Canada has signed a peace treaty!

Did you know that the longest standing war Canada has ever been in, ended just last year? Guess how many years this war lasted!  Less than 5 years?  Less than 10? 20?  Guess which country we’ve been at war with?  Russia?  China? The United States?  Or what it was over, oil?  Furs?  Drugs?  Gold? 

The war started in 1978, though some think it had its roots in an arrangement in 1973, so that makes it a 44 year war, although it didn’t get heated until 1984.  The Canadian Armed Forces were involved, both army, navy and air.  The dispute got on national news, tv and radio alike.  Both countries were planning to take their cause to the Hague if they couldn’t work it out.The conflict has involved diplomats, land surveyors, oil speculators, warships and helicopters.  It has taken up years of negotiations.  And lots of people from both countries have written articles, done geological surveys and otherwise contributed to the hostilities.

Now some of you are probably thinking this is about softwood lumber or milk, which is very close, and that’s great outside the box thinking, but it’s not that.  It is a straightforward border dispute over territory that both countries are claiming.  And you maybe thinking that this is with the United States of America, which is quite understandable as it’s our longest border and only country we share a border with.  And there still are a few spots of our boundaries with the U. S. that are still disputed, and of course Canada has lots of unceded territory too.

But this war is indeed over territory, one of the main reasons countries go to war.  An huge amount of land, a whole 1.5 square kilometres, which if the maps are accurate, are the equivalent of from the river valley up to the Burger Bar, from the Athabasca United Church to the Lollipops Thrift Store.  Not very big, but big enough to trigger war.  And the country we were at war with?  Of all nations, Denmark!  You see, there’s an island smack dab in the middle of the ocean border between Greenland and Nunavut.  It’s called Hans Island. And when the original treaty was made between Canada and Denmark over fishing rights between Nunavut and Greenland, it was accidentally left out.  And that’s when the war started.

Now war is ugly and has irresistible forces meeting immovable objects and conflict is challenging.  Although, and maybe you already know where this is going, sometimes conflict can actually be dealt with in healthy ways that build relationships and understanding. In fact, one of the signposts of a healthy congregation is that it knows how to handle conflict respectfully.  That we make sure the conflict is about ideas, not personalities, that we communicate kindly and respectfully, and that we remind ourselves of what is in the best interests of the community of faith, and what is God calling us to.

When ideas rub up against each other, we can get into all kinds of trouble.  We can tie ourselves in knots.  We can demonize the others.  We can choose to go to war against our neighbors, believing that we are superior to them, that our cause is superior, that our ideas are the best, that we are right, even that we are always right.  But we follow a loving God.  One that sees us do all kinds of things that are hurtful to both ourselves and each other.  Even when we disappoint our God, still our God will speak peace to us.  Surely God will bring peace and justice together so that there will be harmony in our world.  And the question is in front of us, do we want to be a part of that harmony, of that movement to bring peace into the world and justice to all?  That’s what our scriptures say God is up to.

One thing that jumped out of the Gospel this morning, other than the fact that there was no Mary heading to Bethlehem or angels or other Christmassy images, is that John came announcing the arrival, the call to get ready.  But he was also humble.  He knew he wasn’t perfect; he knew he didn’t have all the answers, he knew that he would not be the head of the revival efforts.  He would get the ball rolling, but he was not going to join in any conflict with Jesus over who was the best or who baptized the most or who had the most followers.  He had God’s message on his mind, the message that change was possible, hope and peace could come to even the most troubled of lives in the most challenged of countries, was his mission and his purpose.  He respected his role in God’s story, and he respected the role of Jesus in God’s story.  The story of change and growth for the peace of the world.  This was not about fighting Jesus over who was in charge.  He showed deep respect to Jesus.

We saw that respect in our war with Denmark.  Many of you might not know about Hans Island, but you may have heard of it as the Great Whisky War.  You see, this was fought with humor and respect.  The Canadian Navy sailed by Hans Island, stopping to put up a Canadian Flag and leave a bottle of Canadian Whisky.  The Danish fleet some six months later came by, pulled up the Canadian Flag, enjoyed the whisky and dropped a bottle of schnapps and their flag on the island.  This went back and forth for a number of years, until last year when Denmark and Canada decided to show the world that it is indeed possible to end a war without a shot.  They hoped to provide an example and antidote to the kind of mentality that led to soldiers dying in Ukraine and in Gaza. The treaty still needs to be ratified, but that process started in October of 2023.  With probably a good laugh and a shared toast to peace on earth. We now have a second country we share a land border with, and this one has no walls, no border patrols and no customs office.  It is a reminder that peace is not just something we can dream about, but something we can actually make a reality.  And isn’t that a wonderful way to celebrate Advent? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Island

What are you thirsty for?

