Preparing for the 'big guy'!

Blog #46 - Preparing for the big guy!

October 20 was Mashujaa Day in Kenya - Heroes’ Day!  It is a public national holiday honoring those who contributed to the struggle for Kenya’s independence (1963) and those who have positively shaped the post-independence of the country.  People honor how independence has enabled the country to provide better opportunities and living conditions for its residents. Heroes Day also acknowledges Kenyans who have made significant contributions in sports, education, medicine, and in other areas.

This year, the town where I live, Kakamega, celebrated the occasion in fine style.  The President, Uhuru  Kenyatta and his first lady, Margaret Kenyatta, came to town – along with the Deputy President, the opposition leader, and guest President of Namibia, Mr. Hage Geingob - quite the entourage for this rural place. The weekend festivities included a major celebration gathering at the new local arena where the President gave the keynote address.  In his speech, he declared unity to be the spirit of the Kenyan handshake which must be emulated across all sectors.  Traditional dancers and choirs  entertained the crowd and one of our Salvation Army Territorial leaders, Commissioner Grace Chepkurui, participated with prayer. An air show of fighter jets by the Kenya Air Force wowed the residents while tons of food vendors were a great attraction to those who congregated to see the big guy! The town likely swelled by thousands over the weekend.

Leading up to the event, concerted preparations were quite visible for several months.  Road repairs galore, the installation of literally hundreds of street lights, embedded floral in the round-a-bouts, significant additions of shelter/sun shade space to the stadium, and a new fountain in the centre of town helped beautify Kakamega’s community image.  Presumably all paid for by the national government. The increased military presence, heightened police security, tons of colorful national and municipal flags flying, and lots of rehearsals for community groups and schools were among the final details before the big day. Near the end, you could almost feel the panic of last minute arrangements in town. Ready or not, here he comes!

In many ways, the measures taken were an asset to the area. Better road conditions, bright lights for evening traffic and travelers, extra visitors, first hand exposure to government officials, and a more visually appealing municipal ambiance for any newcomers. The weekend generated additional revenue for local businesses and potentially highlighted Kakamega as a charming place to live in Kenya. Obviously, the upgrades had its limits and did not address lots of other social and community needs. Some wondered if the large number of erected street lights could possibly have an adverse effect if electricity costs to run these lights propel a surge in power costs for the ordinary consumer.  (Perhaps not all the lights will be turned on after the holiday event). In any case, preparing for the country’s President has definitely been a rigorous and resolute labour intensive attempt to impress political dignitaries and will likely be the talk of the town for quite some time.

Observing this hustle and bustle begged a reflection for me about the coming of another prominent figure, a dignitary of a different sort, Jesus.  In the Christian faith, we believe that one day our ‘big guy’ will come (again) to town. (Please don’t mistake this light-hearted description of Jesus as sacrilegious or disrespectful).  The Bible teaches us that the promise of Christ when he ascended to Heaven following his resurrection was his eminent return. In John 14:3, Jesus promised “If I go … (and he did go), I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”  Some years later, the apostle Paul wrote in one of his letters “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God, the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” (I Thess. 5:16-17)

One of the differences between the coming of Jesus and the appearance of a prominent political leader is we will not be fore warned about the actual time & date. As a matter of fact, “in an hour when you least expect it, the Son of God will come back – like a thief in the night.” (Matt. 24:44) Our preparation days won’t be just for two weeks or two months.  More truthfully, it's every day. We do not have a date for Jesus return, though the bible does describe the kind of times we may be living in: “days of wars and rumors of wars” (Matthew 24:6). Sound familiar?  Question is, how do we ‘get ready’ for an arrival of such great magnitude that it makes the President coming to town seem mundane and inconsequential? I think it means we need to pay careful attention to how we live - every day.

Following Paul’s prediction of Christ's return, he gives us some pretty good advice while we wait. Various phrases from 1 Thess. 5:6-11 encourage us to  “be alert … be self-controlled, put on faith and love as a shield, and the hope of salvation as a protective headdress ... encourage one another and build each other up.” Preparing to meet Jesus, whether at his official return to earth or the day when we die, is about putting into practice what He told us to do – love God and love others. Believe in and receive the gift of salvation. Then follow His example in how we treat people, including every effort to stand against evil and injustice. In other words, let’s expend our energy beyond what can be seen on the outside. Let’s do more than just embellish our image. Let's find ways to make a real difference.  Don’t be self-centred. Be aware (alert) to the reality of people around you (neighbors) and those across the globe. Put your faith into action.  

