Magazine

A Shared Humanity

afaiz

I was speaking at a church about my experiences in Afghanistan, showing some of the hundreds of photos I took on that trip. Near the end of my talk I had a photo of a little girl holding on to her father. A typical photo – one that could be taken of my daughter as she suddenly becomes shy in the company of her parent's strange friends. With that image on the screen I said one thing I had learned from Afghanistan was that despite all the differences in culture, locale, history, economics and much else, at the heart of us, we share a common humanity. That children cling to their parents when strangers come to the door, partially curious about the big world out there, while holding on to the safety of the domestic circle.

Tutu's birthday challenge

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ENI – On the occasion of his 77th birthday in October Nobel Peace Prize laureate Desmond Tutu expressed his continuing vision for "culture that espouses listening, of fellowship, dialogue, mutual respect and of working together across generations.

Mrs. Muddle’s Example, Part 1

Phil Callaway

I was only four when Mrs. Muddle adopted me for a week. With my mother in the hospital and my father needing help, she must have seen me pulling my wagon complete with a cargo of grasshoppers along 8th Avenue on "Prairie Heights," looking sad and forlorn. And so she took me in. That's what neighbors did in those days. Although I may have been a handful, Mrs. Muddle smiled a lot during that week. A four-year-old doesn't remember much. But he remembers a smile. I wasn't her first child. She had five others. But none of them seemed to mind my intrusion.

Married for a Wonderful Time

Calvin Brown

July 8th was my 30th wedding anniversary. On reflection, there are a lot of joys and laughter shared, sorrows endured and lessons learned. Three important lessons I've learned about a successful relationship in our marriage were all found in the Bible; but the experience of life makes the text come alive in a new way when life experience says, "That is so true!"

A Political Calling

conniepurvis

"It has always been less about politics and more about service," said Jane Pitfield. "For me, it was about the message. I'm speaking up for people who have concerns that need to be heard." Pitfield ran for mayor of Toronto in 2006, and served for eight years previously as a city counsellor. She attends Leaside, Toronto.

Mission to Mexico

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The tireless group of pink hammer carpenters from Durham, Ont., built one house during their one week in Tijuana, Mexico in July. Together with other missionaries who had traveled to Tijuana from across North America, they built nine houses that week. First they had to raise $14,000 so they could afford to be missionaries. They were enterprising to say the least; and, really know how to carry a pink hammer. Back row: Stephan Smit, Ron MacIntyre, Jared McConnell. Middle row: Shannon Becker, Ané Smit, Caitlyn Osborne, Nicole Vander Meulen, Emily Hutchinson, Sam Becker, Mary Buller (honourary Canadian from Colorado). Front row: Rev. Jim Johnson, Linda Johnson, Kathleen McConnell.

Small is beautiful

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ENI – One of the world's smallest nations, Tuvalu is slowly but surely sinking into the Pacific Ocean. Political and Church leaders want the world to join them in saving their nation of 12,000 people, and in doing so, save the world itself from the worst effects of climate change.

A prayer for the dreaded

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ENI – To boost morale and ease the Monday blues, the (Anglican) Church of England offered early morning commuters on September 1 a prayer published in a freesheet morning newspaper read by some 1.5 million who travel by train and subway on their way to work throughout Britain.

Properly Equipped

davidwebber

Last October, we were driving home from our house church in Williams Lake on a Sunday afternoon. Just before we got to our turnoff on Highway 97, just before the infamous 127 Mile corners, two brand new Smart Cars came up behind us and passed us. They must have been doing at least 120 kilometres per hour because we were sifting along pretty fast ourselves. Each car was painted with logos of several different sponsors. Their little motors were screaming as they passed us on their way to some promotional event. Each driver seemed to be pumping on the pedals for all he was worth. And they were travelling about three Smart Car lengths apart too, which is really close.

Life more important than power

communications

ENI – Christian leaders in Thailand have called on churches to urge Thai authorities to deal peacefully with anti-government protests, following the declaration of a state of emergency after thousands of demonstrators took to the streets.

Poverty focus

conniepurvis

Congregations and individuals can help to reach the United Nations Millennium Development Goals by participating in the Week to End Poverty (Oct. 12-19) through prayer, education and communication with members of parliament. Events can be registered at standupagainstpoverty.org.

Iraqi Refugees in Syria : Make love your aim

Glynis Williams

The original walled city of Damascus still stands and its kilometres of narrow streets with overhanging balconies and street level shops is a strange and wonderful world. Some of the original gates to the city can still be seen and as one walks through Bab Touma, the Christian quarter, it is easy to imagine the adventures the Apostle Paul had in his day. My road to Damascus experience was less dramatic though full of blessings – but it was also a window into a tragedy of enormous proportions.

The Humanitarian Heart

Elizabeth McWeeny

The idea of the shrinking "humanitarian space" for refugees is a common theme in international discussions about refugee issues. I prefer to call the condition our shrinking humanitarian heart. Like other heart diseases it sneaks up on us without notice until one day it hits us hard. Our humanitarian heart has been in a sad condition for a while, but after Sept. 11, 2001, we got a real picture of its shrinkage.

The truth in testing

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ENI – Rev. Mvume Dandala, general secretary of the All Africa Conference of Churches, got a personal HIV/AIDS test in September as part of his campaign encouraging mass voluntary testing throughout Africa.

Coping with Memories

Viv Ketchum

I sent away for my Common Experience payment thinking I had been at a residential school for only a couple of years, but it was actually five years. I had blocked those memories out of my mind; the anger I had felt was at the loss of my childhood and the time away from my family. Time away from my father and mother. My siblings were at the same residential school, but I wasn't allowed to be near them, or on the same floor. The wholeness and innocence of my childhood was stolen. It was an overwhelming sense of grief I was experiencing, shedding bitter tears over what I had lost in my life.

Getting Back to Shape

Rev. Cheol Soon Park

Many churches were at leisure over the summer months as members went away to cottages and other vacation destinations. Yet at the same time, many churches were busy organizing summer special mission projects such as youth camp, VBS, community projects and short term mission trips. Many groups from various regions went out as mission teams to share, serve, and build relationships with others. I believe they all came back with experiences they will cherish for the rest of their lives. I still have a vivid memory from my first mission trip. There I was shocked by the living condition of the people and learned a precious lesson – we have to share. The impact was so great I ended up going back on many other trips in following years.