I got a phone call Wednesday from an organization that works for the United Church and provides support for ministry personnel.  The nice gentleman on the other end of the line asked me how I was doing, and I said ‘a little stressed, wish the Covid would go away.’ He then proceeded to send me four e-mails, one on managing my weight, one on parenting my kids through school, one on stress, and one on a new app that would help me with whatever I was struggling with.

The new app turned out to be a series of links to Ted Talks and breathing exercises.  Nothing I couldn’t have found for myself.  Every celebrity has their YouTube channel and you can listen to advice from psychologists and psychotherapists on topics from how to have better boundaries to how to deal with a bully at work.

There is a lot of information, advice, data, research and study available that we never had before.  There are con artists and false news fearmongers on it as well.  Just like real life, we have always had good leaders and crime bosses in every time, even when Jesus was alive.  The temple authorities have watched Jesus come into town on a donkey, with cheering crowds making a huge fuss over him, then he came into the Temple itself.  The first day he showed up, Jesus disrupted the economic system by having a temper tantrum and throwing furniture around instead of being respectful and humble and awed by the sanctified building he stood in.  So of course, they would go up to him and ask him who he thought he was, and what gave him the right to do what he did?

They were not looking for information, for a diploma, or a certificate.  They were looking for sheepishness, embarrassment, possibly an apology, and preferably a quick departure.  

What they got was not any of what they wanted or said they wanted, instead they got authority.  That must have really shocked them.  Sadly it was not convincing enough for they were ultimately the ones who organized the kangaroo court that led to his state execution.

The people wandering in the wilderness struggled to survive in a new land; they were city slickers living in tents and cooking on open fires instead of cozy homes that they had abandoned to follow a dream. They were not sure what they were thirsty for.  Some wanted a return to old ways, to job security and a roof over their heads, decent food and access to clean drinking water on a regular basis.  To some authority that would tell them what to do and where to be every single day of their lives.  They thirsted for certainty, security and predictability.

Some wanted constant reassurance that they were doing the right thing, sticking it out in the desert, gathering their manna and quail each day, scrounging for wood for their fires, learning how to sew tents, getting used to a new reality where they were on the move every day, keeping a watch on the kids so they stayed away from snakes and scorpions, and taking care of their elders.

Some thirsted for the promised land that they had never seen, and only knew from stories of their great great grandparents, Abraham, Sarah, Jacob, Rachel and Leah, Joseph and his many brothers.  The land of milk and honey, a place of freedom to raise their families without the threat of infanticide and genocide, a place where they could farm or tend herds instead of making clay bricks for the Pharaoh’s pyramids.

Some wanted a new life right away and got angry at Moses for not providing it upon demand.  They wanted to feel strong so that they would never again have to endure the violence of slavery.  They didn’t realize that they were in danger of becoming as violent as their oppressors in their need for order.

And then there were the leaders, Moses, his brother Aaron and his sister Myriam, struggling to lead, feeling attacked and threatened, wondering if they were leading the people in circles, wondering what God was doing and why the people couldn’t simply be happy to be free!

Moses wanted to complain but God wanted him to remember the authority that he had.  The staff was a reminder of all the things Moses had done in front of the Pharaoh to free his people.  It was the tool God used to help Moses understand that he had the power to liberate, to challenge the authoritarian regime in Egypt.  A simple stick such as anyone might use for a walk in the bush or to lean on while looking after herds of sheep.  No fancy carvings, no gold decorations or embedded jewels like the Pharaoh and his ornate shepherd’s crook that would never be practical for working with a stubborn flock.

A simple and useful stick that reminded Moses of who he worked for and how he had been called.  The stick that had somehow been transformed in the presence of the burning bush into a symbol of God’s liberating power.  The stick that reminded him of the authority he had and who he was accountable to!

What are you thirsty for? Who do you give authority to?  Many today are following authoritarians who promise safety and freedom from dangerous foes, falling for stories of danger and conspiracy.  Many listen to the loudest voices and the angriest leaders to find the security they long for.  

We as followers of Jesus are called to follow the voice of love that provides living waters in the midst of the desert of fear, common sense amidst the chaos, the still small voice that we need to hear when we thirst for hope.  The voice of freedom and justice for all, the voice of authority rather than the voice of authoritarianism, the voice of sense and compassion that leads us to a promised land more beautiful than we can possibly imagine.  May we find that voice in our journey through our wilderness time.  Amen.

What’s in your backpack?

Luke 13:10–17 (children's sermon for Blessing of the Backpacks Sunday)

The bent over woman in today’s scripture must have looked a little odd and she must have had a hard time.  How would she have cooked? Or got food from a top cupboard?  I wonder what made her so bent over?  I wonder if she had a backpack that was full of too many heavy things to carry around.  When my kids went back to school, I would lift their backpacks to make sure they didn’t get too bent over from carrying the supplies around.

How heavy is your backpack? Is it weighing you down, hurting your back, bending you over, keeping you from feeling good about yourself and your life, preventing you from looking people in the eyes or having joy in your life?

