Tis the Growing Season

Everywhere I look now, I see the green of spring, pretty petalled flowers and their stems, leaves unfolding on trees, and little shoots coming up in the garden. And bigger plants that were started as seedlings. And while refreshing the flower beds this spring, sharing some of the overgrowth with fellow gardeners. Soon the weeds will come too, unfortunately.

Our own garden beds

We’ve got an extra bed for plants this year, besides our own two raised ones in our backyard. A church not far from ours has expanded their community garden and I thought I’d like to try it out this year. That bed is planted too, just last week, so the seeds are doing their thing, germinating underground, I hope, and the tiny onion sets are beginning to poke a stem through the soil. It’s an experiment this year, having an extra garden elsewhere. My granddaughters helped to plant at our home, and I look forward to showing the two older ones the other bed when they come next week. It will take some extra work and time going there and back, but it’s an interesting experiment thus far.

Community garden bed behind this colourful one

The promise of growth happens in spring in creation and it can also happen in our lives when we dare to explore something new. I haven’t always been a writer, for publication, but I’ve always been a reader. My first career as a preschool teacher taught me things that I didn’t know that helped me when my children were young preschoolers. It’s still an age I enjoy, even if my energy is not all it used to be. Each new thing I’ve tried—retail, election work, learning to play musical instruments, storytelling, teaching, writing and editing—have brought with them lessons I wouldn’t have learned otherwise. New connections were forged and publication credits encouraging, but also humbling.

The down sides have been like the weeds, cropping up here and there, making me doubt myself and my abilities from time to time. I ask myself, Was I meant to do this? But it was always something I wanted to try, like learning to play guitar more than a year ago, and more recently, deciding to try playing bells in a bell choir. The learning was still sometimes quite hard and required greater concentration.

Storytelling at the Button Factory

I’m still learning and hope I always can continue to learn. It keeps life interesting. It’s not always something brand new, but a different area of something that already holds my interest, like natural gardening and ways to work with nature instead of against it. 

And so the weeds are there all the same, in the garden and in our lives. I just need to learn when to pull them out and examine the situation from a different perspective before jumping back in again.

Garden, if you wish, but learn to recognize the weeds.

Evan Roberts in the Land of Revivals: HIRD

Evan Robert in the land of Revivals

By Rev. Dr. Ed and Janice Hird

How might Canada be different if ten per cent of Canadians entered into the Kingdom of God in the next two years? That’s what happened in Wales, the land of revivals and song. Evan Roberts, the spiritual father of the 1904 Welsh Revival, worked from age 12 to 23 with his father Henry in the coal mines. He had visitations from the Holy Spirit, showing all Wales being lifted up to Heaven.  For several months before the revival broke out, Evan would be taken up into the heavens every night where he would commune with God.  Evan began to ask God to give him 100,000 souls, something that occurred during this revival. During this awakening, ten per cent of the Welsh people were ushered into the Kingdom.  Revival historian J Edwin Orr says that 150,000 became members of local churches in Wales, with 250,000 becoming born again.

Prayer was the very breath of Evan’s soul.  He seemed to be constantly praying. The prayer that Evan received from his mentor Rev Seth Joshua was “Bend me, bend me, bend us.” He urged total abandonment to the will of God.  As one participant commented, “Did we not hear him time and again praying the words “Empty me! Fill me! Use me” until they became part of our thinking?” Whenever the Holy Spirit came upon Evan in a revival meeting, his face was transformed, bringing a radiant smile and shining eyes.

The four "points" of Evan’s revival message were:

1. Confess all known sin, receiving forgiveness through Jesus Christ

2. Remove anything in your life that you are in doubt or feel unsure about

3. Be ready to obey the Holy Spirit instantly

4. Publicly confess the Lord Jesus Christ

Evan became perhaps the most famous man in the world at the time. Even the future UK Prime Minister, Lloyd George, vouched for the genuineness of Evan Roberts and the Welsh revival. Evan was present at only about 259 of the tens of thousands of Welsh revival meetings that took place.  The chapels were often so crowded that Evan often had to climb over people’s shoulders just to make it to the pulpit. Participants said that it was not the eloquence of Evan Roberts that transformed people —it was his tears. People were standing for hours in the cold, wintry air hoping that by someone leaving the church, they could push in to witness the scenes that were taking place inside.  Troubled by both the adulation and criticism, he wouldn’t announce his meetings in advance. He wanted Jesus, not himself, to be the focus. Sometimes he would go to a revival meeting and then refuse to speak, instead praying silently before leaving.  Evan said “I am not the source for this revival. I am only one worker in that which is growing to be a host. I am not moving the hearts of men and changing their lives; but ‘God is working through me”.’ 

