March 1, 2022

“Today is Not a Day for Celebrating”

A view from the other side of a friend’s Facebook post

but today is a day for celebration

for today can be a day for redemption

for many Canadians today is a day for grace

today begins the end of these pandemic years

the hardest parts of which have been:

the scorn of friends and loved ones

our ridicule for being dupes

we have been vilified

we have been called names

we have been called apostates

we have had our loyalty to Canada

our very loyalty to God

questioned because of our "manipulated views"

too many thought we should be disavowed

for our obedience to mandates

for our willingness to be vaccinated

for the way we cared for our neighbours

yet what hurt most was that brothers, sisters

could look us in the eye

or across our Facebook post

and without concern for our soul

could with straight face tell us

we were condemned for our acquiescence

to the powers of God above us

yes, today can be a day for celebrating, for

today can be the day when reconciliation begins

today can be the day we allow God to heal

may God strengthen us

may God restore our community

may God bring redemption to this land

“Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for edification according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. All bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”

Ephesians 4:29-32