On the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

This blog was written for 2019's 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence blog for Ecumenical Women at the United Nations.

Thirty years ago today, a man entered Montreal's Polytechnical Institute, and targeted women who were studying engineering and other STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) fields. 14 women died, another 14 people (9 women) physically injured before the gunman took his own life.

The purpose of his intentional and calculated attack: he was "fighting feminism."

The impact of this massacre, one of the worst in Canadian history, was deep across the country. A broader conversation of social issues and gender justice emerged, and December 6th now commemorates the National Day of Remembrance and Acton on Violence Against Women. While statistics do show some improvement, there remains much to be done.

On this the 30th anniversary of a blatant anti-feminist act, I recall the indirect impact this had on my own life. Entering high school the following year, I recall conversations with friends about how women weren't safe in STEM-related classes. Later, when touring university campuses, only in the city of Montreal did I inquire about the current rates of violence against women. Gender justice has been a theme throughout my studies and ministry, and December 6th is never forgotten.

I suspect the atrocity of 1989 remains a factor (conscious or not) that continues to influence other women: only 20% of women in higher education pursue degrees in STEM fields (compared to over 40% of men), and women represent only 22% of the STEM workforce.

Now, years later, I realise that this horrific event continues to influence my life - but it is no longer from a place of fear. Within Canadian society I benefit from a decreased rate of violence against women, an increased awareness of the underlying issues of anti-feminism, improvements in police and policy response to issues of violence.

Specifically, I am blessed to recognise my role in empowering women of today: within the congregation I serve are women and men who work and minister within the STEM fields. There are youth engaging in these fields in their studies. There are children whose curious minds are obviously oriented towards STEM, and they will not be dissuaded from it.

What a gift it is for our community to have the privilege and responsibility to uphold and support these people: given the gifts of discerning hearts and minds, they strive to make the world a better place. They are celebrated for who they are, who God has made them to be, and who they will continue to become as they journey in their fields. Their education will be in the classroom and in the field, and it will also be in the church: they are beloved children of God who are encouraged to live without fear.

So as we recall horror of 30 years ago, I pray that the survivors have found peace. I recognise that the reality of today shows movement towards gender equality. And it is the hope of tomorrow that is therefore up to us: may God give us all the strength to support and encourage everyone to live into their vocation, whatever that may be. 

Causation or correlation

Sometimes, we recognise the sequential effect of things: cold weather means we get out our mittens.
Sometimes, we recognise the complete disconnect of things that just happen to occur at a similar time: there’s ice in my freezer; there’s ice on my deck.
And sometimes, things that seem to be disconnected do actually have a correlation: snow fell; my puzzle table came out. (Unless you knew that my jigsaw habit is usually a winter pastime, those two things would seem incongruous – yet the snow has fallen, and the puzzling has begun!)

When we consider our spiritual actions and realities, it’s helpful to consider the reasoning behind them, to ponder on any connections – or just coincidences.

For many who attend services, the practice becomes habitual – while also being intentional.
Yes, we get up early on Sundays, we know the ups and downs (ah, the Anglican aerobics!), the acronyms make sense to us (mostly) - we enjoy the experience: the worship, the community, the connection. It fills us, inspires us, encourages us.

For some, the daily meditation and prayer times serve as the continuity of faith, of the communication with the divine in a more personal setting. It may include specific setting, maybe a candle or icon for visual or scent stimulus. It may have its own ritual or physical component (my “Friday latte” pottery bowl is a morning prayer regular; for others prayer beads or the feel of a well-known Bible initiates that conversation with God).

For some, however, the concept of worship does not carry with it such positive or edifying connections; it becomes a transactional event. For some, the concept of faith is as a deterrent from “bad behaviour” or a fear against eternal rejection come judgement day. If the only reason to show up at a church is attempting to increase the chances of being heaven-bound, this is not faith; if the contribution to the community’s offerings is an attempt to pay for sin, the effort is not a faithful one. Such a mentality, I fear, is unhelpful and unhealthy to living an authentic faith here and now.

So as I puzzle, I invite us all to puzzle over why we do what we do: why do we pray? Why do we attend worship in community? How might we be inspired to serve, and surprised by joy? How is God acting in our lives in ways that make sense, that build up the heavenly kin-dom, that encourage us to acts that reflect the deep desires of our hearts?