Notably, this is NOT about impressing Christ, for none of our ‘good works’ earn us a place at the table being prepared for our eternal feasting. Faith alone in the unmerited grace of God is the only way into His presence. It is not an outward beautifying effort. It is a preparation that begins (and ends) in the heart and translates into a living, active faith.

In many ways, I am grateful that the coming back of Jesus is an unknown day. If I was given a date when I would leave this world or the date when Jesus would show up on my door step, would I potentially be as frantic as the hired workers I’ve seen in Kakamega the past two weeks? Would I be scurrying against the clock to ensure everything in my life was ‘in place’? Would I be panicking about what I had left undone? Maybe - though I'm sure I would not get it just right.  Instead, because his return is an unexpected one, I get a new opportunity, a fresh chance, every day to carefully and prayerfully prepare my heart and live my life in honor of His grace to me.

Ready or not, He’s coming.

Karibu (welcome) to Kakamega! 

Prep work - by hand

Crowds at the stadium - some like the lime light!

Celebrate Kenya!

Artistic flare! 

And the dignitaries ...

Coaching and cultivating

Blog #45

Coaching and cultivating – envisioning a better future

Words are so often contextual. Meanings vary depending on setting or circumstance. The word ‘coaching’ has its most familiar framework in sports.  Individual athletes and sports teams depend highly on effective coaching for success.  (Okay, hockey fans in Canada, perhaps the Toronto Maple Leafs still have that hope!).  About ten years ago, Morris and I welcomed a new context for this word, attaching it to being a leader. We quickly resonated with the principles, values, and theory of coaching and have sought to emulate it in our leadership.  We haven’t perfected it but still pursue it.

The other word for today is ‘cultivating’.  Without much difficulty, common images are growing, gardening, or farming, though it can apply elsewhere - in education, relationships, or even finances. In my current setting, the default for this word is quite natural. Living in rural Africa, cultivating is seen constantly since farming is the inherent livelihood for most.  Recently, I considered the congruency between coaching and cultivating.  Both, I believe, are rooted (no pun intended) in the forward movement of a better future.

When harvest season happens in Kenya, hundreds (maybe thousands) of acres of maize (corn) are cultivated. Maize is the basis for a staple food – ugali.  Maize is planted in March or April and usually harvested in October.  The investment of sowing the grain commences the annual practice of producing what is needed to feed families and generate revenue. Without it, their future may be bleak.

To redeem a quality crop, cultivating is quite a process.  It begins with choosing the right kind of seed, one not easily destroyed by insects. The seeds are planted in straight rows about two feet apart with fertilizer sprinkled to stimulate productivity. Once the plants grow to about knee height, weeding happens, discarding all that hinders maximum gain. Following a second topping of fertilizer, and if weather conditions are favorable, in a few months the green cobs turn brown and are ready to be cut. After grouping the stalks in bundles for quick drying, the kernels are peeled from the cobs and laid out on a flat surface to dry for two weeks, followed by tedious shelling, until only the maize seeds remain for grinding into flour. Finally the flour is bagged into 90 kilo sacks and ready for home and the market. Every year the farmers must care for their crops properly to ensure a fertile harvest. 

Recently Morris and I did some lectures at the Officers Training College on leader coaching. On our drive home, peering past miles of farmland, I contemplated the similarities between coaching and cultivating. Coaching is a style of leadership that involves building trust, creating an honest awareness of your current reality, and making necessary adjustments to redeem a better future.  Carol MacKinnon and Susan Wright define it as “the process of getting to know both yourself and other(s), establishing a relationship of mutual trust and awareness for the purpose of working together to reach a common goal” (Leader Alchemy).  Coaching begins with an investment (a cultivation of sorts) in yourself first and then developing others to accomplish goals (or mission) for something bigger than self-interest. For spiritual leaders, it is an investment for the purpose of seeing God’s Kingdom come (grow) on earth as it is in Heaven – the prayer and passion of Jesus.  Others using this approach can also find personal or organizational applications.

