God's Giveaways

A friend and I were out not long ago to catch up over some wings and, as is always the case, we got to talking about sports.

This time, however, we weren’t discussing recent trades or exciting playoff matchups. We weren’t even quizzing each other on various sports trivia, which we typically do.

No, we were sharing thoughts about some recent human interest stories featuring athletes and their benevolent actions with fans.

A local professional hockey player had recently surprised some kids by hopping out of his vehicle after they had asked their dad to honk the horn as they passed him on the road. As if meeting one of their hockey idols wasn’t enough, the player proceeded to sign some sticks from his trunk and give them to the awed youngsters.

More still, the player insisted on bringing them and their father to the team’s arena, where they posed for pictures and he gave them even more team paraphernalia.

In an unrelated story, one of the player’s teammates had shocked a group of young hockey players with developmental disabilities by attending their season-end banquet – despite playing a game at the same time as the team’s festivities were being held.

After scoring the winning goal in overtime, the player hurried through post-game interviews and other commitments, showered and hustled over to the team’s banquet at a hotel elsewhere in the city.

While he could have celebrated his team’s dramatic victory in far more glorious style and with far more recognizable company, it was imperative for him and his wife that they attend this banquet. After all, for the last five years, he has proudly served as honorary captain for this team of kids with special needs and he wasn’t going to let them down.

The last example my friend and I marveled over detailed how a professional football player had desperately posted a request on his social media pages for a ride to his team’s stadium – located hours away from the airport where he had landed.

The player, needing to attend team training activities, had learned his connecting flight was delayed and no rental cars were available to transport him. After a pair of brothers generously answered the plea and made the four-hour drive in the middle of the night, the player not only covered gas expenses, but also insisted they come into the stadium for a tour, autographs and pictures with famous team memorabilia.

Reviewing these stories, my friend and I couldn’t help but comment on the rare media exposure of positive news.

While we grow so accustomed in society to learning about celebrities caught in scandal and watch news broadcasts fill with depressing negativity centered on violence, drugs and selfishness, it is so refreshing to have uplifting news garner so much attention.

Just as coverage of these stories illustrates, the practice of Jesus’ Gospel should be highlighted much more, in order that more people can be encouraged to live His Golden Rule, ensuring everyone is treated with love, dignity and respect.

My friend and I concluded today’s society seems to need these seeds of joy planted and promoted far more often than they generally are.

Not only that, when observing today’s world, one could suggest we crave the Lord’s Good News, as if we cannot survive without it.

In his teachings, St. Augustine wrote and preached about humanity’s quest for God, a search for complete meaning and true happiness in life.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, a summary of the Church’s beliefs and teachings, takes that concept one step further, identifying our desire for God as being written in our hearts, since we are made by God and for Him. (CCC # 27)

As God is the source of ultimate good and He never stops drawing us near to Him, only in God can we find the truth and happiness we constantly yearn for in our lives.

Put another way, it’s as if we have been wired like a computer, having a DNA chip of goodness and happiness planted within us.

As creations of God in His image, we are programmed for joy, generosity, righteousness and love.

Think about it. When you were young, what did you want to be when you were older?

Many children name careers like doctor or astronaut, firefighter or ballerina. No matter the choice, they all tend to be positive and productive, healthy for one’s self and society.

It’s not by accident that no right-thinking person dreams of becoming a drug dealer, bank robber or murderer, because their heart fundamentally desires goodness, just as God designed.

Perhaps along life’s road, some people veer from God’s path, similar to a computer malfunctioning and needing wiring adjustment.

With this in mind, may we always model and share Jesus’ Good News, encouraging those around us to continue seeking the true desires of their heart so that we may all discover complete happiness and fulfillment.

Every year, our school puts on a cake sale as a community fundraiser, raising money to benefit local, national and international organizations in need.

Each class is expected to provide a cake – either purchased or baked – which is to be auctioned off to the highest bidder, determined by money raised in each homeroom.

It’s an exciting tradition that helps rally the school together and boost spirit among students and staff alike. Really, it’s a win-win scenario; we all get to enjoy some delicious cake while doing a good deed and helping people who are underprivileged.

The timing of this year’s cake auction coincided perfectly with a particular unit of study in one of my Religious Education classes.

