A Chance to Meet a Hero

My mom is a pretty extraordinary woman. Despite the fact that her and I have had our share of differences in the past, I definitely respect her for how hard she works and cares for the people in her life. This comes out in her work. At her job, she's won this very prestigious award 7 times in a row, and as a result, for the past 7 years, she's had the chance to go on all inclusive trips to amazing countries with beautiful resorts. This year was no exception. The resort booked this year was in Las Vegas... and she got to dine with... wait for it...


Yup! "The Great One" himself, Wayne Douglas Gretzky, the most famous and awesomest player in the NHL. So much to the point where no other NHL player will ever wear his jersey number ever again! Wow.

When my mom returned from her trip, I eagerly asked her, "was it awesome?!" Her reply astounded me, "He was a nice guy. He signed a puck and gave it to me. Do you want it?" OH MY GOODNESS. My mom's complete lack of enthusiasm prompted me to ask her, "do you even know what team he played for?" It took her about 4 tries before she guessed "Oil," which my dad corrected to "Oilers." I asked her who he then played for... and after a few hints, I let her get away with New York.


Don't get me wrong. I am NOT a hockey buff. In no way do I really have a favorite hockey team. In fact, I tend to cheer for everyone - a very frustrating fact for real die-hard hockey fans. However, I do appreciate really good athleticism, and as such, I consider myself well informed about Wayne Gretzky, and couldn't believe my mom was so nonchalant about meeting him! What a once in a lifetime event!


But we get the chance to meet with a real Hero every day. He's so famous that there's no one else like Him, and He plays on anyone's team if they're willing to have Him. Meeting with Him every day, even for 10 minutes means that on a day when you really meet Him face to face, you will know Him. You won't be uneducated. He won't say to You, "I don't know You." If you had a chance to meet a real Hero today, right now, wouldn't you?

“Procrastination is one of the most common and deadliest of diseases and its toll on success and happiness is heavy... You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." - Wayne Gretzky

Psalm 69:13,30,32,34 (NLT)
But I keep praying to you, Lord, hoping this time you will show me favor. In your unfailing love, O God, answer my prayer with your sure salvation. [30] Then I will praise God's name with singing, and I will honor him with thanksgiving. [32] The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God's help be encouraged. [34] Praise him, O heaven and earth, the seas and all that move in them.

The challenge: God is always desiring to meet with us. Will you show, or will you bail?

Step off the Boat!

Back in my prime (haha my older friends will argue I'm still in it), I competed in several national beauty pageants. Before this story goes any further, don't imagine me as your typical pageant contestant. I was probably the goofiest and most misfit contestant of them all. Not only did I have to take a makeup lesson before I entered, but I cared not about who won (I didn't obviously haha), and I didn't know the ins and outs of pageant lifestyle. I was completely out of my nerdy athlete element.

In preparation for the biggest pageant that I participated in, I competed in a smaller one and made it all the way to the final question. That dreaded final question. How nerve-racking. As I pulled the question out of the bag, I told myself, "Just don't say 'world peace' and you'll be fine." The question was read, and I cracked a joke to give me time to think. I really don't remember what my answer was, but I did avoid world peace, and ended up landing a first runner up position. Neat. (But also, NEVER AGAIN lol.)


Matthew 14:22-33 (NLT)
Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. [23] After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. [24] Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. [25] About three o'clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. [26] When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, "It's a ghost!" [27] But Jesus spoke to them at once. "Don't be afraid," he said. "Take courage. I am here!" [28] Then Peter called to him, "Lord, if it's really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water." [29] "Yes, come," Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. [30] But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. "Save me, Lord!" he shouted. [31] Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. "You have so little faith," Jesus said. "Why did you doubt me?" [32] When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. [33] Then the disciples worshiped him. "You really are the Son of God!" they exclaimed.


1. If you want to walk on water, you need to to step out of the boat.

I was challenged by a message a couple of years ago to step out of my comfort zone, in order to realize Christ's power. I was asked to completely step out of my element, and show a vulnerable side of me that would make me feel incredibly nervous and put me in a place I know I would otherwise choose to be out of. And yet, through it, I was able to impact others' lives and to see the fruit of His efforts. And years earlier it would never have dawned on me to enter beauty pageants, but I was able to fulfill my goal of raising the money for a children's charity... Peter was called to step out of the safety of the boat in order to walk on water. For some people this means going on international missions, for others it means changing the style in which you serve. Make yourself vulnerable if you want to see real Strength.


