Post-August
From a link at Brother Maynard, who in a surreal X-Files/Twilight Zone manner, is blogging upstairs on his laptop as I blog here in the Holy of Holies (Maynard's basement library).
This has been an exhausting week. I arrived here in Winnipeg last Friday, only to get the news an hour later than my grandmother had passed away (see previous post) while I was in-flight, and I had to quickly book tickets for the funeral in Toronto. I flew into Toronto on Monday in time for the funeral, and 24 hours later, I was back in WInnipeg; I leave tomorrow to head back to Kelowna so that our whole family can drive to Calgary the next day.
Without giving too many particulars, the reason I came to Winnipeg is because we just received word that some very close friends of ours have separated as husband and wife. It came as quite a shock, and I flew out here in order to spend time with them and see what I could do to support and encourage them. I'm no marriage counsellor, but I couldn't in all good conscience just sit in Kelowna and remark, "Gee, that's really too bad..."
I just spend the last six-and-a-half hours today meeting with their teenagers, one at a time. These teenagers should rightly be called young adults; they are an amazing bunch, which made it all the more painful to hear their hurt, frustration, and fears for the future. I love them all deeply, and this certainly qualifies as one of the most emotionally draining times I've had in recent years, and yet there was also a very strong sense of being in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing.
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This has been an exhausting week. I arrived here in Winnipeg last Friday, only to get the news an hour later than my grandmother had passed away (see previous post) while I was in-flight, and I had to quickly book tickets for the funeral in Toronto. I flew into Toronto on Monday in time for the funeral, and 24 hours later, I was back in WInnipeg; I leave tomorrow to head back to Kelowna so that our whole family can drive to Calgary the next day.
Without giving too many particulars, the reason I came to Winnipeg is because we just received word that some very close friends of ours have separated as husband and wife. It came as quite a shock, and I flew out here in order to spend time with them and see what I could do to support and encourage them. I'm no marriage counsellor, but I couldn't in all good conscience just sit in Kelowna and remark, "Gee, that's really too bad..."
I just spend the last six-and-a-half hours today meeting with their teenagers, one at a time. These teenagers should rightly be called young adults; they are an amazing bunch, which made it all the more painful to hear their hurt, frustration, and fears for the future. I love them all deeply, and this certainly qualifies as one of the most emotionally draining times I've had in recent years, and yet there was also a very strong sense of being in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing.
(Note of Clarification: Yes, I am staying with Brother Maynard and his family while in Winnipeg, but they are NOT the family in crisis.)I'm not at liberty to give out the names of the family that is going through this exremely difficult season, but God knows their names, and any prayers on their behalf would be deeply, deeply appreciated.
posted by Robbymac at
6:04 PM
12 Comments:
You're a great friend. I hope your friends know what a blessing you are, regardless of the outcome of this situation.
Cindy, that's what I told him, too. We were with Rob and his family in Kelowna when this news came, but to re-clarify, ours is still not the family in crisis. I do know them and will try to connect now that Rob has gone back to galavanting around the country.
I was thinking about the personal and financial cost which Rob and his family extended for this trip, and it must be said that most families don't have friendships that strong or that close. The fact that coming to Winnipeg was almost a foregone conclusion demonstrates the kind of people that Rob and Wendy are... the kind that are all too rare.
I decided Rob needed a beer last night, so we headed off to The King's Head (which really needs a new website) for pints of Guinness. At the last minute, the shyster picked up the tab for it, too. Thanks, Rob.
Now I should really go and re-inventory the books in my library. After all, even the best of friends...
Rob,
You and your family pretty much inspire me! I know you've talked me through some rough things too, so I know that family and those kids are blessed to have you there!
Chris
P.S. Completely irrelevant but I got Dublin too...Dublin would be nice right about now!
Somehow I ended up stumbling across your "post-charismatic" website, and I really want to thank you. I'm a twenty-something bible college student, and I've spent the last 4 years divorcing myself from the charismatic/prophetic movement, and continue to grapple with my experiences today.
Alot of conservative evangelicals have no idea what I've experienced, and being at school has been, at times, alienating. Even emergent "churchers," while sharing similar angst, have a difficult time understanding the disallusionment and suspicion.
Reading about the history of the Latter Rain, etc. has put alot of the scattered/disjointed theologies jumbled up in my head into some sort of context ...
My desire is to be an authentic follower of Christ, open to the Holy Spirit, but not excessive. Thank you, Thank you for being a balanced voice in a needed conversation. I've been truly encouraged.
--C
Thanks for the encouragement, Cindy & Chris -- and Maynard, let's not forget the many times YOU have been the person listening to and encouraging me!
Anonymous,
It's comments like this that make all the time I put into the Post-Charismatic project really worth it! Keep pursuing the things of the Spirit, sans-hype, of course.
Thanks for your encouraging words.
Your friends are lucky to have you. Its remarkable how many people are unable to involve themselves in the problems of their friends and brethren. I have to wonder are we too sensitive about other people's sensitivities? Have we become so private about our personal lives, so compartmentalized in our affairs that helping takes on the negative connotations of interfering? Just a thought. I really enjoyed your articles on the Word Faith movement.
Rob,
It sounds like this has been a very hard season. As the child of divorced parents reading your post made me deeply glad christians like you are around. In times like those, being present is definatly the right place to be.
Thanks for doing this, the family is in my prayers as well.
Nate
Robby, I'll lend my prayers to this as well.
Why does Netscape think your site is a phishing site? Did you add any odd blogapps in the last month? BTW I got Dublin too.
love,
Frank
Juniper,
This particular family has a LOT of history with us -- we've been in each others' lives for more than 25 years. Sad to say, the church they've attended for many years is ignoring the situation -- not a visit, phone call, or email. Blood is thicker than church membership, however, and that's why we're involved.
Nate,
Your words come as a HUGE encouragement to me. I often felt, last week, like I was a very weak and ineffective person, but you're right: just "being there" was probably the best thing I could offer at this point.
Frank,
No, I've done nothing to this website in the last month except begin blogging again. Hmm...
On the other hand, maybe it's time you switched to Firefox (link at bottom right). :)
I'm a Netscaper already. It is Netscape that complains about you. :-(
Frank
(sigh) Then, my friend, the answer is clear: Netscape represents the Dark Side.
Rob,
So I was re-reading Life Together and came across Bonhoffer's idea of the Ministry of Presence. That says everything I was trying to say far better then I ever could.
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