Sometimes it means letting go
I had one objective going into the meeting: convince her to stay. I was terrified, I didn’t think I had enough trust developed, I wasn’t sure she’d listen and I was worried it would all blow up. But I felt the prompting of the Spirit to just listen and ask questions; to seek understanding before pleading my case. In the two hours we spent walking around the neighbourhood, I listened and I asked questions.
And she painted the full picture of what she had been experiencing in the last few months. Stories of pain, isolation and deep anguish. She spoke of the many costs and pressures she endures for the sake of being an international student in Canada. She spoke of how hard it has been being away from home, and how the home she’s made in Canada still lacks. She shared about how the psychological pain she’s ignored has now manifested into physical ailments. I heard the ways our community wasn’t there in her times of need. I began to see that even the BEST option here couldn’t meet all of her needs.
“I think you should go home.” What? Did I actually say that? Yes, I did. Even though I have a huge stake in her staying. Even though I thought some of her reasons were rubbish. Even though I walked into that meeting with the purpose of convincing her to stay. It was clear, if she willed herself to do it, she could manage, and she would make it work if she stayed. And I listened as she rattled off all the voices in her life telling her what to do and why their reason was the best for her life. And though I planned to be another one of those voices, I just knew, she couldn’t keep going like this. She needed to prioritize her healing, and she wouldn’t if she stayed. I prayed with her and released her to spend more time discerning with God what he wanted for her.
She called me a few days later to let me know she decided to spend a year at home. To transfer some of her schooling and take time to attend to her health, with the plan to return and finish her remaining credits the following year.
I will miss her, and I will deeply feel the loss of her on campus and in our community, but I trust that God will use this time to replenish her and strengthen her, to heal her and transform her, and I look forward to the day when our paths cross again.
Pi(e) Day Celebrations
For the past few years, I’ve enjoyed celebrating the somewhat nerdy holiday of Pi day, which happens on March 14 (3.14 in honour of pi). This year’s pi day was even more special because it would be 3.14.15!
Last year I celebrated with pie and a private viewing of Life of Pi at my house, which ended up being a sleeper hit with a vast variety of students and fringe acquaintances attending. This year, I brought the party on campus, but we celebrated one day early (so we wouldn’t make the students come in on Saturday).
We made pie flyers, a variety of pies and set the room to welcome people well. I decided this year to show a few clips of the movie and then allow space for more focused discussion. The clips got people deeply invested in the story and the discussion helped us reveal how and what we resonated with. As we finished with the big question of which story did we prefer the one with the tiger or without and how it is the same with God, I could see the moments when it all clicked into place for the students. After the event, one of my leaders who was wrestling through a big decision saw her story in the movie and realized that the thing she was trying to hold onto was like the mysterious carnivorous island, what once was a very good life-giving thing for her now was destroying her, and she needed to let it go to move on.
One of my highlights from the event was how we started off the event with pie-themed haikus (pie-kus) and had a pie-ku battle. I started off the festivities with this gem:
I love cherry pie
It is my jam and so good
Wouldn’t you agree?
Here’s some of my favourites written by my wacky students (clearly some struggled with the rules of writing haikus):
I enjoy all pies
Savoury as well as sweet
Which do you prefer?
We are so fly eat-
Ing blueberry apple pie
Why won’t you be mine?
Roman numeral
It’s used in mathematics
Math, math, circle, math
You smile with you eyes
Cuz we got loads of pie bloat-
Ed but we won’t die
Today I ate pie
However I did not die
Because pie saves lives
And the one that closed down the competition:
3.141
5926535
8979
GROW Training
In the first week of March, IVCF offered training for undergraduate staff in how to grow their fellowships, the training was offered in three tiers. I entered the tier 1 training with trepidation, fearful that I would be scolded for not performing as I should and thus given remedial training. But almost immediately my fears were assailed, and I was able to get some good training and take a step back from the work I was doing on campus and see the ministry with new perspective.
We were given new tools to assess growth in our fellowships, and were able to discuss topics with fellow staff in similar contexts as us. I was surprised at how refreshing the training was and look forward to implementing new strategies in the ministry.
Theology of Work
For three consecutive Saturdays, students and staff from across the GTA gathered to be participate in a course designed and executed by my dear friend and colleague, Christa called the Theology of Work. The first week outlined how we define our relationship with work and challenged students to see all work as worship. The second week gave the students some space to assess their spiritual gifts and talents. And the final week gave some practical teaching on giving and stewarding money and power.
Each week we piled into Christa’s apartment and ate brunch as we worked through the content.
The food was delicious, the teaching was sound and the students were challenged. I enjoyed the opportunity to work with my colleagues, as I’ve missed planning and leading events with other staff.
I only had a few of my students attend, but for those who did they really came away with a renewed vision and set of resources.
Pancake Tuesday
Usually when Pancake Tuesday rolls around it goes by uncelebrated. This year however, it fell during winter reading week, and since I knew RA was going to be staying in the city for reading week, I asked her if she wanted to make pancakes with me. This is what we came up with:
The Arch 