So how are coaching and cultivating similar? When local farmers start tilling soil and planting seeds, a trust commences.  To start with, they believe the ground to be fertile in ‘receiving’ what’s being embedded. A unique relationship emerges between the farmer and the soil, perhaps similar to fisherman and the ocean or miners and the underground.  Farmers also need trust in the atmospheric environment – the right balance of sun and rain.  Yet, truth is, the weather is not dependable. Too much rain washes away the crops prematurely and long periods of drought saps the crops nutrients. To add to that, if they haven’t chosen the right seeds or if they have failed to weed properly, these variables can adversely affect the results and the needed source of life for their families.  Simply put, farmers cannot depend on nature alone.  The process needs their regular attention.  

In leader coaching, if people are being led towards a better future, they should be able to trust the person or the organization they are following.  Realistically, people can find themselves embedded in a culture that has taken for granted the faith others have in them (the natural ground).   However, when rains of doubt or uncertainty fall too heavily or if a drought of dependability occurs, or if regular attention to what is integral has been neglected, trust can be marred or even severed with rebuilding required. Trust must be created. It is not automatically dependable ground. Transparency and accountability, honesty and integrity, as well as being reliable and approachable are foundational values which leaders (and others) want to sow and give regular attention. These seeds of character need cultivating.  And whereas some external conditions in farming like weather patterns are not predictable or controllable, perhaps our behaviors ought to be. Jesus said “Let your light so shine before people that they see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

When my untrained farming eye first started gazing at large fields of maize, I was impressed.  What a great harvest! After some time, however, I discovered there was something even better going on, something else was growing in between the rows of the tall corn stalks that I didn’t see. Beans had been planted in the gaps, enabling farmers to reap not just one crop, but two. While the corn is hovering high, beans are being produced closer to the ground. Optimal use of the field is happening!  (And by the way, I’ve tasted the beans here - they are quite yummy and provide great protein too.)

One of the goals for leading as a coach is to identify and help fill in the gaps of what is missing in the culture being created, for the purpose of an improved future. It’s easy sometimes to see all that’s good and miss some prime opportunities.  The former Salvation Army General, Andre Cox, reminded us that we cannot depend on our past successes, no matter how great they appear to be. There are still gaps missing.  Filling the gaps in churches and also in our individual lives (whether we are leaders or not), means becoming aware of what can be better, admitting what we have possibly overlooked, and exploring the prospects of a forward movement or a better direction. This requires a combined effort with lots of helpful and loving support. Leadership is not a solo sport and we can always accomplish more together than alone. The cultivating process farmers use is not done by one person.  There’s too much to do and too much at stake.

When crops yield a productive harvest, I’ve seen how happy people are. Conversations in the tea room at the office or with the locals on the street are naturally more jovial when the farming year has been a good one. Everyone benefits - families, the economy, the church and the community. The process has been worthwhile when all contributing factors are working in the same direction and goals are accomplished.  If however the conditions have not been favorable and the results are less than what was imagined, I also see that the farmer doesn’t give up.  If a crop has failed or is poor, the farmer must examine the reason why and commit to a change for the following year.  Was something neglected? What changes are required for better results? What can be done differently? And of course, acknowledging what was uncontrollable (like the weather).  Instead of yielding to despair, new commitments (alternative actions) can ensure progress.  Before long, there is a new year ahead! Another opportunity and fresh space to adjust, regroup, learn, and plant again.

In leader coaching, as we build trust through healthy relationships and focus on common goals, we gain traction in moving beyond resistance (our own or what is in others) and discover together new possibilities for more favorable outcomes.  Commitments and helpful support will enable us to set our sights on the fields around us which are “white unto harvest”, knowing that nothing is wasted when we are leaning and growing.

Coaching and cultivating may have an array of meanings for different people. For me, they are opportunities for wise investments, developing something beyond ourselves, and foreseeing greater takeaways!   On this Canadian Thanksgiving Day, among many reasons for gratitude, the ability to learn, improve and grow is definitely on my list.

3000 Strong - Women's Congress

With firewood & pots, mattresses, basins and soap, bags of flour, cooking oil, vegetables, and luggage filled with pretty dresses and uniforms – and their Bibles – 3000 women arrived for the Congress.  We reached the school grounds to find the ladies carrying heavy loads on their heads and with no hesitation, setting up make shift kitchens around the compound. The excitement was building for this long awaited spiritual retreat. They had traveled from the deep interior, from villages and mountains, in buses and matatus, on motor bikes and on foot.  The Turkana group voyaged for 18 hours and they wouldn’t miss it!

