Wednesday 26 February 2014

Defiance

My sister-in-love sent this to me months ago.
“In the days of apartheid in South Africa, Christians there used to light candles and place them in windows as a sign to themselves and to others that they believed that someday this injustice would end. A candle burning in a window was a sign of hope and a political statement. The government didn't miss the message. It passed a law making it illegal to place a lit candle in a window, the offense being equal to owning a firearm, both considered equally dangerous. This eventually became a joke among the kids: "Our government is afraid of lit candles!”
They had reason to be! Lit candles, more than firearms, overthrew apartheid. Hope, not guns, is what ultimately transforms things. To light a candle as an act of hope is to say to yourself and to others that, despite anything that might be happening in the world, you are still nursing a vision of peace and unity based upon something beyond the present state of things and this hope is based upon deeper realities and powers than the world admits. To light a candle is to state publicly that you believe that what's real and what isn't is ultimately determined by powers and issues that go beyond what's seen on the evening news. To light a candle is an act of political defiance.” Ron Rolheiser

This was especially meaningful to me since we had just lit, for the first time, an incredible candle over Christmas, which had been given to us by dear friends around the time of Jordan’s move to heaven.  Tied around the candle is a card that reads the song he sang days before, “There is a light that always shines.  It shines in the day and it shines in the night.  When the dark days come, and the sun isn't bright, I will be shining for I have a light.”
We viewed the lit candle as an act of defiance against the darkness of everything around us, demanding us to focus on it.  Jesus has given us eyes to see where our son is, what our purpose here is, where our destination is,  and where our Hope lies - in Jesus.
Note: if you didn't get to see the video in the last message, go to www.jordanshealing.blogspot.ca

Thursday 20 February 2014

Olly Olly In Free

Our childhood game of tag included the joyous shout “Olly Olly In Free!!!” when we touched home base...whatever it was, whether a tree, the side of a house or a fence post.
Kim and I often turn to each other these days and say this, sometimes with tears in our eyes, when we see something Jordan has escaped.

no more math exams
no more unanswered questions
never out of reach of Jesus
no more miscommunication
no more being misunderstood
no more misses - of any kind
no more confusion

Jordan has escaped so much, but wait! He has gained so much more than he has left behind.
He is waaay more creative - and is creating right now.  What he imagines, he can build.
Our son is completely confident in his security and significance.
His strength and energy are impressive.
Unending beauty surrounds him.
Laughter and joy in the presence of His Creator and Redeemer.
He is basking in true Kingdom Community - he belongs and is cheered everywhere he goes.

The rest of us are stuck here and while we are here, we are going to boldly advance the Kingdom of Jesus. Along the way, we are having some FUnrau time - as you can see in this video from Christmas in Florida. Top speed: 18 mph.