Praying For Our Enemies

This week was a terrible week in Ottawa. There are a plethora of posts about it on Facebook by now. I won't go into the details, you've likely seen them already. If not, there are better educated people talking about it on-line.

However, I will say that I've been thinking a lot about Michael Zehaf Bibeau. The shooter. 

More specifically - His family.

When tragedy like this hits, our first response is to pray for the victim and their family. Which is good! Don't get me wrong. Not praying for them would be awful.

But what about the culprit? More specifically, what about his family?

If I was Michael's father, I would be a mess today. I probably wouldn't even be out of bed. You're full of grief at the lose of your son... and the horrible things he did minutes before his death. Man, I'm getting down just thinking about it.

Assisting the "enemy" is something that human nature tells us to not to do.

Then I read Matthew 5:43-45

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Yesh.

That's why I'm trying to see our enemies differently. Michael Zehaf Bibeau did a terrible thing. However, his family shouldn't suffer for it. 

Had he survived, I think I'd still be writing this. Though I would change it slightly. Pray for the family but also the culprit. How to pray, is beyond me. I guess that's why we have the Holy Spirit. When stuff like this happens and we don't have the words.

OK! That's was heavy. Happy post next week, promise!

Grocery Shopping

It's something that divides a lot of people. Some love it. Some hate it. Some haven't done it in their entire life. I enjoy it... until I get home and realize I forgot one obscure item.

Thankfully, that has improved recently. I generally leave with everything I need.

I just need to fix my second issue.

Running into people I know.

Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with running into friends or acquaintances at the store... except the timing.

Haven't washed your hair today? Wearing track pants because you just had to "quickly run to the store"? In a hurry? You are guaranteed to run into someone.

It's also usually someone that hasn't seen you in a while and wants to catch up.

The worst is when you are in a hurry. A few weeks back I was at the conveyor belt when I realized cheese was on sale. Since I don't want a mortgage, I usually buy cheese when it's on sale.
So, it was off to dairy as fast as possible. Of course, in the process, you bump into someone. Then you have to look like a jerk as you say "hi" while running in the opposite direction.

Really, I'm in a rush... it's not you it's me.

Thursday, it was a different story. I was getting some stuff for the food bank and saw someone from a distance. Not only was I wearing house stuff... I had a shopping cart full of beans. While I do like beans... I don't like them that much.

So I avoided them. Least I look like a bean obsessed foodie.

I realized how trivial these concerns are in the grand scheme of life... However, when they happen, the last thing they seem is trivial.

Thanksgiving

I've been thinking a lot about Thanksgiving recently. Probably because it's this weekend. Also because I have a thing for turkey, potatoes and gravy followed by a slab of pumpkin cheese cake (you only live once... hence the slab).

Along with the fantasies of my plate stacked with perfection in bird form, I've been thinking about the food bank.

I know, talk about having two opposing thoughts.

We are so blessed to be able to have Thanksgiving meals. Some people flat out can't. They aren't even necessary "poor" either.

I knew someone that had a job... that was just making ends meet. That was it. They couldn't get any more work due to personal reasons (single parent). Thanksgiving would have been a luxury at that time in their life. Thankfully, the food bank was there for them.

The store I do most of my grocery shopping at has a drop off bin... that I've never even noticed before. How many other people walk past it? What would happen if everyone saw it and put food in it?

If you enjoy Thanksgiving, I want to challenge you to share that joy with others. Take something to one of the drop boxes. Pop a donation off to your local chapter. Whatever. Do it for the poor, the ones going through hard times or just because it's the right thing to do.

Also - HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

P.S - That picture has me even more excited about Sunday...

Scotch Peppers

As mentioned in a previous blog. I like spice.

A lot.

The same goes for cooking.

I recently discovered Scotch Bonnet Peppers. They were listed on a handy chart in the grocery store as being one down from Ghost Peppers (the hottest pepper known to man). PERFECT!

Suffice it to say, Scotch Peppers began cropping up in a lot of my cooking endeavours. Especially when the recipe needed some extra... kick.

Making rice? Cook them with Scotch Peppers. Need burgers with some flavour? Fry 'em up with Scotch Peppers!