The early birds landed a dormitory bunk while others found sleeping space on the concrete classroom floors of the Mudavadi Girls Secondary School.  A hint of panic set in when there was an obvious overflow of delegates. Extra tents were quickly ordered and before long the green grass became the additional sleeping space, a nocturnal crib under the stars. Despite some minor complaining, none of these ‘inconveniences’ tarnished the ladies’ eagerness and expectancy.  For many, it was their ‘vacation of the year’ filled with sunrise to sunset dancing, singing, worship, and prayer – plus lots of fun and laughter.  Like many such events around the globe, women love being together. It’s in our DNA. This scene was no exception. The ear to ear smiles and their never ending energy for ‘moving to the music’ spoke volumes of their vigour to be together for hours of praise and thanksgiving to God.  Our two guests from The Salvation Army US Southern Territory, Commissioner Barbara Howell and Major Brenda Raymer, were immediately thrilled to meet and mingle with the ladies. Soon they too were dancing the African way. Warm welcomes and ‘join us’ are never in short supply for visitors!  

The messages and teaching supported the theme “Women Serving Christ Positively”. It was quite appropriate that Major Brenda reminded us to ‘pause’ this weekend and hear God speak. The days sped quickly, moving from times of worship and Bible study to limitless presentations of gospel dance, choir, drama, timbrels and poems along with life lessons about women’s health, parenting skills and child development, and a tutorial on uniform wearing.  The highlight for many, including myself, was our final session on Sunday morning.  Commissioner Barbara shared stories of several women in the Bible whose godly influence was effective despite their imperfect circumstances. It germinated our thinking about the influence we can have on our families and communities. She declared the truth that the measure of our worth is not found in the opinion of others but in whose we are and “if we belong to God, our influence is about what matters in His kingdom”, she said.  Covering her head with a crimson scarf, and mobilizing herself around the field, she relayed the story of the woman who was full of shame and despised by her village because of a bleeding condition that was out of her control. “After a very long time of enduring feelings of disgrace, this woman’s dignity was finally restored when she reached out, desperate yet determined, to touch Christ” Barbara reminded us.  She beat the odds in her life to “walk by faith and not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7) and found herself empowered by God’s healing spirit. The application - this can be our story too. Many of us may battle with shame and personal worth. Sometimes our circumstances defeat us.  The woman in Matthew 9 is a great example of how faith in Christ can restore our value and release the inner beauty, strength, and compassion within us which can overflow to the lives of others.  As Barbara knelt on the grass, allowing the head scarf to slowly drop to her shoulders, she invited the women to come before God, without any fear of hiding.  "With full confidence of His grace and courage to believe that His Spirit can help us, we are invited to Jesus."  Hundreds of women walked onto the field, kneeling humbly in prayer. We came together - in one accord - to confess our need of God’s help to serve from the inside out with godly impact and influence.  Loud murmurs of heart felt prayer filled the field as Commissioner Grace prayed fervently over the seeking crowd. These days were so worth it. 

Events like this are not always easy to measure in terms of impact. It is never only about what happens during the time together but perhaps more importantly, it is about how it propels us forward. What difference will this gathering make for these women personally? What impact will it have in their family life, in the church and the community? While sharing in corporate worship, praying together, and learning new truths are great blessings in the moment and well worth the planning, we long to know that deep and meaningful effects have truly taken root and will bloom with a fragrance that touches many lives in the days ahead. Some of these we will never know but others will be quite evident in the local setting. For this we now pray. 

I am very grateful to have been part of this event.  It was energizing to glimpse the traditional expressions of exalting God with voices and motion. Sometimes I had to catch my breath after joining them for a gospel dance!  It was enriching to hear God’s Word spoken with clarity and truth.  It was defining to remember the commonality of our spiritual needs as we internalized the message spoken.   When we waved good bye on Sunday afternoon, I was jolted within as I acknowledged that normal every-day life for some of these women is far from easy and some of them returned to challenges that may burst their bubbles very quickly. I prayed for God’s protection against any situations which could potentially harm any of them in body, mind, or soul. I continue to pray and hope for support and on the ground partnering to help these women find courage to overcome any circumstances that may rob them of their joy in places where they may be quite vulnerable. I pray for justice and mercy. I pray for a daring obedience for each one of them, and for myself, to follow God in ways that will translate into better lives and generational good.

God bless the women of Kenya.

Here are a few of the hundreds of pictures taken over this weekend!

Arrival & Settling in

Our Guests

Two TPWM's

Translators are such gems!

Commissioner Grace welcomes the crowd!

