unconditional love
The other day, I was just standing there, at the Cecil & Spadina streetcar stop, listening to my iPod, when this guy comes up to me and says, “You’re not dressed for the grey cup!” So I take off one earbud and respond, “No, not much of a football fan.” And so starts one of the most random but most interesting conversations.
We get talking about all sorts of things, or rather, he gets talking about a lot of things. I don’t remember saying much myself but listening more, which I was more than happy to do. He tells me about his two kids, a son and daughter. How his son’s into football and his daughter’s (who he says, of course, is beautiful) into rugby. He tells me about how he recently went to the African Lion Safari with them and had so much fun, even more than his kids did. I find out he’s a mathematician from Queen’s but will be working in South Africa soon for a few months. But the thing I’ll remember from this conversation, is how there’s no other feeling like that of unconditional love for his kids. To see his face light up, to see that great smile eminating from his mouth, that twinkle in his eye, when he tells me about how great it is to be a parent and to have the no-holds-bar kind of love for his kids.
Wow. I hope I’ll get that opportunity one day to show that joy of the love I have for my kids.
lest we forget
Yesterday was Remembrance Day. The day where most people in Canada wear a poppy and hopefully take a moment out of their busy schedules to remember those who fell in war.
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
Myself, I was on the TTC heading up to AFC for a meeting at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of the year. I did take a moment to remember those who died for the sake our freedom, though it wasn’t quite the same when you’re on a streetcar heading to the subway station.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Thank you to all the veterans who sacrificed themselves for us and for people from other countries. Thank you to all soldiers who are serving our country today. Thank you.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch, be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
When will it end?
hot mugginess
hmmm…so another week begins. Craziness with the unwarned TTC strike today. It took my cousin 2 1/2 hours to drive downtown to work. Man am I blessed to be able to walk to work and not worry about transportation.
There was a wedding this past weekend, Toby’s to be exact. Was invited but didn’t go, kind of regretting it now. I thought my parents weren’t going, but turns out they were only not going to the banquet. Also thought that I wouldn’t know anybody (Toby’s the son of my parents’ friends, so I don’t really know him), but turned out I probably would have known half the people there. Heard it was a great wedding and a lot of fun, but yeah, kind of wishing I could have been there. Ah well, wishing Toby & his new wife a great life together!
And so it’s been a week since CC ended. I’ve processed things a bit more, caught up on some sleep (could use some more though), and just still in awe of everything. Already mentioned in my previous post how I was humbled by God’s providence. But I was also humbled in another way: my pride just being smashed to pieces. I guess throughout the planning and especially during the conference, I had the attitude, “Look at this conference I’m helping plan.” I wasn’t outright boasting vocally, but still, it was in the back of my mind. And so, trying to suppress that thought all weekend, but it was still there and on the last day, me and my big head was half expecting some sort of huge thank you for me and my work. *rolls eyes* When it didn’t come, wow, was heart brought to its knees. Realizing it wasn’t about me or what I did, but about Jesus and what He did. It’s all about Him, always has been, always will be. Not a new lesson for me, but one that I seem to have to be reminded of and retaught every so often.
It’s all about you, Jesus. And all this is for You, for Your glory and Your fame. It’s not about me, as if you should do things my way. You alone are God and I surrender, to Your ways.
