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...