And the dancing begins ...

DDWM from Turkana in her native dress

I love meeting little girls :) 

Timbrels 

She can't keep still :)

An amazing crowd!

The District officers who hosted us.

They do not hesitate to pray 

I'm tryin'!! 

And it's Sunday morning ... 

Taking the salute to 3000 women takes time. 

Brenda's last Bible Study 

Sunday morning sermon

A stirring moment

Love this image of Barbara clasping hands with one of the ladies as we all pray together. 

And when it's all over, he's always there ... 

Inspired

Blog #42   Inspired

Over the past week, Morris and I have found ourselves deeply inspired by several people and experiences. On Wednesday, our staff said farewell to two officers who are being transferred. Captain Nancy Zazi is assuming the role of Finance Secretary and her husband, Captain Fredrick Zazi, will be the Assistant Projects Officer in the Malawi Territory.  These competent and passionate officers will contribute much in their first ‘away from home’ appointment, beyond just their skills.  Captain Nancy shared with me how besides fulfilling her Finance appointment in Malawi, she wants to “find at least ten children and start a Sunday School!”   I have witnessed Nancy’s passion for God’s Word, her gift of teaching, and her heart for mission. She is a humble, genuine, and intelligent leader.   In her farewell words, she left three thoughts with her colleagues, perhaps unexpected for the occasion but truly thought provoking.

1.       Just because you think you’re right doesn’t mean you are right

2.       Don’t trust your mouth when your heart is bitter

3.       I am so, so grateful to The Salvation Army for all they have given me - especially a house that has floor tiles, water, and electricity.

We won't soon forget these honest and straight forward words. As I listened to her third comment, I was personally challenged to deepen my thankfulness.

On Thursday morning, we left our compound very early for a field excursion. We love visiting remote areas of the Territory to see the Army engaged in the isolated or far-off places.  One of the District leaders arranged to take us on a tour of part of his area, including one corps located high on the slopes of Mount Elgon, bordering Uganda. We were eager for the adventure.  On route that morning, however, we received a message that saddened us. One of our dear friends, Max Porter, had died. At the age of 88, this energetic, kind, ‘young at heart’ man, still engaged in his accounting business, had taken a stroke in early July. His recovery did not go well and to the regret of his loving family, he passed away. But Max did not leave this earth or us unaffected. His positive influence was wide spread across Newfoundland - in church, community, and with his business associates. Our friendship with Max began as corps officers at Grand Falls Citadel. He was a faithful encourager in our ministry and an unofficial mentor to Morris. Max had a keen mind, particularly in the fields of business and music. His active music days were mostly behind him when we met, but his contribution to effective business strategies remained.  He offered his finance skills as a helpful support to the corps. He was wise and jovial and cared about others. Max had a gift of focusing attention away from himself and onto you whenever you were chatting. (I hope I always nurture Max-type conversations).   There was no ‘fluff’ with Max but he sure knew how to make you laugh.  Max helped the corps face a challenging fiscal reality and prepare for a better desired future.  “Let’s face the situation we have and move forward in the best way possible” Max would say. We won’t ever forget that or him. The tears that fell on Thursday and the reflections Morris and I have shared about this kind man in the past few days are evidence of a life which inspired us.

We continued our journey that day to our first destination - a steep drive up the mountain. The view was spectacular, miles and miles of rich fertile land strewn along the slopes with endless acres of maize, vegetables, and coffee crops growing.  We climbed higher and higher over a rough, twisty, narrow terrain, driving sometimes within what seemed like inches from the edge of the road. Our four wheel drive vehicle was a blessing and a bit of a contrast to the local modes of transportation maneuvering alongside us - motorbikes, tractors towing trailers, and donkeys.

The breath taking scenery captured our gaze til we reached the summit to find Kebee Corps, and two Salvation Army sponsored schools in the adjoining compound. The corps building was a semi-permanent structure with an unfinished floor and walls made of stone and wire mesh, held together with mud on the inside and the exterior covered with plaster.  A small group of Salvationists and the corps officer gathered to greet us. These faithful few were keeping the flag flying and the mission moving in this faraway place, in spite of many deficiencies.  We shared some time listening to their reality, praying for their encouragement, and thanked them for their commitment and faithfulness. Insisting on a group photo before we left, we knew they were happy to see visitors. The schools next door welcomed us to greet the students, parents, and teachers. It was the day before their school break.  The high school was celebrating their first year to have a graduating class, a worthwhile achievement for the area.  Devoted soldiers of the Army and several hundred beautiful energetic pupils with potential and hope for a brighter future warmed our hearts on that mountain. 

