Just How Helpless We Are

On Saturday July 18 the city of Edmonton was struck with a series of thunderstorms. Two storms, in particular, were very powerful. Trees were knocked down, power outages were present across the city, people were stranded in the wind, rain and hail. Thousands of people were at Capital Ex when the storms hit. Eventually the exhibition grounds were closed down and the people had to leave. Unfortunately, the LRT was not running because of the power outage. There was pandimonium for a time. The winds that struck and the power of the storm was reminescent of the tornado of the 1980's. People hid in their basements and many were afraid. It truly reminded us that in the face of the strong powers of nature man is really helpless.

The forces that God has put in place in nature make us realize that we are human and our power is limited.

Do Unto Others!

What do we really need in our lives? Do we need two cars, a fifty two inch television, a laptop, a blackberry, an ipod, big houses, fancy meals in a restaurant or one of a hundred different things? This morning I met a young woman who just lost her husband. Matt was just 35 years old. On July fifth he had a heart attack and died. All of those things that we think are important no long matter to him. In just a moment the only thing that really mattered to him was life itself. We get all involved in things and forget that every day that we have is just a gift. The things that matter cannot be held in your hand. The things that matter are not those things that rust, corode or fade away. The things that matter are far deeper than anything we can imagine. That which is important is not that which you get but that which you give away. The help you can be to others, the love you can share with family, friends and neighbours. The gifts you can share with strangers. Do you share your God given gifts with others? Do you share the financial blessings you have been given or do you hold them tight to your chest?

Jesus said it in a simple way, "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and to lose his own soul?"

He also said, "Do onto others as you would have them do onto you."

Be a giver not a taker!

It's a Strange World

This past week has been rather interesting. People are spending inordinate amounts of time writing, talking and thinking about the life of Michael Jackson. People who have never seen him face to face are crying in front of the cameras. We hear statements about the importance of his life. We see the happy, sad and tragic moments of his life on the television screen. News reporters go on and on about his life and now his death. This coming Tuesday a memorial service is planned. They are giving away free tickets to 17,000 people for the memorial to be held in a stadium format in Los Angeles. They are predicting that millions of people will be watching the service on television. How can the lives of celebrates become so real to people that they grieve so deeply when tragedy occurs? Why do the people of today find their lives so meaningless that they have to find meaning and purpose in the lives of those whose lives are superficial and sometimes extremely tragic?

Also this week another Canadian soldier died in Afghanistan. He was 30 years old and the father of two young children. He was a Canadian hero. There will definitely be a memorial and really nice things will be said about him. It sad that a life thrown away seems to be more important that a live given for the freedom of others. It is sad that the comic opera of Michael Jackson's life is given more credence than the life of this young man who was trying, in his own way, to make this world a better place.

The world is a strange and often a mixed up place. There are many things that make no sense at all. I, for one, choose to honour the memory of the soldiers and the many thousands who have given their lives for others: those who dedicate themselves to bring an end to pain and suffering: those who dedicate themselves to helping children become productive members of our society: those who dedicate themselves to helping in hospitals, in nursing homes, anywhere that the lives of others can be saved or improved: those who live not only for themselves but for others: those who live by the Golden Rule - Love your neighbour as yourself.