Application For A Change

Almost a year (to the day!) after complaining about my job, I applied for a change today: I applied for acceptance into the CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) program at VGH.

It's been an interesting journey the past few months, actually. After returning from my World Tour earlier this year (see articles from late May to mid-July), I felt that a vocational change was in the works.

I looked at moving to the Okanagan and starting a Christian retreat centre there, but that didn't pan out, I just didn't have peace about it. The all-important factor that ultimately hindered a move in that direction was the lack of a partner. Not (necessarily) a marriage partner, but a partner to help see the thing through. For whatever reason, I seem to be unable to put an idea into action on my own, above all if the idea requires creativity and risk.

Anyways, starting today, I may be onto a new trajectory, yet again.

A Quiet Christmas

Since Ted and Melanie and families are in Paraguay, my parents and I spent Christmas Eve together in the comforts of my small apartment. Truth be told, although I missed the rest of our family, I much prefer a quiet Christmas with a small group of people in a candle-lit apartment over a loud affair in a big, impersonal house.

I made my usual dinner-dish, roasted vegetables, and mom brought milanesa and lemon pie (for dessert).

Here is our picture together:

Later on this afternoon I plan to attend Evening Prayer at St. James Anglican Church, and after that I will drive to New Westminster and hook up with friends to watch a movie or two.

This Night

Two reasons why this night is different than all others:

1- tonight, God (finally!) made himself known: "...these days he has spoken to us by his Son . . . He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature..." (Hebrews 1:1-3)

2- tonight, God invited us into his family: "[Jesus] came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:11-13)

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Silent Night, Holy Night: all is calm,
all is bright round the virgin mother and child,
holy infant so tender and mild,
sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent Night, Holy Night: shepherds quake
at the sight; glories stream from heaven afar
heavenly hosts sing, 'Alleluia;
Christ the Saviour is born, Christ the Saviour is born.'

Silent Night, Holy Night: wondrous star,
lend your light; with the angels let us sing
Alleluiah to our King;
Christ our Saviour is born, Christ our SAviour is born.

I Await (J'Attends)

I await.
I await the wind that brings tomorrow.
I await the Messiah once foretold.
I await His comfort in our sorrow.

I await the dawn that lifts our flock,
The morning star that shines upon our way,
The promised child, who moves inside me now,
And the angel who will return to me my beloved.
I await.

In the twilight of our history,
I await the dawning of His reign.
I await the first plowshare forged from swords
And the marriage of peace and justice once again.

I await, in the coldness of the dawn,
The end of crisis and the spring of hope
In this new century.
I await.

And I, says the Lord, I await...
That you will wait no more!

I await the untangling of injustice's thorns
And the dispersion of the fog of despair.
These I await by your hands of work and prayer.

You will hear my footsteps on this narrow path
And you will see that which, by faith, you await.
My peace be with you.

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This poem was composed by Michel Wagner from the Reformed Church of France, and translated into English by Leah Long.