Discussing God’s mysterious ways and His master plan for us, I introduced the topic by sharing with my students a presentation about a mother’s famous cake.

In my demonstration, a daughter returns home from school very upset one day, having failed a math test while later learning her boyfriend had dumped her for her best friend.

Feeling her life as she knew it is over, the girl’s mother suggests baking a tasty dessert in order to cheer up her teenaged girl.

First, the mom offers some vegetable oil for her daughter to taste, prompting instant disgust as a reaction.

Next, some raw eggs are presented, shocking the daughter all the more.

Then, the mom encourages her to eat some baking flour, at which point the girl rejects her in complete confusion.

The mother proceeds to show her daughter that, while all of the cake ingredients may not be very appetizing on their own, they combine to form a delicious masterpiece in the end.

Similarly, God shows us how life can be very much like a cake and its ingredients.

While we may experience hardships and terrible disappointments, we do not always realize at the time how these can be stepping stones on the path to something great that God has in store for us.

We don’t necessarily appreciate how God is arranging everything together so that we can learn, grow and savor all the goodness He has planned in our future.

For instance, a failed test can spur modified study habits that eventually lead to honor roll status at the end of the semester. A relationship breakup can lead to ultimately meeting someone new with whom we can develop a beautiful romance.

You see, with God, any setback in our lives is merely a setup for a comeback.

As long as we call on the Lord and place our full trust in Him, life’s true master chef will take all of our difficulties and frustrations, our worries and our fears, and convert them into wonderful opportunities. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

But therein lies the rub.

For this to occur, God requires our complete faith in Him, asking us to give unconditional devotion – something we are not always prepared or willing to do.

Jesus teaches true happiness is obtained through loving God with our entire heart, soul, mind and strength, while loving all others as ourselves. (Luke 10:27)

This, it would appear, serves as the basis for a perfect recipe for a strong, healthy relationship with God and all of His children.

Mixing in elements such as the theological virtues of faith, hope and love, along with other key ingredients like patience, discipline, humility and wisdom, God shares with us another cake we would be smart to eat.

Following baking instructions such as the 10 Commandments, the Beatitudes and the Golden Rule, we are shown exactly how to live a life rooted in prosperity.

So, the next time you attend a birthday party or some other celebration where cake is served, may you feel encouraged to dive right in and enjoy a big piece.

You can do so knowing God is at work, organizing all of your challenges and troubles so they may become blessings of promise.

And while you won’t gain any weight sampling God’s cake, you can be sure you will gain an abundance of joy – both in the short and long term.

Like many other households, my wife and I post a bunch of stuff on the side of our fridge.

Pictures of our children and relatives, key reminder notes and many themed magnets can be found plastered along the fridge panel, nearly covering the entire surface.

One of the magnets features a man holding up his boy, with a declaration from American writer and theologian Frederick Buechner included underneath:

When a child is born, a father is born.

I can appreciate this statement first-hand, now for a third time, as my wife and I welcomed our daughter Naomi into the world three months ago today.

Not only has God blessed me by bringing Catherine into my life and joining our hearts, but He has given me three jewels as fruits of our love together: our sons Isaac and Hugh, and now a baby girl.

While our kids certainly are true blessings at whom I marvel in wonder, they are also a giant responsibility and one I don’t take lightly whatsoever.

In an increasingly secular society, raising our kids the right way is not easy, nor will it ever be. In fact, nurturing them so they can come to know, love and follow God in a fast-paced environment filled with demands and distractions is likely going to be my greatest test in life.

Come to think of it, fatherhood will undoubtedly be the hardest job I ever have – and the most important one, also.

As our children’s father, I must model for and mentor them, showing and teaching the right way to live, assisting them on their way to realizing God’s will in their lives.

I find myself reflecting on this so often these days.

In the midst of this thought, I am reminded of how much our children are treasures to me.

It could be a point of pride when Isaac makes a basket while playing basketball in our driveway and says he wants me to coach him when he’s older. It could be a feeling of joy when Hugh takes me by the hand and marches me to the barbeque, wanting to make dinner together. Or, it could be a huge burst of fulfillment when Naomi reveals a smile from ear to ear when recognizing my voice and face as I pick her up.

