A Half-Plate of Potato Salad
On trying to get back into real community
“What are you willing to sacrifice for your children to develop a consequential faith?” Samuel asked as I blinked away what surely-was-a-response-to-seasonal-allergies-and-not-his-question.
We’d already been over our story and the years in between — “I think you answered your own question there — you don’t know how to be in community anymore, Adam.” — But the wise question that only someone who has been doing this for decades and decades could ask — a question Samuel himself has lived out for his own children as he went from Nigeria, to South Africa, to Chicagoland, to a maple farm in Quebec, and now to pastoring at a church in Toronto. To asking me this question at a cafe at Niagara-by-the-Lake. That’s the question I’ve been thinking about every day since.
Ephesians 4:25-5:2
New Century Version
So you must stop telling lies. Tell each other the truth, because we all belong to each other in the same body. When you are angry, do not sin, and be sure to stop being angry before the end of the day. Do not give the devil a way to defeat you. Those who are stealing must stop stealing and start working. They should earn an honest living for themselves. Then they will have something to share with those who are poor.
When you talk, do not say harmful things, but say what people need—words that will help others become stronger. Then what you say will do good to those who listen to you. And do not make the Holy Spirit sad. The Spirit is God’s proof that you belong to him. God gave you the Spirit to show that God will make you free when the final day comes. Do not be bitter or angry or mad. Never shout angrily or say things to hurt others. Never do anything evil. Be kind and loving to each other, and forgive each other just as God forgave you in Christ.
You are God’s children whom he loves, so try to be like him. Live a life of love just as Christ loved us and gave himself for us as a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice to God.
What great lengths God goes to get our attention. And at the Toronto airport, waiting to fly home, listening to a song I’d heard sung in a church once about God being a good, good father — my-surely-this-is-seasonal-allergies sprang up again and just as clearly as I’ve ever heard God’s voice “I never needed the money, Adam — I was just after your heart.” And the old lady sitting across from me, open to helping, but kindly buying my the-pollen-count-in-the-airport-is-higher-than-usual-this-time-of-year throat clearing.
I started a new job with my org this summer. Still one-on-one relational development work, but I get to travel a bit more now and between work and life I’ve been in Tucson, Toronto, Philadelphia, NYC, Atlanta, Seattle, Portland, and Eugene so far this summer. Here are a few photos:
Oh, and the half plate of potato salad. Apologies, I forgot. We’ve been back at an Assemblies of God church for the past couple of weeks. Today there was a potluck after the service. The answer to Samuel’s question this week was could I sit down and eat a half-plate of potato salad and some chicken. I did. The kids played and squealed and read their age-appropriate bibles that their grandparents sent them today. Kelly re-connected with a life-long friend who has four kids of her own now. The people and pastors were very kind and welcoming. I noticed a framed copy of Rembrandt’s The Return of the Prodigal Son hanging on the wall of the church lobby. I told God He didn’t have to be so on the nose with me all of the time.