Wednesday, June 28, 2017

                When we lived in Brantford, it was the Canada Day family tradition to drive down to the Grand River and join the throngs in anticipation of the fireworks. We would get there early enough to find a good spot on the berm that overlooked the river. We would bring a blanket for everyone to sit on and then try to keep everybody happy for 30 minutes or so while we waited for it to get dark and the fireworks to begin. There was a small sandbank out in the river which was where they prepared and lit the fireworks. The around 10:00 p.m. – boom! It would start. And for all of ten minutes the sky would come alive with an amazing light show.

                I am not sure I understand our human fascination and appreciation of loud and showy fireworks. But it always seems worth fighting the mosquitos, jostling with the crowds, and waiting it out to go “ooh” and “aaah” as we inevitably do.

                One of our absolute favourite Canada Day experiences happened in Port Lorne, a tiny village on the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia, a few years back.  People began setting out their lawn chairs near the road on a beautiful, sunny Canada Day morning.  It seemed rather peculiar, but hey, this is Nova Scotia. To our surprise later in the day they had their own Canada Day parade, right through Port Lorne. There may have been 5 or 6 floats, some suspiciously looking like they were re-modelled Christmas parade floats. It took the parade about five minutes to get through the whole town, if that. But all the villagers had come out to watch and celebrate. It was so Canadian.

                Later that night they had set up a huge bonfire on the shore line. All the locals came out and had a picnic. And then sure enough, there were fireworks to end the festivities. We could watch it all from our front veranda. Best Canada Day ever, eh!

                God’s attempt to make Israel into a great nation was often a frustrating and near futile endeavour, full of setbacks, defeats and the people’s proclivity for idolatry, disobedience and rebellion. It always seemed one step forwards, and two steps backward. (I have pastored churches like that!) But God’s original intent stayed steady: “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing,” (Genesis 12:2).

God’s nation building was not about amassing great power, military might, world domination in the usual way we might use that term, making conquests or having elite liberties or privileged prosperity that others could not have. At it best this God-created nation was to be a “light to the nations”, an inspiration, a hope for justice, freedom, and the ideal of a people touched and shaped by the love and grace of God, to be blessed, for sure, but just as importantly, to be a blessing to other peoples.

                “Observe them [i.e. the covenantal laws] carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people,’” (Deuteronomy 4:6).

                I think we could use a strong dose of world leaders using wisdom and understanding these days. But it is also the critical need among the common folk, those of us who wish to build better neighbourhoods, communities, cities and our little nooks of the world.

                Perhaps we may not be a firework bursting in the night, but “Jesus bids us shine, with a pure clear light, Like a little candle burning in the night; In this world of darkness we must shine, You in your small corner and I in mine.” (Susan Warner)

                Have a bright, safe and happy Canada Day!

Dale