Each day when I leave for school or arrive home from teaching, I am so inspired by our kids’ running to the door to give me a hug or their yelling “Daddy!” with such enthusiasm. Each time we read stories, take a neighborhood walk or watch a video, it is so gratifying to have them understand items pointed out, soaking up every bit of a life lesson passed on to them.

Hoisting them on to my shoulders, admiring a craft they made at daycare or preschool, or hearing them tell someone something with kindness and compassion, I experience some of my greatest happiness from our children.

Indeed, raising these gifts from God gives me indescribable energy and delight, and I have come to quickly appreciate the extreme privilege of parenthood over the last few years.

For this reason, I will often take a moment at Mass each Sunday just to admire our kids – their innocence, curiosity and enthusiasm.

I will also give thanks to God for my wife, to whom I am deeply grateful as she serves them completely and beautifully in her role as their mother.

But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t also feel tremendous pressure, as I experience a sense of worry and insecurity at times, too.

So, I will often look up and ask God for strength and guidance, knowing I am weak and fearing I am not up to the task of raising them how a father should or how they need me to do.

As the family is the foundation of a society, it is up to my wife and me to ensure our kids are properly taught and equipped to both navigate and flourish through the many challenges life will present.

Truly, this is an immense responsibility bestowed upon us in providing the very best for our children, and one we cannot handle on our own.

While we have a network of support around us in family and friends, who better for me to seek help from than God our Heavenly Father and Joseph, Jesus’ surrogate father?

Unconditional love, limitless patience, endless compassion, tireless and responsible work ethic, and honest, righteous living – all of their qualities are ones I strive to display in my marriage, my friendships, my teaching, and, especially, my fatherhood.

And so, in this month when we celebrate Father’s Day, I give praise to God for blessing me in becoming a father.

I ask God, in turn, to continue shaping me in my fatherhood, so that – with my wife – I can love and lead our children however they need, being the man and dad they can look to as an example for how to live their lives.

I always get a kick out of when our boys flex their muscles.

The two of them, aged three years old and a year and a half, bring their arms close to their chest and let out this menacing growl while displaying a determined look on their face.

It is both hilarious and cute, really, but also very gratifying for me as their dad.

You see, when I was a youngster, you’d be hard pressed not to see me pose in a similar fashion each time someone would try to take my picture. So, I’m proud the custom is living on for another generation.

Hugh, the younger brother, likes to take matters one step further.

While playing in the basement, he will often ambitiously head over to where we keep our exercise equipment and, with both arms together, put all his might into lifting one of our 5-pound weights.

Watching him walk with the dumbbell, I observe carefully as Hugh grimaces and utters a few sounds of “oooh, oooh” while he carries the weight a few steps away.

Yes, they’re still so young and their bodies still understandably so frail, but our sons truly believe they are strong beyond measure.

And why shouldn’t they? After all, they’re children of God, made in the image and likeness of a perfect and omnipotent Creator.

In fact, sometimes when our eldest son Isaac flexes, I’ll ask him where he gets his strength.

His answer? “Jesus,” he’ll reply with no hesitation.

At church each week, Isaac will often remark our Lord on the cross and point out how Jesus has owies. So, after Mass, we’ll occasionally approach the altar to adore the crucifix.

There, I assure him that Christ is super strong and that His owies don’t hurt Him anymore. I’ll also remind him that Jesus gives him – and all of us – His strength so that we can heal from our injuries and bounce back each time we get hurt.

Certainly, I don’t set out to misguide our kids into thinking they can do anything too risky or irresponsible, and I’m not meaning to paint a picture here that I have our young children on some obscene workout regimen.

I do, however, want our children growing up knowing God is their supreme force and motivator, and that He will lead them to achieve all kinds of heights in their lives, strengthening them during times of trial and helping them overcome when facing obstacles.

But while little kids such as ours learn that with God, all things are possible (Mark 10:27), how many of us believe this teaching and apply it in our daily living?

St. Paul encourages us to draw our strength from Jesus, who enables us to do all good things (Philippians 4:13).

Yet, to whom do we turn when faced with adversity?

Do we soldier on confidently in prayer during the stressful times of studying for school final exams, or do we buckle under the pressure, in despair over our academic predicament?