So much to ponder…

 

The Spiritual Growth of Tomatoes?

There’s nothing that teaches us patience quite like… green tomatoes.

It’s that time of year when many of us have some accumulation of green tomatoes resting somewhere near a window. The stragglers on the vines that weren’t quite ready to pick when the first frost came… and so they linger, in boxes or on baking sheets or (in my kitchen) on the dehydrator trays).

For a few days, the sheer volume of table-tomatoes prevented me from sitting down to a proper meal; though to be fair, many of my meals are eaten elsewhere (sometimes while batch cooking, sometimes while the game is on, whatever!)

So while I could wax poetic about “there is a time for everything”, I won’t; instead I share that I can appreciate the way that the tomatoes are ripening. Some are slow, some were fast (and tasty!), some of the green tomatoes ended up in last weekend’s crockpot chili. Some days I had one or two tomatoes ready to eat, other days they were overabundant (with extras landing in the fridge).

The notion that stayed with me this week, was the way that the tomatoes progressed. In their own time, not influenced by their neighbours. Some went from green to a bright orangey-red; others shifted to that rosy hue, eventually making it to an almost burgundy. The changes are not, to my assessment, something that can be easily measured or anticipated – they simply change to what they were meant to be, at their own pace.

Our spiritual growth is not unlike the ripening of these ubiquitous tomatoes. It’s not something that anyone, ourselves included, can anticipate: as we will be formed and informed by whatever life gives us. In some times, we may have rapid growth, and that’s fine. In others, we may appear to be staying the same, appreciating that a time of rest can be appropriate, and also that there may be change happening deep within that we just don’t see yet.

Wherever we are in our spiritual journey, it’s good to remember that it is a journey. And we’ll get to where we need to be – so long as we keep ripening.

Thanks-Giving

As the world around us seems dark and fearful, it’s easy for us to get wound up in the culture of scarcity – where the primary emotion becomes anxiety or fear, restriction and even jealousy. Even in the midst of what we have, our world seems to tell us that we need to have more, and newer, and bigger, and better. This way of thinking can prevent us from truly engaging with one another from a place of peace and community.

How wonderfully refreshing, then, that the church intentionally focuses our attention into a culture and theology of abundance. Our faith encourages us to re-focus our perspective to one of gratitude. This gratitude is not meant to come from comparison with others (“I have more ___ than that person”); rather faith inspires us to have thankful hearts which celebrate what is before us. This heart rejects the cultural norm of ‘never enough’ and finds delight in simply BEing – being exactly who our loving Creator made us to be.

Our scriptures echo this shift, and invite us to celebrate the abundance which we have in our society. God gives us the gifts and resources that we have, and God gives us the opportunity to demonstrate a similar practice of abundant sharing. We are blessed with the ability to connect with one another, with God, and with God’s gifts through creation. God assures us that we are perfectly and wonderfully made (Ps 139.14), God brings us together in community (Heb 10.24), and God provides wonders to remind us of the blessings of this world (Ps 65.8).

I invite us, then, to hear the call from God to live in the reality of God’s abundant blessings for all of us. May we interact with one another, demonstrating the love of God. May our hearts rejoice as we recognise our abundance, and with that the privilege to share. May we, with joyful hearts, give true and unending thanks to the Lord our God.

Destination Happiness

Walking with the dogs is always an adventure… doggy arthritis notwithstanding, the pups traverse in very different ways.

Watson enjoys every aspect of his walks. The trees must be sniffed, the grass investigated, the scents and sounds of each area are something to be savoured. (And, there is NO moving him if he doesn’t want to move forward – his side-eye is epic!)

Come, on the other hand, can. not. wait! for the next bin/post/shadow/etc. She pulls at her lead, barely noting where she is, she’s so keen to get to the next ‘destination’. My right arm knows not only her chase drive (ah, the greyhound in her) but also the curiosity pull.

We can face life with the same varied foci… for some, each moment is a time to be appreciated, investigated, enjoyed. It’s literally living, happily, in the moment – whatever that may look like.
For others, the concept of destination happiness takes over – this preoccupation with the idea that happiness is somewhere else, just around the corner – if only we could get there faster.