After a couple hours in Kebee, we descended the mountain to visit more joyful and loyal Salvationists who met us with contagious enthusiasm. Singing, drums, tambourines, and dancing are never in short supply! We were thrilled to hear stories of how the church is growing and impacting their communities in some of these out-of-the-way areas whose life and ministry is often in less than ideal circumstances.  In my heart I pray that the joy of serving God and my faith in Him will never be hinged on personal comfort or perfect circumstances.  We were reminded that day that The Salvation Army is so wide spread in many obscure places, sharing the truth of the gospel and influencing both the current and next generation with a message of the love of God. We are so grateful that we have the privilege of seeing this up close.

Our inspiring week continues. On Friday, The Salvation Army welcomed a new international leader – General Brian Peddle. We have known this man for many years and have a deep respect for him and Commissioner Rosalie.  We have seen how congruent their private and public lives are since our days of being Cadets in the same city where they were Corps Officers.  They have remained committed and competent leaders with a passion for the mission of the Army.  They are not faultless. They are ordinary, though gift, people with a deep personal faith in God who will lead with purpose and sincerity. They inspire us.

Morris and I ended our week at the Rondo Retreat Centre, a haven in the Kakamega rain forest. Rondo was initially established to provide solace and refreshing especially for Christian missionaries and continues as a faith based business.  For us, it is a place to nurture a rhythm of rest and reflection.  Besides losing ourselves in some great reading over the weekend, we took a walk through a small section of the forest. The dense and tangled tall trees delighted our eyes, nose, and ears. The wide spread tree roots criss-crossing the narrow trails under our feet illustrate how deep roots of faith can propel lasting growth and enable you to withstand many changes and challenges. The fragrant smell of dark green foliage, both the decaying and new, remind us of the cycles of life that are intrinsic to all creation. The sweet hum and chirping of several species of birds gently denting the stillness of the forest was music to our ears.  We are inspired.

Thank you God for these days. 

Captain Nancy Zazi 

A few pics of the drive up the mountain 

The Corps at the top of the slopes 

Primary School kids love getting their picture taken

Couldn't resist posting this close up! :) 

High School students 

Kimobeli corps at the base of the mountain 

Just enough

She casually stood on the side of the dirt road, dressed in multiple layers of shirt and sweater hanging loosely above her ankle length paisley skirt. The morning air was cool from the late night rains. Her mission at daybreak was a pint of milk. Not a gallon – insufficient funds.  With her back to the passersby, she held out her plastic jug to the lady with the large yellow canister to acquire the ‘just enough’ needed for the day.  A few moments of comradery and she’s on her way.  A stone’s throw down the road a teenager fills a ½ litre water bottle with milk too. It’s routine on the streets of rural Kenya. Fetching daily supplies for the needs of the next 24 hours.  Milk, firewood, water, cooking oil, eggs. Small markets and individual businesses supply the appropriate portions as a strategic response to their customers. It makes commercial sense for several reasons including the size of storage space many have in their homes as well as what the locals can afford.  For the lady I saw retrieving milk, I wondered if her daily hope is whether there will be a sufficient supply. No waste. No excess. No extra. Just enough.

A natural trend for lots of us is to ‘stock up’ on what we think we need. (Pause on that a moment).  If we find household or personal items at a discounted price, we fill our shopping carts or maybe we simply want to avoid frequent trips to the store. But that’s not the way of life for many in the world. Realistically it doesn’t make sense.  Either the funds just aren’t available and there is no choice, or perhaps the routine of gathering enough for the day is simply the norm and even enjoyable.   One of the nicest things is seeing lots of people outside walking, sidewalk shopping, exchanging handshakes and hugs, talking and socializing in their communities. There is something refreshing about it. No one is in a hurry. Relationships are more important than the clock.

Many years ago, a nation of people were pilgrims on route to a better land and for a time they wandered in a dessert. Funds were low and supplies were bare.  Amazingly every day, they found manna from heaven on the ground and “each morning everyone gathered as much as they needed” (Exodus 16:21).  A sufficient portion at each break of dawn. No mega super stores. No Costco. No storing up – they were actually warned against that. But just enough for the day.   Fast forward a few centuries and Jesus is teaching his followers, and by extension us, how to pray: “Give us this day our daily bread.”