If battling addiction, how many people turn to God for help in recovery, recognizing powerlessness and seeking assistance from a rehabilitation center, sponsor or support group?

In moments of feeling unworthy of an opportunity, do we call on Jesus to give us a boost?

When feeling anguished or exhausted going through life difficulties, how many people yield to God’s grace-filled presence to give them renewal or rejuvenation? (Isaiah 40:29-31)

In God, we can find refuge and strength (Psalm 46:1), pushing us past our hardships.

By laying His life for each one of us, Jesus promises He will see us through any bout of weakness or storm of suffering. (Isaiah 53:5)

With such a guarantee for His children, may we all flex our muscles unabashedly and pose for pictures with ease.

When I was a kid, I loved watching cartoons after school and on Saturday mornings. Sitting in front of the TV with a snack, life couldn’t seem to be any better than when entertained by a bunch of animated creatures.

One of my favorite programs to watch was The Bugs Bunny & Tweety Show. Each of the characters had their own unique personality and I always enjoyed the various storylines, no matter who was featured.

Of course, for many people these days, any word similar to “tweet” can really only be associated with one thing: Twitter.

The social media juggernaut has built a worldwide presence and serves as a popular outlet for people to connect with one another or offer their opinions on virtually everything to anyone who will listen – or, rather, follow.

The subject of social networks like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat invariably pops up in my Religious Education classes when discussing the influence of social media and secular society on our world today.

The vast majority of my students in any given class will have an account for at least one – if not more – of these networks.

After tracking their popularity online, we will then rummage through various celebrities’ accounts, curious to learn how many people follow the lives of the rich and famous.

For example, Oprah Winfrey, a Twitter user since January 2009, has 37.2 million followers of her account, which includes 12,000 messages, or tweets.

Donald Trump has built a following of 31.4 million users and has tweeted 35,000 times since joining Twitter in March 2009.

Miley Cyrus has held an account for less time, joining Twitter in March 2011. Since then, she’s created a legion of 32.9 million followers, keeping them engaged with over 8,500 tweets.

My personal favorite – and one I use in class activities as a discussion point – is Justin Bieber. A user of Twitter since March 2009, he has tweeted roughly 30,600 times, with a whopping 96 million people following him across the globe, seemingly hanging on to every word or thought shared.

To contrast these celebrities with another well-known figure, I share with my students the Twitter account of Pope Francis.

Yes, the pope is on Twitter.

Jesus’ chief earthly representative has held an account since February 2012.

Using the moniker @Pontifex, Pope Francis has put out a total of just over 1,200 tweets with a following of 10.8 million people tracking his message on Twitter.

Doing the math, one could see how the pontiff has tweeted noticeably less frequently than his fellow celebrities, posting just a single idea almost every day, on average. Not only that, the nature of his tweets is far different, too.

While many people use Twitter as a valuable information tool (news media, for instance), many others – famous or not – often post for self-promotion purposes. Their accounts appear to exist for bragging in order to gain attention to themselves, while sharing senseless, superficial or crude content in their 140-character musings.

Pope Francis, on the other hand, shares thoughts that strive for the benefit and well-being of the entire world – especially the poor. His are notes of encouragement, feeding hope and serving the greater good through wholesome words of substance and prayer, while being both meaningful and inspirational.

Truly, as evidenced by his Twitter user name (a Latin term for “pope”), Pope Francis strives to live up to the translation of his title as a “bridge builder,” bringing people closer to God.

Indeed, much like the children’s game “Follow the leader,” I suppose the notion of Twitter followers can cause us to reflect on our own focus in life.

Who do we follow?

Do we invest our time and attention in false idols such as movie stars, professional athletes or even our personal friends, or do we focus on the life of the true leader – He who is the way, the truth and the life? (John 14:6)

What’s interesting to note about Twitter is not only how many people follow a person’s account, but also how many accounts that user follows.

To return to our sample of subjects mentioned above, Oprah Winfrey follows 279 accounts; Donald Trump follows 45; Miley Cyrus tunes into 372 other Twitter users and Justin Bieber tracks over 303,000 other accounts on Twitter.

Pope Francis? He follows a mere eight. Oh, and it should be noted those eight are simply his own Twitter account in different languages, allowing people of non-English backgrounds to receive God’s gospel message of love and encouragement.

