Somewhere along the way there was a misunderstanding about this morning. As we walked along the dirt path towards the large canvas tent ahead, I was hoping that this misunderstanding wouldn’t create a problem for our hosts. Our little band of brothers and sisters were walking together towards the gathering place of Hope of Glory…
South Africa Journal 4: How Loudly Should The Church Be Heard?
“The voice of the Church was neutralized by its lack of a shared vision.” That statement, issued by a black South African leader, served as a defining moment on my first full day in Johannesburg. It’s a statement which I’m sure I will be thinking about long after I return to Canada. On this day,…
South Africa Journal 3: Great Expectations
Have you ever found yourself working online, expecting that your internet connection will simply continue to keep you plugged into the world, when all of a sudden, inexplicably, you find that you’re offline? I have, just now. Have you ever found yourself sitting in a coffee shop, expecting that the latte you just ordered will…
South Africa Journal 2: Never Mind My Luggage; Has Anyone Seen My Character?
There’s an expression that says, “Character is what you reveal when you think nobody is watching.” Scott’s corollary to this is that “Character is particularly revealed when you are traveling.” I have seen airport security lines, Customs and Immigration queues, and waits at baggage carousels reveal some of the most self-centred, boorish and obnoxious behavior…
South Africa Journal 1: The Difference Between Looking and Seeing
There’s a big difference between what you look at, and what you actually see. And as I prepare to leave for a two week journey through South Africa, I’m determined to embrace this important difference. Never was this principle more beautifully captured than in this classic exchange between Charlie Brown, Lucy and Linus: Lucy: If…