One of the beliefs of the Christian faith is that God is our provider. His nature is good. He loves and cares for all He has created – people yes, but also the trees, the sky, the ocean, the stars, sun and rain,  elephants and butterflies, the mountains, the birds … oh yea, the birds – “they neither sow or reap or store away in barns, yet their heavenly Father feeds them” (Matthew 6) – just enough.

I stop to ponder.  Is having an abundance kind of life what leads us to feel self-sufficient and faith deficient? Can ‘storing up’ cause people to overlook the value of believing in and depending on a loving Creator? And is that why we exceed more in getting and feeling satisfied than in giving, sharing, and loving our neighbor?   

What’s on your ‘just enough’ list today?  Money, security, love, faith, hope, opportunity, rest, adventure, health, courage …? Perhaps the lady on the side of the road can help us all remember that ‘just enough’ is not so out of reach after all.

Warm hugs from Kenya J

Wanda

Take up your chair and walk ...

Blog #40

Take up your chair and walk …

Driving to church, I was struck by a familiar Kenyan sight – people walking with chairs on their heads. (I guess I hadn’t noticed this particular exercise for a while.)  Two young children were strolling along nonchalantly, each with a chair lifted high, as if quite routine.  A mile later, a woman was carrying two chairs on her head, probably on her way to worship.  Having a chair or pew to sit on may not be dependable (I think) so she brings her own. In both cases, I had no idea how long their walk would be but likely a bit of a distance. Before we reach the Corps where we were headed, I see a group of students also carrying chairs on their heads, crossing the road between their school and a church. Perhaps they shared chairs between both buildings.   

A few thoughts emerged. Starting with - don’t let small obstacles stop you from pursuing what you need to do; take nothing for granted; accept your limitations and adjust; don’t sweat every inconvenience.  It’s life. Be thankful for the littlest of things.   

Okay, carrying a chair may not be that difficult for most of us but, let’s face it, when was the last time we needed to do that to ensure we had something to sit on?

Much greater challenges and struggles exist I know. This week, Japan experiences torrential rainfalls – worst weather disaster in a decade, millions flee their homes. A Thai soccer team are trapped in a cave for more than two weeks, one man dies in the rescue effort.  An hour from where we live, six students are charged with burning two school dormitories. 

It isn’t always the major crisis though that affects us every day. What about our personal situations?  Most of our private problems don’t make the news or show up on social media.  Yet, the battles we face are real and can wear us down. Not all our predicaments are solved as easily as ‘taking up your chair and walk’.  Sometimes the problems have no perfect answers. The ‘walk’ might be impossible or the ‘chair’ just too heavy. The sickness isn’t healed. The marriage dissolves. The work issues remain. And more often than we would like, we have to ‘dig deep’ for every day courage. I actually learned the Swahili word for courage yesterday – ushujaa (pronounces: ooshu – jaw).  Perhaps there are days when many of us need an extra portion of ushujaa.

For me, when life isn’t always what I want it to be, I turn to my faith. I pray. I confess my need. I confirm my belief in a greater power than human ability or simply resilience. I seek to trust this Power for my life and others. I also reach out to a friend – a confidant, a sounding board.  I take a walk or read a book. I hug my husband extra tight. I listen to the birds or I video chat with some pretty cute kids I know.  And through all of this, I find that inner strength to literally or figuratively ‘take up my chair and walk’.

Just a few thoughts on a Sunday morning …

Intense weather and silver linings

Intense weather and silver linings

Climate change and global warming are hot topics of discussion around the world. Not surprisingly, it was an agenda item for the recent G7 Summit in Quebec.  The implications and impact continue to perpetuate dialogue as scientific and political sectors keep trying to understand and address inevitable consequences for thousands of people and hundreds of communities universally.   Extreme weather patterns appear sporadically in so many places. Families and civic infrastructures experience havoc and loss from the effects of severe storms, drought, floods, hurricanes, erupting volcanoes, etc.

Arriving in Kenya in early 2017, the relentless high temperatures were causing intense drought which meant poor crops, loss of human and animal life, and accelerating poverty. Fast forward twelve months and the environmental pendulum has swung the other way to excessive rain falls instigating destructive flooding. Who would have thought?