Imagining Jesus had a Twitter account, I figure He would have 2.2 billion followers, or disciples, checking into His tweets of wisdom and direction.

In terms of who He would follow, I would guess He’d only link into the life of His Father and our Father in Heaven.

Then again, wanting to intimately know and be with all of us, maybe He’d have seven billion Twitter accounts He’d be following.

In the ever-changing and demanding society we find ourselves today, as Jesus calls us to follow Him (Matthew 4:19), we need only to ask ourselves if and how devotedly we actually do this.

Our backyard neighbors recently had a large tree removed from their property.

They had replaced their fence surrounding their swimming pool, so I suppose the tree needed to be uprooted so the new fence could be installed.

It worked out perfectly for us, though, as the tree had long been leaning over the old fence on to our property, dropping plenty of leaves and dead branches.

A more serious threat, however, was a vine that was spreading ever so subtly from the tree across the fence, latching on to a beautiful maple tree on our lawn.

Of course, I had never noticed the vine until a good friend pointed it out a little while back, when he and his family were over for dinner.

We were playing with the kids in our back yard and appreciating the shade under the neighbors’ tree when he remarked the long vine crawling over on to our maple tree, starting to choke it like a parasite.

My friend then warned me about the vine, stressing the need to cut it before it continued to spread and wreak havoc on our maple tree, sucking the life out of it over time.

So, not long thereafter, I climbed up a ladder with a saw in hand and, like a surgeon, proceeded to remove the vine as if I were amputating a patient’s leg ravaged by bacteria.

Thankfully, such a chopping off of the vine preserved the life of our maple tree, encouraging it to continue thriving, rather than dying a gradual death.

Recalling that time got me thinking, however: what vines do we have in our lives that are slowly growing and suffocating us, preventing us from developing in healthy fashion?

Perhaps it is an ever-so-innocent temptation for a teenager from a friend to skip a class or shoplift some candy from a store.

Maybe it’s a flirting conversation with someone at work who gently and suggestively passes along his or her phone number at a time where you might be experiencing some frustrations in your own romantic relationship.

It could be that life has just gotten so busy for you and your family that your faith practice has fallen by the wayside. Whereas you and your parents used to go to church weekly when you were younger, you now find yourself rarely bringing your own children, given all of the preoccupations and commitments consuming your attention nowadays.

Much like the vine stifling our maple tree, if we are not careful in curbing dishonest or unrighteous behaviors, we risk the corruption of our character and the slow erosion of our relationship with God – and, by extension, others and ourselves.

Bit by bit, we can easily squeeze God and His teachings out of our lives, directing our focus to potentially and increasingly destructive practices.

For example, while it may seem far-fetched, skipping a high school class could put someone on a path that leads to smoking, underage drinking or an undesired teen pregnancy.

It’s not out of the realm of possibility that flirting with a colleague could eventually find someone in an unpleasant and costly marital breakup.

While a family used to pray each night, eat meals together regularly and attend church each Sunday, life could quickly become so distracting that they drift in different directions, losing an appreciation for God and one another in the process.

So, like any experienced arborist or gardener would tell you, occasional pruning of our life trees is essential in order to avoid the growth or spreading of any undesired vines.

But as villainous as this reflection might depict them, are all vines destructive?

Should we chop them all off at their very sight, or is there one vine we should actually cling to and whose life we should promote?

As Christians, we know Jesus to be the true vine, the root of all life that is good.

Our Lord assures us that, so long as we abide in Him, He will cleanse us and keep us strong as His branches. (John 15:5)

Leaning on Jesus in all that we do can ensure fruitful living and keep us on a path of prosperity.

With God as our guide, we can feel confident when encountering evil vines looking to infiltrate our lives.

Instead of falling prey to them as they strive to steer us away from our Heavenly destiny, with Jesus, we remain nurtured on a trail bringing us through the forest of Paradise.

As a youngster, one of the activities I loved the most was riding a roller coaster at an amusement park.

Buckled up tightly in a rickety open boxcar, I would wait with great anticipation as we would all slowly make our climb up the railroad, only to then fear for my life as we’d plummet drastically and turn speedily through the course.

What a rush I would feel each time I would ride one, living life so care-free.

