Life on the Mississippi

When you hear references to the Mississippi River, your mind, like mine, probably goes to the gulf coast, river boats, hot weather or the Ku Klux Klan. The last place you would think of is Ottawa. Yet the Mississippi River runs through a delightful small town called Carleton Place, about 20 minutes drive from Ottawa.

And this is not a narrow headwater, as you might imagine, but a mighty river already, at least a 100 meters wide at its narrowest points, and billowing out to huge lagoons as it curves its way through the Ontario countryside.

The old town boasts an original weir, and an original mill house. Frame, stone, and brick houses of a past era dot its banks. The narrow main street exudes old town charm, quaint shops invite exploring and serene scenery offers refreshing walks along the river bank. But it is changing.

A new four lane highway from Ottawa invites bedroomers from the Capital to relocate, and the big box stores have laid claim to prime selling spots on the outskirts. Several thousand homes are planned for the town and huge billboards invite Mississippi River living in new condos built along its banks.

Residents of this town love living here and face a confident future, whatever malaise is perceived for Canada’s economy. As our youngest daughter, husband, five year old, and ten day old sons settle here from Quebec, we wish them every blessing as they start new life in Carleton Place.  

Finding Life Disappointing?

This past week we welcomed the arrival of our eighth grandchild, a boy, Matteo. What started out as a love affair has now firmly become a family affair. At the beginning, a lifetime stretched out into a long indefinable era. In hindsight, it is a vapour that fades away.

Such is the legacy of life. Full of promise, but often a past season of regrets. Not that Ann and I have made some egregious error, but rather we failed in slivers of effort, and plans didn’t turn out as expected.

Early in life, we feel we have all the answers, and strangely enough, we probably do—the rules of life are not all that obscure—but the final achievement is still elusive. Why does life disappoint us this way? Why does a lament for things not done, undone, or poorly done replace such vibrant promise.

Christianity provides the answer: we live in a fallen world. This is not some error or breakdown that an inveterate Mr. Fixit can correct. It is an endemic situation that defies the most passionate and ardent crusader, because we are all afflicted with the same malaise.

We are all infected with evil potential; clearly revealed in historic and current dictators, but usually hidden in the depths of most of us. If we are honest, we are not proud of our secret thought life and desires, which clearly betrays the streak we try to ignore.

As long as we deny it, it will always undercut our efforts. If we confess it and our need of cleansing, there is provision at the cross, not only for a remedy, but that our earthly efforts, however frail, can have lasting significance. Here we start planning for eternity, and not a mirage of life endlessly pursued.

A new life is always a reminder of hidden potential. I pray that little Matteo will find the way of a meaningful life while still young.

Israel vs. Iran?

If current commentators can be believed, it seems Iran may only be a couple of years or so from acquiring an atomic bomb and the means to deliver it. As the bellicose Iranian leadership constantly threatens to destroy Israel, a conflagration in the Middle East is possible.

There are other unstable nuclear nations, North Korea and Pakistan, but the Middle East continues to be centre stage in international affairs. The Turmoil in Syria only adds to the uncertainty. But of all the flashpoints that engender vicious emotions, Israel is front and centre.

Most would consider that simply chance that history and geography had choreographed; yet the Bible prophesies Israel as the centre of affairs at the end of the age. Good guess—if it was that!—a thousand other insignificant nations disappeared into the waste bin of history, but Israel survived.

Too much of a coincidence! In fact, Israel has been the punching bag of nations, even of a misguided Christian church, for most of her existence yet despite her current beleaguered status, most of the world considers Israel the cause of hostility. Why?

Commentators could quote a host of reasons, but most would dismiss what I deem the most credible: Satan’s desire to destroy Israel and prove God false. The Bible’s credibility, and by association, God’s existence, stands or falls according to Israel’s existence or extinction.

I’m not one to find fulfilled prophecy in every news report, but a climax to world history seems best staged by a final conflict between brothers, the age old rivalry between Isaac and Ishmael. The Koran’s insistence on Ishmael’s superiority and its demotion of Jesus Christ is the ideal catalyst.

This also explains Arab unabated fury and desire to destroy Israel, although presented under the guise of anger at Israel’s occupation of Arab lands. But, should Arab vehemence be unleashed against Israel, God promises to preserve Israel in Revelation 12: a future test of His credibility.

Will the current face off between Iran and the west be the beginning of this process? Let’s keep an eye and open mind on future days. But rest assured, the war is joined and will be won in the heavens. Any concurrent battles on earth are simply the human facade.

Always Movin' forward

You may recall the words of an old song: “Slow down, you’re goin’ too fast. Got to make the morning last.” As today is Sunday, it’s an fitting prompt of the need to rest. If God felt it needful to rest, how much more should we?

