Big Personalities

Update

Ah, what a week. When I think that I've got a handle on myself a new week rolls around like a wave, submerging me again with its force. It's an unfortunate truth: We're bound to describe the wave of a week according to where we are on that wave. If freshly risen from the deluge, rejoice at having survived it; if underwater, then explain - in strangled notes - that it'll be fine sometime. 

Ah, the waves of life are all according to God's plan; still waves nonetheless. 

It's been productive last week, but getting the - how would I say it? - the spark, the energy, the liveliness to push forward into this week, that is difficult sometimes. But at the same time, I realize that it's nice to feel like I have hold of a consistent pattern of doing for the weeks I have here in Ottawa - finally! - and I hope that you (the reader) are finding that your summer is slipping into a flow that doesn't make you fall apart. The least you can say about a wave is that it is loosely connected together. 

Big Personalities

I realized that in all my blogs I have utterly let you all down - I apologize. I have not introduced you to the many members of the church that I am a part of and, my heavens, they are a wonderful and wonderfully different group of people - more than crazy religious folk or country bumpkins (a fun word). Each is their own, unique and individual. Of course, respecting their privacy, I will veil their identity. So let's start with:-

A. Bard - What a guy. Booming voice like a cannon through one's fragile mind at nine in the morning, sharper than a new set of kitchen knives. Watch your words, because you can bet that he is.

Millie - Ever heard of a church mouse? She makes you think of one, but I bet you never thought of their character now did you? She is kind, a listening ear if there ever was one, and makes you feel like you are special to her. A peculiar gift, kindness through listening, but she could teach you how to.

Rita - I think there are people of whom we can all have said to have described with a sort of helpless, panicked, 'you'll have to see for yourself' and who turn out to be too specific and quirky to describe. I'll put Rita in that category.

Ma and Pa - I teach Bible class the odd morning here and there, at 9:30 (unofficially 9:40, because who ever comes on time?) and these two are simply lovely. It isn't uncommon to hear one say to the other, over some comment I make, "well, that's me alright," and the subsequent chuckle. Too old to care - something to aspire and aim for. 

The Salt Family - These are a couple . The husband is unruffled, calm as the ocean never tends to be, and the wife constantly compensating for the husband's happy indifference to most things occurring with their children. He's a wonderful Dad, and she's a wonderful Mum. They are plainspoken, direct, honest people. 

The Young Family - Their kids can be guaranteed to be the life of the party, even if its not their party, but these parents handle it with the sort of frazzled patience that wins parents eternal applause. They're also utterly welcoming and jovial, even if their kids - like all - are usually adding to the chaos factor in any given room.

Edwards - Intelligent, quiet, and its guaranteed that you'll be feeling intimidated by the sheer weight of their presence and their introvertedness. There's something undeniable about the gravity of certain people - if you haven't been intimidated before, here's your chance! But if you happen upon something that he's passionate about the conversation will flame up like a forest fire.

Goldie - A younger girl, and hungry for the truth of things. She's a person that makes you feel like the world is a little bit slanted - she's probably shaking up your world then, making you wonder if you actually are correct in your views, looking under the carpet of your worldview. It's a good challenge, but she loves Jesus. (Single guys, take notice! This is the kind of girl you want!)

Who Are We?

That's only a few of them, because I didn't want to try your patience by describing everything. But this thing about personalities, about people who are unique, it made me think. These people, they are like nature untouched, like places that our race hasn't yet bent into our urban jungles of steel and stone. They are people that have grown into their own, peculiar, interesting selves. 

When I describe my church I regularly say, "they have big personalities," because I feel like they aren't like anybody that I've met. They don't have any of the traits or idiosyncrasies that I'm used to seeing. We take who we are from TV shows, from music, from our culture right? 

But what if we didn't?

Who are - y o u - without the people that you want to be?

Who are - y o u - without the people that make you  - y o u ? -

Who are - y o u - trying to be? 

I realize how easily I become others, but ultimately, I try to be like my Jesus. I love him so, with love like a candle fire, sometimes faint and flickering by the wind of the world. But still He bought me; still He holds me. But pardon me, I can't help myself. 

How about 

- y o u -