Indeed, our childhood can feature such innocence and abandon, as we may often give in to natural impulses without any thought or restraint.

Over time, however, that purity can turn to feelings of bitterness, cynicism or apathy.

Case in point: Working as a high school Religion teacher, my classes consist of a mixed bag of religious viewpoints and attitudes, at least some of which fall into these categories.

While I do have students who carry a strong belief in God and practice their faith devotedly, one could expect many others hold at least some questions about God, His living presence and unconditional love all around us.

A notable number of kids can also bring into the classroom jaded mindsets, annoyed with activities and discussions that connect our society with the Almighty.

Certainly, this doesn’t seem to be a pattern restricted to adolescents, as various data reflect a striking amount of indifference, distance and entire opposition among young and middle-aged adults towards God and religion today.

No doubt, there are a plethora of reasons explaining this, not the least of which include personal experiences and preoccupation with activity in a secular culture.

But have you ever wondered what our society would be like if each of us maintained our original child-like openness about matters such as faith?

I recently heard a song on a Christian radio station speaking to that point exactly, with the singer longing to return to his simplicity as a child, when his relationship with God was sure.

Back then, his soul was not tainted by materialism or envy of others.

He was not burdened by worries such as whether he’d have a prom date, the type of clothes he felt he must wear, the post-secondary education or job he’d obtain, what kind of house he’d live in or whether he’d be able to take a certain vacation while paying all of his bills on time.

His unabashed belief in the Good Shepherd was all that he needed to navigate through life’s challenges.

As a child, he was secure knowing – as the church hymn suggests – Jesus loved him, for the Bible told him so.

He had confidence about himself without fearing judgment from others around him, as he would proudly and with ease let that little light of Jesus shine from within him.

Only when he later began focusing on life without God did his dreams begin to vanish, his happy-go-lucky personality start to harden and his relationship with God come to experience a large divide.

As children, we find ourselves in need of direction and dependent on others to teach us; thus, our innocence propels us to follow God as our guide and our foundation.

Isn’t it funny how, as we grow older, our vulnerability and humility can give way to skepticism and ego, driving us away from the God who loves us and wants so much to be involved in our lives?

Let the little children come to me… for it is to such as these that the Kingdom of Heaven belongs. (Matthew 19:14)

Jesus calls us as His children, reminding us that it is with such zeal for our faith in Him that we will obtain salvation through Him in Heaven. (Mark 10:13-15)

And so, no matter our personal story, may we return to our roots of openness and embrace of God so we can feel and seize His warmth and know the depths of His love each day in our lives.

Then, with a renewed spirit for God – exuberant and trusting like that of a child – we can ready ourselves to have our lives take off for a thrill ride beyond imagination, the likes of which no theme park roller coaster could ever compare.

In my Religious Education classes, my students and I talk often about the many ways God reveals His presence and love to us.

Not only does He do this in the form of miracles and other occurrences detailed in the Bible, but God provides proof of Himself in daily living all around us today.

An example of this comes in one of the stories I cover with my students.

We read about a young boy killed during a severe storm, taken from his dad’s embrace during wicked gusts of wind.

Throughout the ensuing heartache, the man, his wife and their daughter are comforted by their loving church community and the townsfolk who knew their son fondly.

On the one-year anniversary of their son’s death, the parents return to the scene of the twister, in effort to find closure and peace following the loss of their child.

It is at this time they see a bright and strong rainbow in the sky, and they immediately feel God’s support with their son reassuring them from Heaven.

It is signs like this that show us God’s boundless protection, along with His unconditional guidance so we can grow closer to Him.

While God certainly introduces Himself in the form of a natural phenomenon like a rainbow, He also offers Himself through the introduction of people in our lives.

Sometimes, these people are the least expected to serve as God’s gift to us.

For instance, as we also study in our Religion classes, a man named Francis of Assisi came to appreciate God’s full presence one day in encountering a leper.

Through meeting and subsequently embracing the leper, Francis was freed of all that imprisoned him because of his judgment and discrimination.

It was through experiences like this that he would witness God around him always.

This man, who would later be known as St. Francis of Assisi, would come to embody complete concern for God’s creation, including nature, animals and humanity – especially the poor.

As many know, he also serves as inspiration for our current pontiff, Pope Francis, and his mission for the Roman Catholic Church.