Most of us will rest briefly without guilt, but rest imposed by illness or injury is different. We feel it stops life; it’s an intrusion into making life worthwhile. We can add other hardships that make us feel sidelined.

In fact, we see most adverse events as reverses in life; not just a break, but a backward motion. We often describe it as “two steps forward, one (or more) steps back.” But is that a fair comment on the difficulties of life?

Ecclesiastes 3 lists opposites that comprise life: to be born and die, to weep and laugh, to mourn and dance, a time for war and peace, and more. This supports the Bible’s claim that progress in life includes sorrow as well as joy. As I trust God this way, my adversity has meaning, whether or not I see or sense it.

My mistake or failure is not a backward step, but I learn another step toward my goal. During a time laid aside, I can listen, perhaps learning for a future need. Even a life of incapacity is occasion for God to display His grace and strength. Remember Joni Eareckson Tada.

A recent author suggested we should not waste our cancer. That scourge, and every other like it, viewed this way, is moving to the goal outlined by Jesus: “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” We can be part of that, whatever life brings us.

Whitney Houston

 

The death of Whitney Houston is a tragedy. The loss of such a powerful, memorable voice is a tragedy. The sorrow it brings to friends and family is a tragedy. Any death is a tragedy, even when inevitable. But avoidable death is a greater tragedy.

Whitney need not have died. She need not have given her life to drugs and alcohol. Such talent and enjoyment for thousands need not have been cut short. Not only Whitney, but from Marilyn Monroe on, you can probably supply names of others whose lives have been cut short by self-destructive behaviour.

Of course, many others have fallen into this spiral and lived to tell about it. But few tell of the reason behind it. Celebrity does not bring the expected results. Yes, the money and comfort is there, the adulation, the fame, that beckon us all.

The tragedy of life cut short like Whitney’s is the seductive promise of fulfilment, early gains of fame confirming the delusion, pushing towards the goal. But success proves empty; the enchantment of the journey emptied by the futility of achievement.

The One who created us and placed the yearning of the soul in us; only He can satisfy it. His is the still small voice we ignore or try to stifle. The greater the disillusionment, the louder the voice sounds and the greater the need to drown it.

Whitney is not in a league on her own in this tragedy. Myriads of us live in quiet desperation, subconsciously aware of our separation from God. We trust in things and people that only partly fill the void. Peace is only found in reconciling with the one who continues to call us to Himself.

Coming Home 2

Some of you have been asking how we are faring in our transition from New Zealand to Canada. It’s a major change, from summer to winter and a twenty-four hour journey door to door, saying goodbye—at least for a time—to loved ones and re-entering a different, if minimally different, culture.

The major change is, or should be the climate. Yet this year, the mild prairie winter is paralleled by a cool New Zealand summer. On arrival, the New Zealand high was 18 degrees, compared with 15 degrees in Southern Alberta. That was almost as much of a shock as temperatures in the 30s would have been.

The things I will miss in Canada, easily obtainable in New Zealand: Good cider at a reasonable price, custard in litre cartons ready for use, and Marmite—staples of my English childhood; er, not the cider! Things I won’t miss: gas at twice the price and reversed driving positions and controls.

The journey, except for security hassles, is not that bad. The longest flight is overnight and we slept; we were fresh for transitions the next day. We appreciated grandchildren in Calgary who ferried us to the airport, looked after our car and met us with it on our return.

Of course, having family all over the world presents these challenges. And all this in our mid-seventies. But really, its a piece of cake! We’re seasoned for it—and more trips, if God and our health wills.

Where do you live? Perhaps we’ll see you there!

The Magic Flute

                     

Last night I attended a live performance of the most popular of Mozart’s operas: The Magic Flute. It is a tale of a princess’s love won by willingly facing death for her. It portrays this risk as the cost of good prevailing over evil.

Most classical composers wrote on biblical themes, extolling the worship of God and His love and salvation for humankind. I believe Mozart never did. Yet this story expresses human longing for an end to evil, exploring the cost of redemption and final union.

This opera, like many classical fantasy tales, is theological. It points to an end of evil and a final state of security. The “once upon a time” points to the present for us. “Happily ever after,” points to a future bliss, the hope of every breast in this sin-ravaged world.

All these stories present one overall lesson. Most of the stories kill, destroy, or banish the source of evil—the big bad wolf, the wicked witch, and so on. If the wolf hadn’t been killed, Red Riding Hood would never be safe.

The Bible tells this story, but it doesn’t depend on human effort or goodness which will never bring about the end of evil. Hope can only be realized when an ultimate power outside ourselves intervenes to defeat evil.

The Christian faith alone places our future on God’s hands, not our efforts or actions. God Himself, in Jesus the Messiah, faced death, and conquered death, to assure our future. Such is the cost for our secure and permanent future.