Juxtaposition

This weekend has hurtled by… just busy.
Its reminding me of home already. The contemplative experiences of the past week suddenly seem swallowed up under the wheels of activity.
Its seems that I got caught up in the busy – ness of all the fun back home as well – with Starstruck, with Arrow Volunteer Training, with the ‘Ancient’ Choir, Bow Down…

I Went rollerblading, played beach volleyball, spent time with new friends from Seattle, Montreal, Toronto and of course, Vancouver.
I got involved with ministry amongst the Taiwanese Presbyterian church. Spent Saturday night at their Youth service, preached in their Sunday English service and spent time with their young people over the afternoon.
I also visited university chapel, and I immersed myself in a Pastors Conference with Marva Dawn and Eugene Peterson. Then, I made it out for an unwind with a delicious seafood dinner and a fun night out around the town.


One thing that seems to surface out of the hubris has been particularly reassuring and refreshing for me. After, over the past few weeks, having been involved with Cascade Gospel hall, Taiwanese Presbyterian Church, University Chapel, Regent Chapel, Listening to Marva Dawn and Eugene Peterson, Prayer time with Josh Koh, Jenny & Grace, Hanging out with Helen & Christina & Andrew & Rody… the old clarity started to surface again.
I think that it is possible to get so immersed in vision that you lose the contrast between your vision and all the other realities out there.

And amidst all of the activity, I could sense the contrast and the clarity emerging fresh again.
What has God called me to be? What kind of Journey has he called us to do? What kind of Expedition has he created us to be? What kind of good works has he created us to do?
These things are starting to glow radioactive again.

Clear.
Distinct.
Deeply important and urgent.
Worthwhile, significant, exciting, distinctive, unique.

It helps to see our work – not just as it stands on Swanston Street, amidst the rain and cloud of our Melbourne winter, but to see it as it stands amongst the diverse plethora of spiritual, non – spiritual and pseudo – spiritual activities of Christendom and post – Christendom, Evangelicalism and Pentecostalism, Academia and Leisure…

The contrast helps. It helps to bring out the rich hues and colours of the grace upon us. And it helps to intensify the beauty and the privilege of our opportunity to pioneer a new frontier of the Movement of Life* around our world.

I think I am even more grateful. I appreciate even more the extraordinary work of my parents and the older generation in our church in building an empowering foundation for our community. Their investment, passion, tolerance and trust have created an incomparable platform above the urban quicksand for us to grow. I am so in awe of the unity and harmony which we enjoy with other ministries in the city of Melbourne. And I am so defensive over the pure and earnest love that is growing like desert flowers out of our earnest struggles. Could we see Eden restored here?