Canada Day

When I was a child, a popular hymn in Church of England circles was William Blake’s poem:

    And did those feet in ancient time.

    Walk upon England’s mountains green:

    And was the holy Lamb of God,

    On England’s pleasant pastures seen!

    And did the Countenance Divine,

    Shine forth upon our clouded hills?

    And was Jerusalem builded here,

    Among these dark Satanic Mills?

    (Satanic mills, a reference to the industrial revolution)

Of course, the answer was: “No, He didn’t.” But the majestic music that accompanied it, composed by Hubert Parry in 1916, was soul-stirring, making you believe England was specially blessed by God and consequently, no other country could ever match Great Britain.

To further deepen the patriotic spirit, the Promenade Concerts of classical music, held at the Royal Albert Hall every year, would end with this song set to Edward Elgar’s soaring music, everyone in attendance singing it with gusto.

    When Britain fi-i-irst, at heaven's command,

    Aro-o-o-o-ose from out the a-a-a-zure main,

    Arose, arose from out the azure main,

    This was the charter, the charter of the land,

    And guardian a-a-angels sang this strain:

    Rule Britannia!

    Britannia rule the waves

    Britons never, never, never shall be slaves.

Of course, England, being an island, is usually green, blessed by frequent rain from the surrounding oceans, but its ability to rule the waves, and the prominence it assumed for itself, has been severely dashed by history.

Last night saw another heavy rain, much of the wet stuff lathering Lethbridge during June. As I look out of my study window, this small Canadian city is certainly a green and pleasant land; which reminds me that God’s grace is not confined to the British Isles, or even Canada.

This Canada Day weekend, is a time to celebrate with gratitude God’s goodness to this country of ours. Even if few acknowledge Him or His handiwork evident around us:

We will praise the Lord.

Sanctity or Quality of Life?

The first half of my life I lived in a predominantly Christian culture. Of course, not everyone was Christian by belief, but most people agreed with Christian values. As a result, the foremost value that pervaded society was the sanctity of life: preserve all human life.

We now live in a predominantly pagan society. Again, not everyone would call themselves pagans; it smacks too much of primitive religion, but who never-the-less subscribe to pagan values. These values are arrived at by social consensus based on current and convenient opinion, not on any fixed religious moral code.

This has given rise to a change over the last half century from the Christian sanctity of life, to a quality of life ethic. A little thought should reveal the dangers lurking in this idea. A person who has, or is unlikely to have a suitable quality of life doesn’t have a life worth living.

But who is to judge whether a quality of life is worth living? You and I provide the last word in a democracy which lives by social consensus. For instance, a fetus obviously has no quality of life, so can be discarded at will. In fact, the quality of unborn life is practically nil, so a living human in the womb has no right to be called a person.

Abortion on demand is the first step down this road. A BC court’s recent rejection of the law against assisted suicide has opened up the next two: assisted suicide and euthanasia. The distance between them is very short. Ideally, you would try to hold out a helping hand to someone ready to jump off a bridge, by persuading him his life is worth living.

But are you prepared to assist his suicide by a helping push because he considers his life not worth living? That is distasteful enough. If you are, it may not be long before you give him a push because you consider his life not worth living. The appearance is the same, but there is vast difference.

The first push may questionably be called suicide, assisted by you, the second push is murder; considered and acted upon. But in each case, you become the final judge of his quality of life and act upon it, believing your personal judgment gives you the right to help or cause another person’s death.

Even if you don’t participate, your opinion with others of like mind is what shapes your society. Is this what you want? If so, perhaps one day another person will consider your life not worth living. You will have little say in the outcome, because you have bought in to a nebulous quality of life basis of judgment.

Wouldn’t you and others you love rather feel protected by a sanctity of life based culture, where every human life is considered inviolable?

Smaller is Sometimes Better

It’s time to downsize. If they’re designing 400 square feet apartments in Toronto—the size of a double garage—and if Ikea can build a home in 382 square feet, why do we need 1,500 or 3,000 to live in, particularly for empty nesters like ourselves?

I can understand space for a growing family, a place for kids to play, do homework, hang out with friends or surf the web, as well as private space for mom and dad—happy father’s day, all you duds dads—to retreat to, and a small bus to fit all those kiddie seats in, and a smaller economic conveyance for shopping, and . . .

I’ve always told Ann that if she flies away first, I’ll buy a double garage and fit it up from Ikea—it’s all I’d need to live in. But I couldn’t inflict that on her; she deserves better. However, she called me to account—stop talking and act on it now!