A few weeks ago, a dam burst in one Kenyan town, due to substantial rainfall, resulting in the loss of many lives and substantial ruin of property. A news story detailed how the “flood waters swept away power lines, homes, and buildings, including a primary school.” The Salvation Army was part of the emergency response teams.  In an even broader context, the news relayed how “hundreds of thousands of people across Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, and Uganda have been displaced by torrential rain in the last two months.”

Soon we discovered how flash floods had reached the northern county of Turkana, the same area in our Territory where harsh drought struck a year ago. Many people are displaced because the floods have destroyed their houses and livestock. Some roads are impassable increasing the challenge for families seeking refuge. Various agencies and humanitarian aid groups are responding to provide for the immediate needs of food and shelter.  The county government is assessing the emerging and long term needs too. Our Salvation Army Territorial Projects department has been on the ground doing its review and are currently partnering with International Headquarters in a “rapid response” to support the area.  The Army’s motto, ‘heart to God and hand to man’, steps into high gear. 

While pondering the hostile effects of acute weather, I saw a small, silver lining in the cloud of unpredictable climate.  The few rivers we see around Kenya have reached new levels of rising water.  While driving by one not far from our house, I caught a glimpse of a young man standing knee deep in the middle of the river with a long pole extended into the water. I knew he wasn’t fishing. Our driver, Arnold, enlightened my curiosity. The high rolling water actually provided great conditions for harvesting sand from the river bed. The flooded water way meant the ground below was stirring up, allowing easier access to the sediment at the bottom.  Attached to the end of the submerged pole was a net that would catch the soil enabling the harvester to sift it, leaving behind what was not useful and harvesting a quality sand product.  Even without a net, using your hands for this work is also common. The sand would be carried out of the river in sacks thrown across the harvester’s shoulders.  I imagine the young man’s back was aching and sweat pouring down his face as he labored in the hot sun for many hours, another example of the local physical work required every day. A good result of this strenuous job, however, would be the valuable sand resource, an essential ingredient for making cement and asphalt, very useful for the expanding construction industry in Kenya.    Despite the tiring work, this could at least be one benefit from excessive rain and flooding.  

Another step back to scan the bigger picture though enlightened me a little more. In 2014 the UN reported more than 40 billion tonnes of sand are extracted annually around the globe, initiating a potential calamity. The concern is whether the frequency of harvesting sand exceeds nature’s rate of replenishing it.  I learned that sand harvesting has the potential to “destroy vegetation, affect the flow of water along the rivers, erode the waters’ holding capacity of the river bed, and destroy ecosystems. With the depletion of sand on riverbeds, harvesters target farmland.”  (https://www.nation.co.ke/oped/opinion/-increased-sand-harvesting/440808-4300774-178uig/index.html )   To help alleviate this fear, the law dictates sand harvesters must have a licence and adhere to regulations in an attempt to manage the environmental impact. I soon realized there is more here than meets the eye. I know my inquiry is very limited so I make no assumptions. But I did recall again the wide reaching complexities of atmospheric forces on our fragile world and the quest many have to find ways to live within current realities.

This reflection can leave me unsettled. I can't underestimate the challenges and threats which surround people every day but it also conjures up valuable principles.  I am still inspired by those who can extract something good when circumstances are tough, even when that good isn’t perfect. 

As well, I remember there are a myriad of perspectives in any given situation.  A broad outlook and an inquisitive mind can help deepen our understanding and potentially better our responses, or certainly our judgments.  I also consider every precious gift of life as a resource worth handling with care. And I see once more how interdependent we all are.  

The ‘refining’ process of harvesting sand also elicits a moral and ethical response. How important is it to ‘sift out’ what is not needed in our lives or what may tarnish the best in us. A good question for all of us - what purging or refining might be required on either a practical or spiritual basis? Could it be about eliminating the ‘stuff’ that is seriously not necessary (de-cluttering) or does it mean removing habits or behaviours that are just wrong?  I wonder what spiritual or moral filtering would allow greater portions of goodness, kindness, integrity, honesty, generosity and compassion to rise to the top.  As a leader, how can I ensure the pure ‘fine sand’ of humility, wisdom, and justice to be the products that shape my heart and mind as I influence and lead others?   

Extreme weather is intense and unfortunately reaps devastation for many. Let’s pray that there will be more silver linings to discover, other lessons to learn, and increased ways to own our part for the world we all long to see.

In the meantime, the promise of God from the prophet is: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned … do not be afraid for I am with you.” (Isaiah 43)

A picture taken on my phone by the side of the road