The challenge with destination happiness is that it reduces joy in the ‘now’, always looking for contentment elsewhere… and ultimately never finding it. A sense of permanent dissatisfaction and disappointment ensues.

And while we can’t go through every aspect of life at the pace Watson walks, God invites us to live in the present; to notice the abundant blessings that flow upon us at any time, to appreciate the beauty (conventional and otherwise!) that surrounds us, to engage with the people that God has put in our path (and in whose path God has put us!). There is joy to be found – a deep and holy joy that transcends anything of this world – whenever we’re able to dwell in the moment.

Ps 16.11 You will show me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy, and in your hand are pleasures for evermore.

With enthusiasm!

Like most people, I have a tendency of accumulating things that make me happy. Last month, when I was visiting Winnipeg, I stopped by the Jets Gear store, just in case they had anything new or exciting or generally interesting that might want to come home with me… obviously, there were many things; and while most of them stayed at the store, a few things were purchased: some new stickers, a large magnet, an overpriced silicone cup, and some earrings. (Yes, I am a nerd.)

As the pre-season begins today, I’m rather excited (though in the midst of a heatwave, while the garden has yet to be harvested, thinking about hockey feels somewhat incongruous!). I enjoy watching the games: I like tracking the team players and hearing the scuttlebutt; the energy and enthusiasm as I live-text games with friends; the post-game banter when we analyse what went right (or wrong). It’s not like I have any delusions about my role in a hockey game – I can’t even skate – but a good game is a fun thing to experience.

For me, it’s fun, and energising. While I don’t get to watch every game, I do use the ones I see as a chance to rest and rejuvenate – to re-fill my cup (silicone or proverbial!).

It’s important to have these things that do recharge us; to help us stay focused on who we are. Our pastimes bring enjoyment, balance, stress relief, and connection. And when we have an outlet to keep us grounded, we can become our truest selves. Even our mementoes can keep this connection alive in our hearts and minds.

It’s not to suggest that every hobby or activity will suddenly make us feel 100%, or that we should limit ourselves to only one. But to find things that speak to our core, that address in healthy ways whatever is stirring within, can be a gift. It can enhance the joy that we already have from God, and manifest as happiness in this life.

Perhaps it is through such entertainments as this that we can re-energise our lives for and with faith – and bless the world with such as God has given us.

As Hildegard of Bingen said:
Be not lax in celebrating.
Be not lazy in the festive service of God.
Be ablaze with enthusiasm.
Let us be an alive, burning offering before the altar of God.

(Side) Effects

I was on some situational medication this week – a few tablets each day to address an unexpected ailment.

There are always side-effects… one of the meds led to drowsiness, another caused insomnia, a third affected my digestion. Blargh.

I was chatting with a friend about this; and how the effects and side-effects of things in our lives are often overlooked. And, when unexpected things happen and need to be dealt with, one of the side effects can be a less-than-grace-filled attitude.

The meds cost me money I could have spent elsewhere; though not enough to cause me financial hardship.
The unexpected trip to the doctor’s affected my plans for a while, but didn’t derail my ability to live as I normally do.
The medical side effects weren’t terribly pleasant; but nor were they awful, long-term, or irreversible.
…I could continue. The point, however, is that I can also choose to see the positives that aligned in the sequence of events and eventualities. I can access health care; I could adapt my work and leisure time to the circumstance without negative repercussion; I could address my discomfort readily; I had friends checking in on me to make sure I was okay; and on and on!

In all things, what we do has side effects and impacts. Little things that we do have the potential to have an influence on others. So how we choose to react and respond to the world around us matters. It’s not only an outlet for us to show our opinions, but our faith to the world.

And the world is definitely full of opinions right now, as the events of the week have left us all a bit raw and uneasy. Tensions are high, negativity is rampant, and the name of God and nature of faith is being invoked a LOT in the commentary.

So I pray, and try not to engage in unhelpful ways. It’s easy to slide into the noise of discord right now. Instead, I seek grace, and do my best to choose actions that will not lead to negative effects, but might instead inject a little faith and positivity into the fray.