2. When we are discouraged, our true nature shines through.

Someone once blurted out something extremely offensive and insulting to me during an argument, and although the sentence was later retracted, I felt like I had seen what was truly in this person's heart. When Peter was walking on water and saw the waves crashing around him, he freaked out and started sinking. It is in our times of despair that our faith (or lack thereof) can reveal itself. When we are caught in a moment of nervousness, needing to provide an answer to a final question within 30 seconds in a beauty pageant, we often reveal what is really within our minds, what we really think or how shallow we really are. (World peace lol) When the storm is raging, when you are put into a tough situation, what will people see when the real you is shown?


3. Jesus saves.

Despite all of this, Jesus saves. And it is in that moment of salvation that sometimes we come to that realization that He really IS the Son of God, and we can only worship Him as the winds around us calm.

The challenge: In a moment of despair, what is your natural response? Are you stuck in a place of comfort? Step out of the boat! Be not afraid of sinking, for Jesus saves.

Where's my Muffin, Bitch?

One summer, while in university, I worked in the downtown Toronto financial district. My parents' house is right on the subway line, so I would bus down to King subway station every day. A homeless man would be there every Monday morning, holding open the station door, with an empty cup in his hand, and every Monday afternoon, he'd see the bankers back to the trains through the same doors.


Right next to the King subway station doors, was a muffin bakery. This store made the best muffins every morning, hands down. They were made fresh, and they came in about 15 different flavors. They literally served them to you out of the muffin tray! The lineup would go out the door of the store, and would only grow as open store doors wafted the smell into the subway station. I was hooked. Every morning: carrot muffin, with butter.


One week, I decided I would buy the homeless man a muffin. I passed him on my way out of the station, bought two carrot muffins with butter, and returned into the subway station to give him one. For nearly two months, I bought the man a muffin every Monday morning, when I bought mine.

On the second last week at my job, I was running late. By the time I actually got to King station, I was already 10 minutes late, and it would take me another 10 minutes to get to the tower and up to my floor and to my desk. Knowing I didn't have time to get a muffin that day, I rushed past the homeless man, and scurried up to my office.

At the end of the day, stayed 20 minutes late and then headed down into the subway to go home. I walked past the man holding the door open again, and thought nothing of it until I heard, "Where's my muffin, bitch?"

Yeah whatever response you just had... is the one I had. I couldn't believe it! After all this time, I'd bought you at least 8 muffins, and now, on the day when I had a legit excuse for why I couldn't, you cuss me out? Not to mention those muffins are NOT cheap! I was floored. I flashed him a disgusted face and angrily boarded the subway home.


People cannot control HOW they feel when they're confronted with a problem like mine. If it was within everyone's power to always feel happy simply by choice, no one would ever choose to be upset. You can't control how you FEEL when insulted. You can however control how you're going to respond to a comment like that, and the difference in response can sometimes indicate the presence of the Holy Spirit within someone.. I vowed that on the next Monday morning, I would buy him a muffin.

Except life also has a funny way of telling you that you shouldn't waste the little time that you have. On that last Monday of working downtown, Muffin Bitch man was not there, and I'd lost my chance to show the evidence of God's presence in me.

The challenge:

1. Out of faith comes good deeds. Exercise yours.
James 2:20-22 (NLT)
How foolish! Can't you see that faith without good deeds is useless? [21] Don't you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? [22] You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete.

2. Be slow to anger and quick to forgive - for you have been forgiven for much more. Your response to being sinned against will demonstrate Christ's impact (or lack thereof) in your life.
Matthew 5:39-42 (NLT)
But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. [40] If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. [41] If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. [42] Give to those who ask, and don't turn away from those who want to borrow.

3. Don't waste time. God gave it to us to use efficiently. Act now while it is within your power to do so before you lose your chance.
Proverbs 3:27-28 (NLT)
Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it's in your power to help them. [28] If you can help your neighbor now, don't say, "Come back tomorrow, and then I'll help you."

Instant Patience

Last year for Christmas, my brother and sister-in-law bought my mom a Blackberry. At first she wasn't very impressed with it, or if she was, she didn't really show it, but once we started showing her how to use Blackberry Messenger, she was pretty convinced that Blackberry phones were good things. Except there was a problem. As you can imagine, my mom isn't the most technically savvy person out there.

