Today was the annual Christmas chapel at the Edmonton Centre Hope operated by TSA. The leadership of this facility is extraordinary. The talent and maturity of the team challenges any group I have ever worked with. They are committed to excellence and it shows in everything they do.
The theme was peace and the chapel was divided into three sections, and one chaplain spoke at each. Sitting two rows in front of me, one of the staff had this on the back of their sweater. I was really taken by it. When you think of the men and women who are working their way through difficult circumstances of life and are in every way working towards personal peace, well the theme of the verse and the chapel spoke volumes.
Then Chaplain John stepped up to the micropshone.
He spoke out of Psalm 4:8 and our desire
Psalm 4
For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by stringed instruments.
1 Answer me when I call to you,
O God who declares me innocent.
Free me from my troubles.
Have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
2 How long will you people ruin my reputation?
How long will you make groundless accusations?
How long will you continue your lies? Interlude
3 You can be sure of this:
The Lord set apart the godly for himself.
The Lord will answer when I call to him.
4 Don’t sin by letting anger control you.
Think about it overnight and remain silent. Interlude
5 Offer sacrifices in the right spirit,
and trust the Lord.
6 Many people say, “Who will show us better times?”
Let your face smile on us, Lord.
7 You have given me greater joy
than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine.
8 In peace I will lie down and sleep,
for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.
John talked about our desire to have a good night’s rest – to fight the enemy of screen time, worry, dark thoughts, doubts and fear. Yes, we all want rest – we all want to know what it is to lay our heads down at night be at peace. (As he talked, I had my eye on the verse on the man’s back). John went on to talk about William Booth – and his emphasis on the word “Others”.
John talked about a man who had nestled up against the exterior wall of the shelter. He was attempting to shield himself from the weather – it was minus 29 last night. The man had a hand-held hair dryer and had found an exterior electrical outlet in an attempt to stay alive. John’s point of course was/is that it is not sufficient for us to desire a good night’s sleep and rest for ourselves; we are called to seek that for others too.
And of course that’s the offer of Jesus… to come into this world to offer everyone peace.
Hybrid Thoughts 