From the very beginning of the revival, there was a strong sense of conviction of sin, with wrongdoing publicly confessed. Instead of sports, the hot topic in the pubs was about Evan Roberts and the revival. Drunkenness was cut in half, causing bankruptcies in many pubs.  Crime was cut in half. Former houses of prostitution turned into homes of heavenly singing, encouraging their former customers to go to the revival meetings. The Bible Society in Wales could not keep up with the request for their bibles. People began to pay off their bad debts. Some of the toughest characters in the Welsh valleys were converted. Pit-ponies could no longer understand the miners' commands as they had stopped cursing the ponies. The police, often having no one to arrest, would come to the revivals to sing in quartets. In one court case, the prisoner came under conviction, confessing his sins. The judge then preached the gospel to him, and the jury spontaneously broke out into Welsh revival singing.

Just like with the 1970s Jesus movement, most of the Welsh revival leaders and participants were very young.  The revival services were marked with informality, laughing, crying, dancing, joy, and brokenness.  Many of these youth did spontaneous Jesus marches, singing songs and visiting the pubs to invite people to the revival.  No one bothered about the clock. People often stayed until two to three am in the morning, and then marched through the streets singing hymns.  A participant, David Matthews commented, “When I left the heavenly atmosphere of the church for home, I discovered that it was five in the morning! I had been in the house of God for ten hours — they passed like ten minutes!”  

As predicted by Evan, the Welsh revival had a worldwide impact, birthing over 30 revivals around the world, including in China, Korea, India, East Africa, and the 1906 Azusa Street revival in Los Angeles, impacting hundreds of millions. At one meeting, all Evan said was ‘let us pray’, before revival broke out. As with the later Korean revival, the Welsh all prayed simultaneously. This revival of love gave Evan the ability to sing all day. The first Welsh revival team was five teenage girls who would sing about God’s love at the revival meetings.  The love song of the Welsh revival was the song “Here is love vast as the ocean”.  Evan told the reporters, “I preach nothing but Christ’s love”.

Because Evan seldom ate, slept and rested, he soon succumbed to the pressure of his rigorous schedule, and, in 1906, suffered a physical and emotional collapse, the first of his eight nervous breakdowns. The doctor told Evan after his nervous breakdown that if he ever preached again, he would die.  He then moved to England, living in virtual seclusion until he died.  Sadly, Evan refused to see his family when they visited, only returning to Wales upon the death of his father in 1928. While there for his dad’s funeral in Loughor, Evans spoke a few sentences and a "mini-revival" sparked.  Evan Roberts died in 1951 at age 72.

Imagine what God might do in Canada, if we like Evan Roberts bent our will to God’s will for our nation? Bend us, Lord! Bend the Church in Canada!

Rev. Dr. Ed & Janice Hird

-co-authors of ForBetter, For Worse: discovering the keys to a lasting relationship

-an article previously published in the June 2019 Light Magazine

Babylon Bee: Earth cools due to Bill Nye’s ego - Denyse O'Leary

Are you familiar with the Babylon Bee, a Christian satire site?

“We noticed the trend about three years ago, but it really accelerated over the past few months,” an EPA representative told reporters. “After controlling for solar activity and weather patterns, we determined that the biggest factor is the exponential growth in Bill Nye’s self-admiration. His expansive, pretentious hubris now casts a shadow large enough to shield most of the Earth from the warming effects of the sun.”

See also: Bill Nye as “a terrible spokesman for science”

“Neil DeGrasse Tyson” Debuts At The Babylon Bee In An Op-Ed

Note: Things are so crazy that the Bee has actually been fact-checked by over-earnest fact-checking sites. As if.

Esther and Ryan — and You and Me by Peter A. Black

Credit: Esther's Family

I admit to any grammarian readers that my title is poor grammar.  :)

She could always be counted on. For decades she put in many thousands of hours – all for free! Esther’s soft features and warm smile would often be the first to greet you in the hospital foyer, as she sat attentive behind the desk, with the current patient list at the ready.

With her thorough knowledge of the building, her directions, if followed, would always get you to where you needed to go.

Esther came off her volunteer shift last week. It would be her last. She died that day. Esther was one hundred-and-two—in fact, closer to one-hundred-and three! Well done good and faithful servant. She began this volunteer stint in 1950 and never stopped.

Why did she not take her senior years easy? Why not relax and enjoy herself?

She did enjoy herself: she loved God and life, and people.

Time, like an ever-rolling stream . . .

In a recent column article I wrote that it’s not difficult to find kindness, gratitude and generosity in the world, but also how it takes little effort to tear people down with negative attitudes and mean-spiritedness. I later thought that I should be on the lookout for a couple of positive examples of self-giving for this piece. 

Days later, that remarkable lady, Esther, received her home-call from this life. And then, my wife, who’d been reading the book, Chicken Soup for the Canadian Soul,* told me the inspiring story it contained about Ryan.

Six year-old Ryan’s grade one teacher told the class about how children in developing countries often didn’t have enough food or clean water. 

A list had been circulated stating the cost of various items – a pencil, a hot meal, a blanket. But when Ryan realised that without clean, safe water many children were dying, he knew he must do something about it.

In the bulb there is a flower . . .

He went home and told his parents he needed seventy dollars to buy a well. He began doing chores around the home and setting the money aside. He worked and worked, and still wanted to do

more outside of the home and for neighbours. This was no flash-in-the-pan—Ryan was for real.

