Elevator

I was able to talk with a lot of people today. Some were friends I had made last semester here at Kwantlen, while others were completely new. In fact, just as I was cleaning up from a Multi-Faith event I ran into a young man in the elevator who asked me about the Multi-Faith Centre (the name was on a sign I was holding). It turns out he is a Christian student deeply interested in the Christian spiritual life and Christian presence on the KPU campus. A spiritual friendship has begun.

And so, with some consistent relationships and some that seem to appear out of thin air, my work at Kwantlen presses on. I really felt like my chance encounter in the elevator was the work of the Holy Spirit, and I do believe it was, but as I reflect I notice that even those relatively stable friendships I have developed are also the work of the Spirit. It is surely exciting and invigorating to be confronted with a spiritual gift like a friendship in an elevator. But, as always, God reminds us that deep continuities are just as important and just as much his work as surprising eruptions in the midst of our lives.

So my prayer today is that I would continue to be attentive to both of these dimensions and see their ultimate unity: the unity of the work of the Spirit in both surprising and comfortable ways. 

Patience with Lawns and Posters

I’ve been doing lots of planning this week. There are plenty of new projects on the horizon: philosophy of religion discussion group, an on-campus Christian club, an open mic event, the Multi-Faith Centre festival in February, and a short talk at the CRC young adult retreat later this month. It’s all interesting and exciting stuff to plan for.

Since I began my “working” life as a maintenance landscaper I’ve come to realize that projects take time. As a chaplain at KPU I find myself frustrated every now and then that I have to spend so much time emailing, planning, and thinking through the little details that go into events or meetings. And I remember a similar frustration when I was landscaping: it takes that long to mow that lawn?

But, I have now come at least to the realization (though not to the consistent experience) that it’s OK that things take time. Putting together a little ad for my philosophy of religion discussion group takes some effort. What text should I put on the poster? What images would be good? While impatience thinks this should take no more than 10 minutes, both reality and a persevering spirit offer a different approach. Take half an hour. Take a hour, if you need to.

It’s important and helpful to take the time needed to do good quality work. And the scriptures never tell us to “do as much as you can in as little time as possible”. Instead, “whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). And so in trust and with some frustration I’m allowing for the time to prepare and plan for good things, good projects. While I might wish to be deeply engaged in the lives of Kwantlen students at every minute of my time here, a patient heart allows for God to work through carefully mown lawns and thoughtfully designed posters.