O Canada!

Wow. What other word can describe what it was like to be in the middle of downtown Vancouver post US/Canada Olympic hockey yesterday afternoon. We only had Dave's cell phone to document the guys in the middle of the street dancing between cars waving Canadian flags, or the old lady in an electric wheelchair who received numerous kisses by all the 20 somethings that passed her on the street, or everyone giving everyone else high fives- even the policemen who were trying to direct traffic, or the 10s of people hanging out their car windows top and side waving flags and hollering. Those word pictures can't quite describe the hilarity and celebration that erupted thoughtout the entire city at the final Canadian goal. And those things were happening about 45 minutes

We had gone to our Canadian friends' place to watch the game, Josie was dressed in red, white AND blue, and we enjoyed the game until the end of the 2nd quarter. Then, because we figured the entire city would be inside and it was a beautiful day outside, we headed across the downtown to enjoy Stanley Park before we were going to church at 5 also downtown. The streets were practically empty, except for red and white clad pedestrians straining to see in the windows of every bar and restaurant and media store watching the game on the sidewalks. We cruised though town on a beautiful Sunday afternoon during the biggest event of the Olympics. This is unheard of, but we did it. We arrived at Stanley park which is a pennisula park that has a harbour between the hockey arena and the water walkway that we were strolling around. We got there right as overtime started and used the WC before heading out on a stroll. As soon as I stepped out, a roar came over the entire city. Though probably a mile away across the water, I could hear an erruption of cheers and horns that I imagined would be deafening were we downtown. And, as we predicted, the park was perfectly empty and pristine. (why didn't I bring my camera!) We walked about an hour and then started making our sojourn across town to church. What would have taken 10 minutes if we had driven this an hour ago took an hour during the above-mentioned celebration. Though the entire city seemed to have red and white flags on their faces and worn as capes on their backs, I did see one lone stars and stripes caped young man walking down the street also being given high fives by all passersby. The entire city was having one big lovefest. Hugs, cheers, high fives, waves, shouts, dances--- everyone was included. Even us. And we were just a little glad that our NY license places had been traded in for British Columbia ones just last month. And that Josie was dressed in red and white on top (she had blue jeans on, but she got several comments on her patriotic outfit... little did people know that the blue of the jeans was the finishing color!)

We made it to church just on time. The crew, a small and organic feeling bunch who meet on the east/south side of the city and are committed to community, restoration, rejuvenation and living in the present as we would in God's Kingdom now. A refreshing service to be at. The sermon had a similar message- reconciliation, community life, following Jesus. As we celebrated communion, we were reminded that this last supper was a symbol of celebration and waiting until Christ's return. A love feast. Also a reminder of the victory that Christ had over death. Sitting in church, I though about our journey across town to be there. The celebration of an entire country at the victory their hockey team won, and though about the victory humanity has won though Christ. The victory over death, over sin, pain, darkness, the victory of eternity with our creator. And I wondered, aren't we living in this victory dance now? Isn't this following Christ in this world about celebration of the battle that has been won already? And also the victory to come? Is our entrance into the heavenly city going to be like our standing on the edge of the water and hearing cheers rise throughout the entire city? And when we enter in, will we hugged and kissed and high fived by everyone around us? Won't that be the day!

After the evening service, we stayed for the monthly potluck in the church basement. We ate with folks who lived locally in the community houses that surround the church. There's a desire to transform the community that this church is in and so they've created houses where people from all walks, and and I mean all walks of life live together and are involved in each others daily life. It's a pretty amazing model of the the Christian life, as we talked with a women with some noticeable mental disabilities who lived in a house with 7 adults and 3 children, all different family units who committed to community life together. Pretty cool, and I imagine, pretty hard. But this body seemed to share a passion and desire for community transformation and were taking some concrete steps to get there, and it was working. We left challenged, refreshed, convicted and wondering what place is going to be the place we worship at weekly. That seems to be the ongoing question and prayer request. The big problem-- there are choices. Good choices. And we need to make one.

And in conclusion to a bunch of different thoughts and experiences as we've lived though these 2nd Olympics in the last 2 years. We like Canada, a lot. We want to find a home here even if it's for a short 3 years. We want to live in community, to celebrate life, to be fully alive. There's been so many changes in our lives in the recent past and we've been reeling from them at times, but anticipating what God will do in our lives in this place. And the next.