Sweet (extra) hour of sleep
The changing of the clocks arrived just in time this year. I, for one, was very grateful for that mysterious hour that snuck in during the wee hours November 1, allowing for an extra bit of sleep. Lately I've attended a lot of special events. Seminars, conferences, concerts and fundraisers of all sorts do occur every day, and for a variety of reasons I've been showing up at a bunch of them.
This is part of my job. A major reason why ChristianWeek exists is to cover "events, issues and ideas affecting the ongoing practice of Christian faith and life in Canada." I put the last part of that sentence in quotes because I lifted it directly from our mission statement. And I'm appealing to the mission statement now to justify some of my recent absences from my office.
In the process I'm learning once again that events can be tremendously helpful by moving one out of the ordinary, providing new insights and new information. They can really boost spirits and refocus efforts. (On the other hand, they can easily become a huge distraction from the necessary affairs of life or serve as a nagging reminder that other people in other places are doing more and better than you are.)
As a reporter, I thoroughly enjoy meeting people face-to-face and hearing presenters share ideas. There's no doubt that we serve our readers better when we are able to be present and speak directly with the people in the news.
What made my extra hour of sleep extra welcome this month was nothing less than the privilege of meeting and listening to people like Adrian Plass and Glen Soderholm. That event occurred just a few days after I attended a one-day seminar with Alan Hirsch that deepened my understanding of the transforming power of the Christian gospel. A week earlier I'd attended a two-hour presentation on youth culture and Christian mission that both challenged and encouraged with information and insight. And on Halloween I spent eight hours soaking up information from Phyllis Tickle, whose erudite presentation filled my little brain to overflowing with big ideas and the grand sweep of history.
What do these special events have in common? They show Christians responding to human need and the human situation with critical reflection and an underlying sense of mission. They also addressed people where they live, recognizing that we need music, laughter and worship along with head knowledge and the hard work of ministry.
Nobody should be going to special events all the time. We need to live in the ordinary, to be doers, and not just hearers. But there sure are a lot of wonderful people with a wealth of great resources that can be of tremendous benefit to the people of God.ChristianWeek makes a serious effort to keep you aware of what's out there and what it might do for you, even when it does cost us a little sleep.
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