Age is also catching up. Too many old people remain in accommodation they can’t cope with due to failing bodies. Then it becomes an emergency. We decided—together!—to make the switch while we can, not when we have to.

So now we are refitting a 550 square feet lower level for less space to live, no stairs to climb, and level access off the street. Less cleaning, less “stuff,” and we’ll practise a closer, much closer relationship. We’ve had long enough for needed practice at that.

We are blessed that our original design, when built eight years ago, lends itself to this transformation. We could, of course, claim prophetic vision: it wasn’t. We could claim our downsizing is an environmental pursuit, or a pious release of at least some of this world’s goods. It isn’t either.

It just seems the right thing to do. We have seen too many older folk, not only living in large abodes they can’t handle, but also becoming a burden on their children, who, in many cases, have become their exhausted parents.

Aging parents could become concern enough. We want to mitigate that for our kids, their kids and their kids, while we still have time to plan any declining future we may face.

It just seems the right thing to do.

Self-Service: A Basic Human Failing

 

We moved to Vancouver in 1979 as I registered in Regent College for the MDiv program. We found a low rental apartment in False Creek, a beautifully designed waterfront development along the shoreline. Alex was five years old and started school while we lived there, starting in the False Creek Elementary School.

As elementary schools go, it was charmingly designed in the local waterfront style, but otherwise was as little known as are thousands of other elementary schools in Canada. That is, until Luka Magnotta made it a target of his horrific cannibalism.

As outrageous as his actions are, they are perhaps less loathsome when set against the defiant rage of dictators determined to hang on to power. Modern examples like Libya’s Ghadafi, Egypt’s Mubarak, and currently, Syria’s Bashar Assad come to mind.

But in each of these dictator’s reign, there were, and still are, surprisingly many that support each of these dictators. The violence and slaughter they cause is less of a concern to their adherents than their personal interests—often better preserved by the dictator. 

Which makes me wonder if our own attitude to life is much different. Certainly better than the extremes Magnotta and cruel dictators go to; but the difference is in the extent, not in the nature of the offence. How far are our selections of politicians or associations, or our daily routine dictated by our desired interests, with little or no regard for those less fortunate?

The Christian virtue of preferring others above ourselves may need examination. Where does our journey for personal comfort blind us to others’ basic human needs? But Jesus’ affirmation that “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many," is our watchword, (Matthew 20:28).

If we cross the line to serving ourselves, we may be keeping company with those we detest the most!

Joshua's Birthday, June 2, 2012

Sunday June 3, 2012

Our grandson Joshua joined the thirty-something generation last Saturday, and I prepared this devotional for the birthday celebration.

Joshua 1:6-9

"Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Josh:

What’s in a name? For most people today, nothing—as long as they like it and it sounds nice. Not so for the Israelites, names had purpose and direction, and for whatever reason your name was chosen, it may have special meaning for your life. Remember, Joshua is the westernised version of the Hebrew: Yeshua, Aramaic: Jesus, and English: Deliverer or Saviour.

I cannot predict how that will work itself out in your life, or what Jerichos you will come up against. But I do know that the advice given to the original Joshua, as he faced his term of leadership, is as relevant today as it was then—for all of us, but today, particularly for you.

Note particularly, three times in this short passage, the Lord directs Joshua to be “strong and courageous.” First, the Lord points out Joshua needs these qualities because he is responsible for the people he is leading; any lack of courage on his part can leave them in danger. The problem for him, and, of course, for all of us, is lack of strength.

So the second and third references give the source of strength and courage; in fact the greater part of this passage, verses 7 and 8, is devoted to it: full obedience to the law, and constant meditation on it, which will give Joshua prosperity and success.

However, Christians no longer keep the law for fear of retribution, but as a response of love and gratitude for Christ’s rescue from its curse. The law, given by our Creator, reflects the optimal conditions for fellowship with Him, spiritual health, and success in our God given calling.

Finally, in a fourth injunction not to be terrified or discouraged, the Lord promises to be with Joshua constantly; which is just as well, because like us, he would fail in maintaining that full obedience and meditation.

Life is hazardous. Being a Christian often makes it more so. Thus the need for strength and courage: strength to pursue our calling despite the obstacles we face, and courage to face the dangers we fear. After all, courage is unnecessary in the absence of fear.

We, Nan and Gramps, together with others, are encouraged by your commitment to the Christian faith, your intensive investigation to understand the faith, and seizing opportunities to express it through various forms of media. Continue in the way you are going and you will fulfill the promise of your name: Joshua. Our love and prayers go with you through the next year and beyond.