As my mom fiddled around with her new phone, I recalled a night several years ago. My mom was in her bedroom, and from my own bedroom, I heard her frantically calling my name. I ran into her room, expecting to come across some horrid and dramatic scene, only to find her sitting calmly on her bed with her laptop opened up. Without looking up, she asked, "How do I BOLD this line?"

Yup. This woman now has a Blackberry. Oh dear. Okay to be fair, she did eventually get the hang of it, but with grumbling and groaning.

Here's a Blackberry Messenger crash course for you iPhone fans. When you send a message, it puts a little checkmark next to it, and then letters will show up next to it. So "D" means that the message was delivered, as in your friend with the blackberry HAS a data plan and the message successfully got to him. "R" means that the message has been read, as in your friend actually has seen it and acknowledged having read it either by pressing enter, or by typing something in response. When said friend is typing their response, BBM tells you that "FRIEND... is typing a message."

So here's what a typical BBM conversation goes like with my mom:
Me: Hi mom! (R)
Me: Just wanting to know what time dinner is at... (R)
Me: Cause I have to plan to drive to your house straight from work. (R)
Joanne: "...is typing a message."
Joanne:
Joanne: "...is typing a message."
...
...
...
(3 hours later)
Joanne: "...is typing a message."

How annoying! Just give me an answer! And there's no way you've been typing a message for the last three hours! Push the send button, man! And don't pretend you didn't get my message, because the little R's are there! And to make it worse, she'll call me when I'm clearly messaging her because I can't talk on the phone!

I imagine this is how we react to God's voice sometimes. We pray to God, and we expect this immediate answer back, especially if we believe that He's heard the message. Why won't you just message me back?! A few things to ponder:

1. It is a blessing to know that with God, He's read our message.
2. We should be patient and trust that God is writing out our lives.
3. Sometimes we should be prepared to not get the response that we expect, perhaps in the form of a call to do something else. When He calls us, we cannot be too busy to answer it, and only accept the instant responses to our prayers.

Also... tell your mom to press ENTER after she types her message.

Hebrews 10:35-36 (NLT)
So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! [36] Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.

The challenge: What are you being impatient about? What response are you demanding from Him? Is He speaking to you in another way?

Resolution to Rest

It's that time again... New years resolutions time. Yup. Mine this year is to do more for myself, and that includes rest. I don't mean sleeping and being lonely at home... I mean things that keep me sane, things that I enjoy doing, things that don't give me UNrest. Sure it sounds selfish, but someone told me that you sometimes have to serve yourself so that you can better serve God and others.

Exodus 31:17 (NLT)
It is a permanent sign of my covenant with the people of Israel. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day he stopped working and was refreshed.'"

Stepping back: As leaders, we tend to over-serve. I don't just mean in a church setting, though that's also included. We serve others all the time if we are real leaders... Just that it's not always front and centre stage. I know for me I have a lot of extracurricular activities, and I've resolved to scale back on some and focus on a select few. Here's why: in volleyball, you get no points by over-serving (out), or under-serving (net). Find the balance. If you take a few steps back from over-serving, you'll get it right in the court. Even God rested on the 7th day.





Proverbs 22:24-25 (NIV)
Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered, [25] or you may learn his ways and get yourself ensnared.

Purging: Sometimes we surround ourselves with toxic people. Sure, Jesus associated with sinners, but that never caused Him to sin. From a toxicology standpoint, when associating with toxins that get into your system and poison you, it's time to step away and distance yourself from them. I'm trying to purge my life of things that I know poison me. By allowing the investment of so much of myself into them, I turned the poisons into false idols. Time to step away.





Romans 2:6-7 (NIV)
God "will give to each person according to what he has done." [7] To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.

Persistence: I have vowed to spend more fun times with my friends. It's my equivalent of that resolution people make to go to the gym: they always say they'll do it but don't. In light of the tough things that have ruined so much, I'm going to try to be that fun person God intended for me to be. It's going to be tough... But like the gym, the small efforts every time go towards both emotional and health benefits. And laughing builds abs!




The challenge: this year, do you need to take a step back from something and trust instead? Are you poisoning yourself? Do you need to endure through something? Every second is a chance for resolution with Him. Make His will your resolution.