A Mighty Flood of Justice

This weekend our church has been fundraising and talking about the global sex trade, in our support of Serve Nepal, part of the SA Foundation, who are working with women who are coming out of the sex trade and giving them a safe place, new skills and restoring dignity. And as we were singing this morning God was speaking to me about His call to justice. Certainly not new territory for me, but a knowledge that has lain somewhat dormant lately. And especially in this place of working for a local church, in relative comfort and wealth, I am convicted.

We were singing, "You are the God of the broken/The friend of the weak/You wash the feet of the weary/Embrace the ones in need/I want to be like you Jesus/To have this heart in me/You are the God of the humble/You are the Humble King." And also, "Where the Spirit of the Lord is/There is Freedom", "I'm free/Free/I'm free/Free/I'm free."

And the Spirit reminded me - God is the Father and Protector of the humble and broken, something I think we all love and say "Amen" to. But there's that line, "I want to be like you Jesus/To have this heart in me," how can I sing that, and not be asking Christ to change me? How can I sing this song and not then go out to the humble, broken and weak. A simple revelation? For sure, but I don't think I've ever noticed that line in all the times I've sang that song. I've been moved by who God is and still never asked Him to make me Christ-like! At least not with that song.

And then we sang of the Freedom, and I was somewhat subdued and somber. How can I sing, "I'm free" when they are in bondage and suffering? What good, what gospel is there if I am free and that's just for me to enjoy and dance in and celebrate and cling to? The words fall empty and meaningless unless I bring freedom in word and in deed. But I didn't fall to despair because of that line, "Where the Spirit of the Lord is/There is Freedom," because I know that the Spirit is within me, is within all of His people. And His presence brings freedom. So yes - if we are not bringing freedom when we see injustice we are denying the Holy One within us. But also - if we will go to bring freedom, it is the power and character of the Spirit of God who will accomplish it! It is not by our might or strength or will. It is by obedience.

I was once told, "We are not free, until we are all free." And in worship of the King this morning the Lord reminded me of that. We in the wealthy Western church need to commit ourselves to stomping out injustice, whether it lies in our own cities, or in third world brothels. Whether it's in vogue or not. Whether it's safe or not. We have resources to serve the victims, and we make choices that are contributing to the demand! I pray that we will not deny the Holy One within us, and speak nice words of commitment when our actions prove our selfishness.

The Bottomless Lake

It was 2 weeks ago my folks texted with a command to pack a bag and join them in Jasper, where it was very hot. I thought for a moment and did as I was I told, arriving that evening. I had two lovely, gorgeous weather days in the mountains. We floated down the Athabasca and I went swimming in the bottomless Horseshoe Lake. Which was certainly cold and mildly nerve-wracking. What appears in these pictures to be crystal blue waters was actually shear underwater cliffs, a black unknown full of fish. And I'm a sissy! But I eventually accomplished my goal and swam out to this fascinating island rising almost to the top, right in the middle.


Alas summer is over, winter has come and my feet and fingers are always cold. Sweater days are here!

the D tour

Last weekend I made a province-wide road-trip with stops in Edmonton, Calgary, Okotoks, Longview, Kananaskis, Canmore, Banff, and Jasper. I also managed to see Ben and Lisa, Jessica and Jordan, my Nana, Kayte, Dakota, Sarah and Heather. I slept in my car one night. And took in Canmore's annual free Pancake Breakfast. Pretty good for a trip taken alone!
Now I didn't use my camera on the first half of the trip, but from the time I saw D, to the time I got home, I took a couple hundred shots. Stopping at every great view, all the way through the Rockies!
You'll have to forgive the little blur spot on most of the pictures, my lens needs looked at, and the pics need retouched. I have yet to do either.

The Steal

I hit a Major sale at Tall Girl in Edmonton last weekend. And I managed to double my denim collection, which brings me up to 4 pairs! Uber-exciting. I bought two pair of jeans, originally priced at $130 each, and 5 shirts, for $130 Total!!
And as you can see, one of those pairs of jeans, happens to be overalls. Some really hilarious, wonderfully sassy overalls!

In Between

Sometimes I wish to use this blog to share those deepest things, things that I get out best with pen and paper in hand. Which is something I haven't been doing this year. So sometimes I think it would be easy just to write them out here. But then there they would be, for all the world to read. And so I don't.
Sometimes I wonder at how my blog becomes a sounding place for only the happy and momentous. I don't share pictures of the day-to-day, and I rarely write of anything resembling pain. At least not since I returned home. Fact is I almost don't know where to begin. And then I wonder if I should trust the whole world, (though there are surely only 5 of you reading). So I don't write.
One thing that I have been facing, noticing and living in the midst of is my personal tendency to experience other's pain. Empathy. I have too much of it. For the last three months now I have been quite able to cry, in every moment. And I certainly have, I can't count how many times I've cried at work, I mean I even had a good cry at the swimming pool during Teen Camp.
I was talking to my Nana last week, talking about the realization and experience of a love that can not fix everything. A heartbreaking truth; our best attempts, (and our failures), all added up do not directly equal some sort of wholeness or healing. A mirror of the way that even God's perfect love does not force us to respond to Him. A reality of heartbreak. In my life and in others around me.
And I feel like an emotional cripple. I can't deal with the reality of constant sadness, disappointment and emptiness. So when I get a hold on all the tears, I straighten myself up, turn to look the opposite way and tell God, "I can't deal with this. You have to." And try to ignore it. Because when my thoughts and heart return to the matters that surround, the depths of brokenness overwhelm me and I become a person who uses cold compress tea bags to maintain a normal appearance.
Hmm, perhaps this is why I don't write. Because who in reading, wants to be brought down into the mire? I do not mean to cause anyone any sense of alarm. I do not pretend that the sadnesses I feel all around me are greater than the sadnesses that surround most of us. But rather I am in the midst, and I'm crying my way through. With desperate, ineloquent prayers too. So in between the pictures I post, I hope you might know me more honestly, living out happy occasions, yes, but not always carefree.

Head for the Hills

Shye and I went for an adventure today, out at Kleskun Hills!
It's a pretty big hill for a small kid, and there's 5 more like it.
I asked her, "How big is the mountain?" "This Big!"
Greetings from the top!
This is us after 6 hills conquered in the hot, hot sun!