Disturbing the World

‘Encouragement’

In his descriptions of the first century AD German tribesmen, the Roman general Tacitus wrote that it was a disgrace to throw away one’s shield. He was referring to deserting soldiers, who dropped their heavy shields and ran away from the battlefield in fear.

His observation has meaningful application to the realm of faith as well. Read the rest of this entry »

“My soul thirsts for God, for the living God…. My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, ‘Where is your God?’” – Psalm 42:2-3 (NIV)

Have you ever felt like asking, “Where is my God?” Even those of us who have experienced great joy and delight in the presence of God will sometimes go through dark nights when God seems distant, or even absent altogether.

It sometimes feels like God disappears just when we need him the most, when we are at our weakest and most needy. How do we reconcile this with the concept of a loving, caring Father in heaven? Isn’t it bad enough that Read the rest of this entry »

While Canadian winters are known for their shortened days and darkness, what I love the most about a crisp winter’s day is the quality of the sun’s light when it does deign to shine. There is a blue, piercing quality to the light of winter that doesn’t exist at any other time of the year. It is a purer, truer light that shines on a sunny December morning.

In the same way, winter’s truth is a truth without distraction. The frills and fluff of the leaves and plants have been taken out of the way to reveal a bare bones reality that doesn’t allow for haziness, laziness, or excuses. The glare of the winter’s sun might seem harsh and blinding, but it can reveal things that would otherwise go unnoticed in the shadows. Read the rest of this entry »

Seventeenth century poet and cleric John Donne is one of my favourite writers. Because of his unique perspective, writing four hundred years ago, his poems, prose, and sermons are adorned with insightful metaphors that delight and challenge the modern reader. The delight is in the insight; the challenge is in deciphering the archaic spelling and cultural references. Donne was a contemporary of Shakespeare, and I am often thankful for the explanatory notes that accompany his writings.

In his Devotions, Donne states that God places in in our souls a “coale of Immortalitie. [sic]“ It is up to us to choose what to do with it. Either we fan it into flame and so enflame the souls of those around us, we blow it out deliberately or carelessly by sin, or we choose to ignore it, thus guaranteeing its early extinction. We don’t always think of ourselves as immortal beings, distracted as we are by the cares of our daily lives. But it is crucial never to lose sight of our real nature as children of God.

It astonishes me Read the rest of this entry »

My son-in-law Darren is a sailing enthusiast. The combination of the wildness of the wind and the discipline of navigation suits him, as he is both an outdoorsman and an engineer. He has learned to manoeuvre his craft under all sorts of conditions, including unfavourable ones. In its online course, the U.S. Sailing Association states the obvious: “The best tactic to deal with heavy weather is to avoid it.” But there are techniques for dealing with unexpected storms.

Choosing how to ride out a storm depends on what direction it comes from. If it comes at you head on, facing the waves is the only strategy. Read the rest of this entry »

While vacationing in Florida, a friend of mine decided to try his hand at deep-sea fishing. He rose early in the morning to board a boat that had been specially outfitted to give tourists the thrill of a lifetime – the challenge of landing a huge trophy fish from the deep waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The passengers were giddy with anticipation as salt spray flew out of the sunrise into their eager faces. It wasn’t long, however, before quite different feelings were stirring within them.

As their craft moved steadily into deeper water, the waves also deepened. Unaccustomed to the rolling motion of the ship, the guests soon began Read the rest of this entry »