It was now 1998 and, as things turned out, the well would require $2,000. His class became enthused about it, too, and other interested parties got on board. The money came in and the well was installed close by a school in Uganda. It would serve the whole community. That was not the end, the youngster’s zeal continued unabated, and Ryan’s Well Foundation** was established. The work continues with more that one million people helped through water well installations.

His mother wondered whether, with all the media attention, it would go to his head. But no, the lad took it in his stride. It wasn’t all about him; it was about the needs of those children. Young Ryan understood that it took all those other people to get the job done.

Sometimes it doesn’t take that much really, does it—to do some good in the world; to shed a little light into the darkness of some situation or other; to ignite the lamp of hope? And yet it often does take a lot—much self-sacrifice and numerous modest contributions from a great many people. . . . 

People like Esther

At one hundred-and-two

And Ryan at six 

And me and you.

~~+~~

~~~
* © 2002 Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen. Publ. HCI Inc. Deerfield Beach, FL. 
** https://www.ryanswell.ca/ 
~~~ 
Peter is a retired pastor – well, sort of retired – as he is currently engaged as an associate volunteer pastor. He lives in Southwestern Ontario with his wife, May, and writes a weekly inspirational newspaper column and occasional magazine articles. Peter is author of two books: "Parables from the Pond" (Word Alive Press) and "Raise Your Gaze . . . Mindful Musings of a Grateful Heart" (Angel Hope Publishing). He and May are also engaged in leading nursing home / residential chapel services, pulpit supply and music. ~+~

The Interrupted Life V – A Personal Journey by Eleanor Shepherd

           

Why would I choose to write a book about the interruptions that happen in people’s lives? Probably because writers choose topics that they know something about, and this is something that I know from personal experience. Rather than tell the story from my perspective, or from the perspective of my daughter, or of my son, who was the main protagonist in this story, I chose to interview my husband and offer you the story from his perspective. Although it was sixteen years ago, I am not sure that either of my children or I are yet ready to provide our perspective. The interruption impacted the whole family.

            The event that interrupted our lives was a car accident that occurred when our son, John was driving back to Boston from Montreal on Sunday evening, February 2, 2003. His rented vehicle hit black ice on Interstate Highway 89 near St. Alban’s, Vermont. 

            Until that point in time, Glen tells how his work was often the focus of his life, and he carried heavy responsibilities as the head of The Salvation Army in France, that at that time in its history was undergoing significant structural changes. There were many challenges he faced both from a mission and a business point of view. During the four years that we had been in this assignment, we were encouraged by the progress that was happening, but well aware of the demands that perplexed us as well. 

            

When speaking of how this life altering accident impacted his faith, Glen noted that even though his faith defined his career of service in The Salvation Army and structured the values and priorities of his life, it was nevertheless in constant evolution. He found that he was being pushed to a greater reliance on faith and trust as he faced the fragility and challenges presented by his responsibilities. The realities that we confronted led us to conclude that we needed the support provided by a prayer team who could carry us and our needs. We were totally unaware how that prayer support team would play a critical role in our lives after John’s accident.

            The accident cast us into a new role. For twenty-five years we had been helping, leading and “carrying” other people as we fulfilled our ministry obligations. However, following John’s accident, we were knocked off our feet and we needed to be carried by our friends in the body of Christ. 

            John’s accident happened at 7 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Our daughter, Elizabeth was informed by a phone message she picked up when she returned to her apartment at midnight. She called us immediately in Paris, where it was then 6 a.m. on Monday, February 3. The message from the hospital in Vermont was: “Your brother has been in a car accident and has been paralyzed. You need to inform your family and come immediately.”

            For a few minutes as this news stunned us, we sat paralyzed, not knowing what to do or where to turn. Glen called the hospital and tried to reach the surgeon who was caring for John to understand what was really happening. He called his brother a doctor in London, Ontario to try to get come clarity. Quickly we knew that we had to go and tried to make arrangements for a flight to Montreal, where we knew friends would help us get to the hospital in Burlington, Vermont where John was in Intensive Care. 

            Until that day, quadriplegia was only a word we had heard tossed about, we had no idea of its ability to change the whole trajectory of a life. We knew nothing of levels of spinal cord injury, attendant care, internal and external catheters and commode chairs and Hoyer lifts and hands permanently in tenodesis position. These would all become a part of our discoveries over the following months and years. 

 

            Glen’s response to my question about how this interruption changed his life was that he realized any dreams or hopes that he might have had for John were irrevocably changed by that accident in ways that he could not hope to figure out and he was not able to do anything about those changes. 

            The sense of powerlessness evoked at such times not only forces us to acknowledge our own vulnerability, it also opens us in a strange way to the pain of others and to their fragility. The gift this brings is not only their willingness to lend a helping hand to assist us in standing on our feet once more, but also trusting us with their own fragility. This has opened new doors of understanding in our lives. 

Word Guild Award
2011

Word Guild Award
2009

Word Guild Award
2018