Pure moments and quiet truths
Confession (or explanation)
I'm a morning person who finds it hard to pay attention in afternoon meetings. While I've already hit today's saturation point (at least until this evening), the work of the Congress does continue. There's stuff going on right now, more groups and sessions than a regiment of journalists could cover. But right now I'd rather sit in the pressroom and tap away at a few ideas I picked up this morning. And at the same time I take in the press conference on reconciliation, I'll be missing the five Anglican archbishops discussing the state of the global Anglican Communion. I'm counting my blessings.
Steve Bell
I met Steve Bell. I already know a Steve Bell, but this is a different guy. He lives in the Chicago area, yet I was pleased to discover that he is aware of the Canadian musician of the same name. Ironically, Chicago Steve was in Winnipeg only last year to present some seminars for a local church. Now we find ourselves in Cape Town, South Africa, sitting at adjacent tables in a hall packed with nearly 5,000 people. Big world. Small world.
Table Group
My own tablemates are fascinating people. Actually, let me explain how it works. Every one of the 4,200 "participants" is assigned to a table group for the morning sessions. At various stages we are asked to interact with each other on a range of questions. We do Bible study together and discuss a wide range of issues. We are learning to know each other and to learn from each other.
My group comprises four men and two women: a ministry administrator from Singapore; a Middle East scholar from California; a literacy worker from Nepal; a student worker from Dubai (with connections to Iran); a youthful aboriginal Canadian currently working in the Philippines. And me. We listen to a lot of speeches and see more video shorts than I can remember, but the heart of the event is discussion in the table groups. Relationship grows.
Pure moment
Last night, an 18-year-old North Korean woman told her story to the congress. In simple words, she described how her father went from being a senior official in the North Korean government to a season in China, where he became a Christian. Sadly, her mother, who was pregnant with a second child, died of leukemia. A few years later her father returned to North Korea as a missionary. He disappeared and is presumed dead.
The young woman did find a good family to live with. One night in a dream she had an encounter with Jesus Christ and committed herself to the faith of her father. She is currently studying in South Korea and is determined to return to North Korea to reach her people with the gospel message. It was a profoundly moving testimony—so straightforward, so innocent, and oh so clear.
When she finished the entire assembly of some 5,000 people rose of one accord, erupting in a loud and long—seriously sustained—standing ovation. It was the purest moment of the conference so far.
Agendas
I am a "participant" in the gathering in Cape Town, just one person in a crowd of more than 4,000. We are not "delegates" representing a particular organization or advocacy position. We are here to share our experience and insight with others and, more importantly, to listen and learn from the experience and insights of others. We are being informed by a world of input.
As always, some people do come with an agenda to advance, arriving already primed with a message they feel compelled to give. I'm grateful that this is being discouraged. We do have opportunities to share our passion, but the purpose here isn't to build support or persuade. It isn't a time to climb up on a soapbox. This is a place for listening first and responding carefully. A posture of anticipation and expectation is much more welcome than a mouthful of answers—at least in my opinion.
I'm hoping that the more vocal and forceful among us will stifle the urge to push for resolutions of their own devising and take the time to listen, listen and listen carefully some more. We all need to hush ourselves and allow the winds of the Holy Spirit to reveal the truths we will take home. Sometimes they come from unexpected places, from the quietest voices that may easily be lost in the din.
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