So glad I am not alone!

So, my first real rough day happened this week!  I had a headache by the end of it and thought, "wow, it is tough to work with kids sometimes!"  The games didn't go right, I couldn't get them to settle and I felt like they didn't get the best of me.  I know that I will not always be the best at this job and will encounter resistance but what struck me most was that even though I didn't feel the best I was still part of a team and was not alone. 

This really important fact was backed up through various means during the last week, so I have been ruminating on it.  One of my advisors brought to my attention the need for a mentor.  Somebody who will be able to not only instruct me on leadership issues but also someone who will have experience in urban ministry.  Finding this mentor will assist me in knowing that I am not alone.  Second, I realize how much bigger the ministry of TCM is and how supportive they are to each of their team.  Third, just going through 1 Corinthians and looking at the different ministries of Paul and Appollos.  Even though they performed different ministries the emphasis of the passage is on these being God's work!  God is in this ministry and this is the biggest reason I am not alone.  No matter how I feel (whether it went well or not) it is not me but what God is doing.  And for this I am greatfull. 

Thanks that I am not alone. 

Individual and the Community

My parents are on a cruise currently, sending me email postcards from the cruise ship.  I have never been on a cruise before, or on a boat for any significant length of time, so I am unfamiliar of the feeling you get from looking out around and seeing nothing but water.  I'm sure it can be an overwhelming feeling, perhaps even makes one sick!  I think the only thing that makes someone okay about going on a cruise is that though you are surrounded by water you are not alone on the journey (in fact you may find it too crowded even on an amazingly big ship).  Don't think too many people would choose for their vacation to sit in a ship for so many hours in a day and be all alone by oneself and the expansive water.  It amazes me though how secluded and individualized Canadian culture can be!  How we might choose instead of journeying life together we instead opt for the silly lonely ride, slowly driving us mad.

Theological writers have for years written on Christian community and of how the bible instructs and exemplifies the importance of the individual for community and the community for the individual.  Bonhoeffer's classic Life Together is most encouraging on the life of Christian community.  I have also come across thoughts on community this morning through Newbigin and his ideas on Christian mission.

I now have the wonderful opportunity of working in a community in Toronto called St. James Town.  My involvement in this multicultural neighbourhood has me testing out these great writings and thoughts on community.  Last week I sat with my program director from seminary and this week sat with the program director for TCM.  The one director spoke of programs and people to meet, while the other encouraged me to always ask the "why" questions (why are we doing this or that).  I am reminded that to shape community you have to be in community.  When you are in community you will also be shaped by community.

I am glad for all of those who I have already met so far and am excited to be shaped by some of them.  I realize that I am from a small town and I have need of some "inner" city education.  But more than that these people are there for the people and that is something I must learn and develop.  Adding to this also is the commitment for presence because of God's sake.  I am not just there to be there but to be Christ there.  This will have amazing rewards and many heartaches.

If you know of great stories of community (Christian or non) feel free to share them with us here, because we all need to hear about the successes to keep us moving forward in building community and experience a virtual community here online.

Blessings,

Wow, that flew by...

Ok, so it's been a few weeks since my last post, but boy have these few weeks just flown by!  I haven't forgotten just been unable to sit down with it to post.  But here I am, and it is my intention to post each Wednesday, so keep coming back!

One of the great guys in the Bible wrote of Jesus teaching that we should love each other as God loves us, and that there is no greater love than the laying down of one's life for another.  Another great writer in the Bible speaks of three lasting things in this world, faith, hope and love.  The greatest of these is Love.  These thoughts have echoed and appeared during the past few weeks and have caught me today.

Last night we experienced our first community potluck.  Wow, what an amazing event and what a warm welcome we were given by the people of this community!  But this feeling has been demonstrated over and over by grace and acceptance in these weeks past.  So gracious is the atmosphere, that I even got cheers on making my first basket last friday at the men's basketball!!

Reflecting on how harsh the world around us appears each day and of all that we fear and distrust, I am amazed by the power of a little love.  At the risk of borrowing another's great thought, "what the world needs now is love sweet love".  I hope to reach a dark, hard world today with a little bit of love.  And I pray that you would too.

Peace and Love,
Darryl