Who would have figured much of this would be because of a gift God gave in the form of a leper?

Certainly, God can and does reveal Himself in other ways and in other individuals, including an innocent newborn.

Three weeks ago, my wife Catherine and I welcomed our third child into the world, our daughter Naomi.

As any parent could tell you, the miracle of life is nothing short of remarkable.

Holding Naomi and adoring her as she sleeps peacefully in my arms or wrapped so warmly in a bassinet, I can’t help but marvel at how God has entered our home and family once again.

The grin she gives with eyes closed or her tender grasp of my finger with her hand are but two examples of how God reaches out, simply wanting to be a part of our joy.

But just as He presents Himself in the form of our baby, God ultimately reveals His love to the world through his Son Jesus.

Born with humble beginnings in a manger, Jesus is later sacrificed unselfishly so that God’s world can have endless freedom. (John 3:16)

Jesus’ crucifixion and holy resurrection offer each one of us new and eternal life, providing rescue from our sin and salvation in His Kingdom of Heaven.

How blessed we are to have a Lord who places everything and everyone at the center of His heart and at the forefront of every plan.

And so, on this Easter weekend, may we remember the countless ways God gives away His love freely to His creation, most notably through His Son, our saving Lord Jesus.

In churches all across the world tomorrow, we will acclaim a Paschal greeting of “Christ is Risen. Truly, He is Risen.”

Let us always acknowledge and proclaim how God is with us still, each day and all around us.

Truly, He is with us.

As a father of young children, it is always so gratifying to see our kids form their own ideas, discover talents or do something that causes us to burst into laughter. Watching them grow on a daily basis, learning and realizing so much, makes me marvel at their beauty as God’s creation.

An example of this comes from our son Isaac, who has amazed me recently through his love for puzzles.

It is such an experience to watch him sit down and take out a box of pieces and start putting them together.

Now, keep in mind he’s only three years old, so I don’t want to give the impression he’s assembling intricate 250-piece puzzles forming a picture of a horse crossing a tunneled bridge or a majestic waterfall with people paddling in their canoes.

I’m talking about puzzles of 30 to 50 pieces that, when all fit into place, show a cast of pirates with their treasure or a bunch of barnyard animals on a farm.

Just the same, Isaac has so much fun working on his puzzles and continues to grow adept at his skill the more he practices.

While we’re not yet at the point of tossing a football around or playing catch at a nearby baseball diamond, one of my favorite activities with Isaac has quickly become making a puzzle.

I love sitting down together on his bedroom floor or at the kitchen table, spreading all of the pieces out and watching him get to work – or, I should say, work his magic.

Both a test of patience and a moment of pride for me, it is remarkable to watch our son think through his options and problem solve with each piece.

He runs through several stages of emotion along the way, showing anything from a perplexed look on his face to one of determination.

So long as Isaac doesn’t give up, his persistence pays off, and he will blurt out with innocent excitement, “It fits!” or “We did it!”

Now, throughout the process of assembling a puzzle, I’ll occasionally remind him during his eager anticipation that there are still pieces missing and that the entire image is not yet complete.

After all, while he may be getting closer to achieving the final product, the puzzle is not finished until all of the pieces are in their place.

Similarly, we as humans are like a puzzle, needing all pieces to be in place for a perfect and whole fit.

Yet, how often do we struggle at finding that missing piece, trying to replace it with unsatisfactory or inadequate substitutes?

How often do we seek total happiness, striving to fill that hole in our hearts but without including God – the only one who can truly offer what we crave in life?

The linchpin of complete joy, so many of us deny ourselves a relationship with the Lord only to find something missing from our being, attempting to cover that void in our hearts with any and all alternatives.

Whether we have social status or a job title, wealth or material possessions, how many of us still deprive ourselves of fulfillment simply because we don’t invite God into the center of our lives?

A luxurious home or an employment promotion, fancy cars or stylish clothing, a trip to a hot vacation spot with friends, sports championships, top academic grades and acceptance into a prestigious college or university – we can easily fail to acknowledge how none of these or any other experience can afford a person lasting, genuine pleasure on their own.

