Oh Friends, unfortunately the peace of Toronto has been shattered, and its safety greatly compromised. The first serious confrontation between security and a supposed group of anarchists occurred yesterday, Saturday. There were varied reports of whether the police used tear gas or not, but storefronts were destroyed and other property damage was sustained. Cars were also set on fire, with about 150 protesters arrested. I heard a news report that Police Chief Bill Blair was disappointed with the protesters’ behaviour. Well blow me down! What did he expect eh, with all the security measures, the extremely high number of police and their very visible presence? That everything would be hunky-dory, and it would be like a Sunday afternoon stroll in the park? He is the same one that called for more police powers. It’s sad, but with all the supposed expertise and knowledge we claim to have about human behaviour, we are either fooling ourselves, or in this case we blatantly chose to disregard it. Oh mih people, any elementary psychologist knows that if you wave a red flag in front of a bull, it’s going to come at you angrily snorting. Mankind is essentially the same, an animal with animal instincts; anything you tell him strongly enough not do, he will do. So if you put up all those fortress like barricades and trot out oodles of cops, what do you expect? You’re just thumbing your nose at the people. And even without the anarchists, there will always be some basically peaceful people with that overpowering animal instinct to test the security measures, or those who will take serious umbrage at the curtailment of their rights and privileges. And once that happens, if there’s a violent response, then all fall down. Steups! Ah Friends, I know that we’ve been guided to pray for the success of this overwhelming enterprise, but somehow, deep down, from a practical standpoint, I don’t see much good coming from it. It’s too short, too big and unwieldy. A couple days for so many people of such diverse backgrounds, wants and needs are not sufficient to make any inroads into the many ills of our world. And the large numbers of the entourages aren’t justified either for just a few days. It gives the impression that everybody is just here to have a good time junket, shopping, partying and glad-handing, all at taxpayer’s expense. However Friends, despite all the negative concerns, I’m still imploring us to pray that the senseless violence and wasteful destruction will be severely limited, and the positive outcome of the gathering will greatly outweigh the negative aspects. If we’re dreaming, we might as well dream big eh! (smile) But enough on the Summits now. I chose Today’s Bit because I wanted to share a surprising personal experience. In Psalm 4, ‘An evening prayer of trust in God,’ Bruh David ends with some powerful words of faith and trust. ‘I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.’ Oh my brethren, I’m here to tell us that this past week has been one of, if not the most peaceful week in my life. Don’t ask me why, but for some reason, this week I experienced a tremendous feeling of peace and calm. Nothing spectacular or untoward happened. My life’s still the same. And though the lives of a couple of my few friends have improved considerably, for which I’m very happy and thankful, that still does not explain the eerie feeling of contentment and peace that washed over me this week. But ever since last Sunday, Father’s Day, when I went on that boat ride around the Toronto harbour with my young daughter, where I saw and reconnected with several old friends, and partied heartily to David Rudder and Dr.Jay, it seems like a heavy weight’s been lifted off my shoulders and inexplicably, but happily and blessedly replaced by an aura of peace and well-being. All I can say is ‘Thank you Lord!’ For it has to be His work. Nothing at all bothered me this week, even the couple of minor setbacks that occurred. I took it all in stride, reasoning that it was the Lord’s will, and He obviously had something better in mind than what I was focused on. I guess I found myself in that peace zone that Bruh David talks about. ‘I laid me down and slept; I awakened; for the Lord sustained me.’ (Ps.3:5) Or as when Job’s friend Zophar reproves him. ‘If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him…and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles (tents, (households) …yea, thou shalt be steadfast, and shall not fear: Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away. And thine age (life) shall be clearer (brighter) than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning. And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.’ (Job 11:13-18) Oh Friends, I don’t think the ole fella has scaled those great heights as yet, but he’s certainly on the right track. Hopefully that feeling of peace and calm will remain with me forever. I don’t know if it’s due to spiritual, mental or emotional maturity, or to all three of them, but it certainly feels good. And the moral of the story? Oh my people, it’s simply proven to me that though we’re surrounded by enemies and problems, it’s still possible to have peace and calm in the eye of the storm if we look to Jesus for help and guidance. From a practical and personal perspective, it surely corroborates all the Good Book says on the topic. So if I can achieve it, so can we all, if we focus steadfastly on the Lord and the TRUTH of His Word. Friends, it’s not rocket science, but just plain old fashioned hard work, accompanied by true faith, trust and surrender. Let’s all work seriously towards that most satisfying feeling of peace and contentment nuh! Much LOVE! …when we work through Jesus…all things are possible…
SCRIP-BITS 