Of course, this is beginning to sound like a horror film. The main character has discovered something that brings them joy. However, soon it will deliver great pain and horror!

That climax of terror happened last Sunday. It was chilli day. Not that I have a chilli day... I was just making chilli that day....

While chopping some red onions (which was like reading a Nicholas Sparks novel) I whipped some tears out of my eyes.

Mistake.

Immediately, I couldn't see. Searing pain covered my eyes. The tears came like a flood (much like watching a Nicolas Sparks movie). I couldn't open my eyes.

Great. There go my retinas. I've ruined myself forever. All that is floating through my mind as I pour litre after litre of water on my swelling eyes.

Eventually, I realized I could in fact open my eyes. I just had to hold them open to convince my brain of that.

Why did that happen? I had been chopping Scotch Bonnet Peppers right before cutting the onion.

Moral - Don't touch your eyes when cooking.

Violated

I had a rude surprise awaiting me this morning. No, it wasn't a mess made by my cat (if it was, it would have been a shock. I don't have a cat). Wasn't some sort of dilemma facing my young child (same deal as the cat).

It was an open glove compartment in my car.

I know that doesn't sound like a big deal, but I never use my glove compartment. Ever. Why would it be open?

Better question. Why were the contents of said glove box and all other compartments... strewn all over the passenger seat?

Answer - I forgot to lock my doors the night before.

Someone decided they would "break in" (using the term loosely here) for the $1.50 I had. Thankfully, they only took the money (however, left the nice collection of pennies I haven't figured out what to do with... drat!).

I felt a lot of things when I realized what had happened.

Fear - Was this person still there? Were they watching me?

Concern - What was gone? Was it really just the money?

Worry About Being Late For Work - Great, now I have a mess to clean up before I leave for work.

Anger - They guy (or gal) could have at least cleaned up. Maybe left a note.
I'm not kidding either. I would have been less mad if they had said "Sorry, need bus fare, girlfriend left me. Thanks for the change."
I don't mind helping someone out (them stealing isn't cool, but at least I wouldn't have the nagging "why?")

Violated - This is the only feeling that I still have. This person walked up to my car, threw the door open and started going through my stuff. It's in the past. I can't do anything about it. I didn't even know it happened until this morning.

There's no real resolve to this post. I wish there was. However, I don't even have one.

It just sucks. Flat out. I know this post has a bit of a joking tone, but that's the only way I can get any relief out of the story. Trying to find the humour.

Keep your doors locked. That's all I can say.

Chris Bray - As I Fall

A couple weeks ago I had the chance to shoot another music video. This time with Chris Bray.

I had wanted to work with him for a while, we just couldn't line our schedules up! Thankfully we were able to, I'm so glad we did.

The church scenes were shot at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Barrie. What an awesome location. It was a real blessing to be able to use there sanctuary. The natural colours and lighting made it extra special.

The best part of the day (and trust me, the sets were a huge blessing) was our leading lady Shannon.

She didn't have any acting experience going in, but gave it her all and was more than willing to take direction. She even took her sandals off while walking on gravel to keep the look going. Ouch!

Hopefully you enjoy watching it as much as we did making it!

Bedside Tables

I moved half a year ago. It was one of the first major moves of my adult life. It was a really exciting time.

One of the loses with the move was some minor furniture. Namely, a bedside table.

Thankfully, I had some family that was downsizing with a bedside table to spare. Perfect.
The catch? I'd have to wait till September.

No problem... right?

I have the bedside table now.

I don't know how I lived half a year without one.

This has been a pretty ridiculous blog so far. It's not going to get any better. Sorry.

As much as I've loved the new apartment, the location, proximity to work. Everything. Something has been missing. That something was literally a bedside table.

You don't realize how much we are creatures of comfort until one of those comforts is gone... then returned.

There are people starving in the world and I "need" a bedside table. Fantastic.

It isn't even that useful really. It holds my Bible, has a lamp... box of tissues... that's about it. Yet, things are complete now. Weird.

Couch? Meh. T.V? Can live without it. Microwave? Don't own one. Bedside Table? A necessity.
Something important must have happened in my childhood involving a bedside table.

What's your "must have" comfort item?