Our faith teaches us that if we include God as the central part of our existence, we can find authentic joy and take on everything else as reward from Him, rather than replacement for Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

While some people may resort to unhealthy activities such as drugs, alcohol or promiscuous sex in their quest to be purely happy in life, even the most wonderful of events – such as graduation, falling in love or having a family – can still leave a person lacking meaning or feeling empty at the core if God is shut out.

Certainly, in those instances when we stray from God’s path, we can be reminded that, just as a puzzle can break – such as when Isaac’s little brother Hugh sometimes comes along and takes a few pieces – we can always start again.

After all, God always forgives and always offers us a second chance to know and live with Him.

And so, amidst all of the busy goings-on of our daily living, let us be humble and disciplined enough to seek God in earnest, in order that we can find what we so desperately desire. (Proverbs 8:17)

Only then can we find ourselves with a heart filled with joy, while no longer feeling puzzled about our lives.

Back when I was single, one of my many pastimes was going to the movies on my own.

It might sound depressing, but once in a while, I actually enjoyed sitting in a theatre alone, getting out of my apartment for a social activity while blending in anonymously among people out with their families, friends or dates.

Just the other day, with my wife encouraging me to treat myself during the March Break, I decided to relive old times. So, I headed to a nearby cinema to watch The Shack.

You may have already seen or heard of the movie, based on the best-selling Christian novel of the same title by William P. Young.

Well, having read the book years ago and having been extremely moved by it, I had been wanting to see the film since I first viewed its trailer advertisements some weeks ago.

To say the movie impacted me would be a gross understatement. In fact, I am thankful I went to see it alone and in the early afternoon, as there was far less of a chance people I knew would see me squirm and sob throughout the film.

Now, I am not writing this to shower praise and call The Shack the best movie ever or to insist you head to your local theatre to see it. Each person who views it will form his or her opinion, just like in the case of the book.

And, just like the novel, the film is sure to generate debate based on such points as its theological accuracy, representation of the Holy Trinity and just sheer plausibility.

What I am wanting to do here, however, is simply recount an experience so painful yet wonderful.

What The Shack did for me – and might do for so many others – was provide great torture and heartache, while also clothing me in beautiful comfort and relief.

Truly a paradox, a film that presented me with such emotional and hurtful memories also provided tremendous catharsis and peace.

Below are just a few quotes from The Shack that really piqued my interest and spoke to me, along with a brief commentary on how they relate to our world.

(Of course, I don’t pretend to know the full or final answers to these points or queries, and I will not dare be so bold as to attempt to provide expert responses. What follow are simply my reactions and thoughts, based on my faith position and journey. Yours, naturally, may be entirely different.)

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When all you see is your pain, you lose sight of Me.
What a stirring declaration and I can just imagine God telling us this in the midst of a terrible hardship. Yet, how true is this statement? If God really is all-compassionate and loving, and throws His mercy upon us always, why, then, do we let our hearts be hardened and block Him from doing His healing handiwork?

As long as there is a will in the universe free not to know the Father, evil will exist.
One of the most complex and frustrating realities in the world is free will. As humans, we are given by God the power to choose how to think, speak and act for ourselves. As such, we sometimes dismiss our responsibility for this gift, forgetting there are consequences – good or bad – for all that we do. Sin is not God’s doing but ours. When evil occurs, perhaps we can realize opportunity to restore God’s goodness, rather than blaming Him for the harm or suffering before us.

You are stuck not because you can’t. You are stuck because you won’t.
So many of us want closure for unresolved questions or events in our lives. But if we hold on to these matters despite their lack of explanation – which may or may not ever satisfy us – how can we move forward while still dwelling in the past? As difficult as it may be, we must invite the grace of God to grant us courage to let go of whatever it is that haunts or troubles us. Only by letting go and allowing God to repair and relieve us can we venture ahead and discover all that He still has in store for us.

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So there you have it. Not so much a movie review, but a reaction to a movie.

The story of how one man wrestles with personal nightmares and discovers God’s eternal presence and love along the way, The Shack is an experience you would be wise not to miss.

The film – and the novel on which it is based – can certainly have a life-altering influence on anyone.

No matter how challenging or unsettling visiting one’s inner and personal shack may be, the results can be so gratifying and can truly give us a feeling that – whether at His house or someone else’s – with God, we are always at home.