, even when I didn't think I was. He was so determined to see me take the job that he offered me a solution to do both RD and ministry in Costa Rica. I pursued that model for 4 years.

Reconciliation.

While we grieve, these men are reconciled in the fullest sense. They live with God. Step in step. Full sight. Today I rejoice that I knew these two men...and that they took the time to invest in me.

The return to myself...

In some ways, I feel like I've been absent for a couple of months. Like December and January, I went on vacation, and a robot form of me took over.

But, I'm back.

This last week was Missions Emphasis...and man, did God speak to me. There are days when I start to get comfortable here - start to buy into the North American mindset, the consumerism, the desire for more and more. The words I have heard this week have been convicting, blessing, encouraging, and challenging - I know the path that I am headed on, and there is no way I can do it, unless God is guiding me. I don't know the wheres or the whens or the whos...but I know that I am called to serve, and for some reason, staying in North America is not on my agenda. But then again, only God knows my future...and I've learned to never say never.

This is what I echo with today:

"I want to keep my soul fertile for the changes, so things keep getting born in me, so things keep dying when it is time for things to die. I want to keep walking away from the person I was a moment ago, because a mind was made to figure things out, not to read the same page recurrently." - Donald Miller

Secret confessions.

I LOVE editing stuff. I do it without thinking...which sometimes can be a hassle. Ever see something that you know is wrong, but you can't change it? Like on Facebook, when someone has written "knew" instead of "new"...but I can't do anything about it other than stare at it. Erg.

Anyone know of part-time editing jobs that require no experience? Let me know.

Also I've realized that I'm a super visually-oriented person...but mostly just with words and letters. When I look at a picture of someone and try to remember the person's name, I actually see it written out in my mind's eye. Sometimes even my sentences, as I'm thinking them, or speaking them, I'm writing them out in my mind.

Maybe a lot of this has to do with working in a role which requires huge amounts of reading every day. Overall, I chalk it up to the phonics lessons at age 4. Thanks Mom!

Concern.

Anyone else concerned that Superstore's eggnog sits out, NOT in refrigeration? Guaranteed I'm steering clear of that...

My other concern for today...the fact that college students seem to think that by using spell check they reserve the right to not edit their own papers. Do you know how many papers I've read in the last three months that allowed spell check to change "definitely" to "defiantly"? There's nothing like stating, "I defiantly agree that we need to help with the homeless situation in Canada". So you are in defiance, but agree? Interesting...

...

"We must build a new world, a far better world - one in which the eternal dignity of man is respected."
- Robert H. Schuller