Let’s take time to look at what is in our backpacks and whether we can lighten our load a bit.  Sometimes that means leaving my favorite book at home.  I can’t take all 7 Harry Potter books to school every day, that would hurt my back for sure.  But we can look at our backpacks as something more.  Let’s play pretend and look at what might be too heavy for our backpacks!

I think we all have an imaginary backpack that we use to carry around some pretty heavy things.  I have my imaginary backpack right here.  Why, it’s full of rocks! No wonder it’s so heavy!

The first rock says ‘pain and suffering’.  I can imagine that this would have been what the Bent over woman had in her imaginary backpack.  Some people might wonder what the difference is between pain and suffering.  I like to think of it as like when a three-year old hurts its finger.  It cries for mommy, who puts a bandage on the finger.  But the three year old doesn’t really stop crying until mommy kisses it better and gives it a hug.  Now we older people know that a kiss won’t fix pain, that’s what a bandage does.  But a kiss reassures the child that it is loved and cared for.  The kiss helps ease the suffering.  People who teach how to take care of hurting folks in the hospital say that when people have caring gentle friends, they can handle the pain, because the friends care.  That caring can ease the suffering.  A gentle hug or a nice joke or even a drawing can be the most helpful medicine.  Jesus knew that and that’s why he was so kind to the bent over woman!  Jesus helped her with both pain and sorrow.  Today we can use bandages, but we also can use doctors and nurses.  Back in Jesus’ day, only the rich could have doctors, but because Jesus healed this woman who was probably poor, now we have hospitals that anyone can go to no matter how much money is in the bank.  I think that’s awesome!

The second isn’t a rock, it’s a brick!  What does it say? Anger!  Anger is tricky.  Like the brick it can be used to hurt or it can be used to build up.  Anger can be a great teacher.  Sometimes we get angry because we are feeling hurt, or in fancy language, our boundaries are being disrespected.  Boundaries are kind of like imaginary fences.  If I am hungry, my plate of food is inside my imaginary fence.  If someone takes my food from my plate, I may feel angry, and like my imaginary fence has been disrespected.  It may be something as simple as food or as complicated as freedom.  When that happens, we can feel angry.

The leader got angry because he thought Jesus was breaking the fence of what was okay for church and what was not okay.  Maybe he felt that Jesus was not respecting him as a leader should be treated.

Jesus got angry back.  Not because the leader was breaking Jesus fence, but because Jesus thought that there was something more important than the leader and that was helping someone not suffer.  They could have gotten into a fight and thrown bricks at each other, but this didn’t happen.  Instead it was a chance for Jesus to teach the leader about kindness.  Sometimes if we can take a breath or say our ‘Be Still’ prayer, it can help us take a moment to ask if our fences are being broken or do we need to teach something?  When I was a kid, I was told to count to 10, but I like praying more.

Here are two little rocks that are very similar.  One is guilt and one is shame.  Those are hard to get out of the backpack.  Sometimes they are so hard that we need help to pull them out.  It’s okay to ask for help to do that.  Sometimes people come and talk to me, and sometimes if the rock is really heavy, they need to talk to a counsellor or coach or psychiatrist.  I have had to get help to pull out my rocks from time to time.  It’s okay!

What’s the difference between guilt and shame?  They can look very similar, but can you feel this?  It’s sticky!  That’s shame.  It’s really sticky because shame says ‘I am bad.’  Guilt says ‘I did bad’.  If I think I did something bad, like I broke a glass, I can fix it by saving my money and buy a new one or use the glue to fix the broken glass.  Once I have fixed what I did, I probably won’t feel bad or sad about it anymore.  But shame says, ‘I am bad’ and that is very sticky.  That takes time and help to fix.  We’re not bad, we’re God’s beloved children who make mistakes and aren’t perfect.  That’s why I like Jesus more than Santa.  Jesus loves us and never says “have you been good?”

Here’s the last one and it’s the heavy one.  What is this one?  Fear!  When we are afraid, we can get angry, or jealous or worried or ashamed.  Fear is terrible to live with.  Jeremiah felt fear.  But God said, ‘don’t be afraid, I am with you’.  Now I think that there are times to be afraid, like when I am walking across the road and I see a loud fast truck coming towards me.  Fear can give me the energy to get out of the way.  But sometimes fear can be more about what might happen than what actually is happening.  Is it real? Will it always happen?  Can I find a way to keep it from happening?  I can look for trucks before I cross the road.  I can listen for trucks before I cross the road.  I can use the cross walk light.  I can walk with other people on the cross walk.  All these can help me be less afraid.  Jeremiah didn’t have to be afraid, even though he was a kid.  God was with him.  And when we are with others who love and care for us like Jesus cared for us, God is with us too and we don’t need to be afraid.  Thanks be to God!