Grieving the Spirit
It's been really difficult establishing a connexion with my router...that's why I haven't updated in a couple days. But I'm starting to think that, at least for now, no one reads this, so I can take refuge in the fact that nobody's wallowing away in anguish at my lack of faithfulness as a blog updater. If any of you actually are reading this, please!! Leave a comment! It's always comforting to have some idea of just how many people are blog-stalking you.
"So, what's been going on in the life of Roisin?" you may be asking. Well, dear stalkers, let me tell you: these past few weeks have really been a time for me to consider and reconsider and re-reconsider everything in my life from what colour blush I should wear to what I should do with my future. Maybe I'll comment one day on everything I've learned about makeup in the past few days, but today I want to focus on my choice of careers.
Ugh. I was so set on joining staff with CCCI...but a conversation with a friend of mine a few weeks ago reminded me of something I've been trying not to think about ever since I made that decision. Now, don't get me wrong, I love C4C: It's through this organization that I really learned what it meant to live in the Spirit; through them I've met a lot of awesome Christians my own age; it was through a missions trip with them that I got to live probably the best 3 months of my life thus far...and when I leave Kingston, this'll probably be the hardest thing to leave behind.
But do I really want to be involved with them for the rest of my working life? As much as I love sharing the Gospel on campus, is this really where I belong? Is it possible that the only real reason behind my decision to pursue this career is because that way I'd only need to complete one more year of school and then be done with it? Is it possible that I've been ignoring other possibilities and denying the fact that my heart's really into something else?!?!
Sigh....every time I come back to Vancouver I'm reminded of a life I left behind. I'm reminded that there's an awful lot of work that still needs to be done here.
In 2003, the CBC came out with a list of the top 10 cities in Canada to live in. Vancouver was voted #1. So that's interesting: in a metropolis of just a little over 2,000,000 residents, there are 2,000 people living on the streets. In fact, the homeless population was sitting at around 1,100 in 2002, and rose to 2,100 by 2005. The homeless population increased 235% between 2002 and 2006, and it is estimated that the number will be over 3,000 by the time the Olympics come to town.
Why is there a homeless problem? From what I can see, it's been a really long series of unfortunate circumstances that have conglomerated over the past 20 years: downtown Vancouver has become more urbanized, forcing homeless people there to migrate eastward, community centres have closed, landlords of low-income housing unexpectedly increased their rent, thus losing most of their tenants, mental hospitals were closed, and the interests of the private sector have continued to dominate political motivations in this area. Plus, a lot of homeless shelters (including some prominent Christian ones) have closed down due to lack of funding.
The mitigating factors leading to life in the DTES consist of: A lack of access to safe & affordable housing (92% can't afford market rental costs); difficulty accessing support services (as I said, a lot of shelters have recently been shut down); Health, mental health & substance use issues (though it's interesting to note that only between 20-30% of homeless people are drug addicts, whereas the image we tend to have is that the vast majority of them are); Family violence, racism & discrimination...to name a few.
Of those living on the street, 40% report being victims of physical violence, and 21% of women report being victims of rape.
And the native demographics show that although natives represent 2% of the general population of Vancouver, they represent 30% of the homeless in the DTES.
Hmmm....
Well, gee. I mean, it's only the sick that need a doctor, right?
So...why is it that, though I want to be a missionary, I'm focused on hitting the "future leaders" of the country? Did Jesus go for the leaders, or did He go instead for the outcasts? Isn't that how His glory was magnified?
Don't get me wrong: if there's one thing I've learned from sharing my faith, it's that everyone is sick without Christ, and that's kinda the point of our ministry....
But there's also a lot of sickness, a lot of lost souls left in Vancouver. And forgive my ignorance, but between gentrification, safe injection sites, and 20 years of public and governmental apathy, we don't seem to be making much progress toward healing those suffering through the cycle of abuse, homelessness, crime, drug addiction and prostitution.
There's work to be done...and I keep getting the feeling that by ignoring the fact that I really have a heart for those struggling there, I'm ignoring God Himself.
Hmmm....Grievin' the Spirit, man...grievin' the Spirit.
Well, I think this post is getting pretty long already, so I'll cut it short for now.
"So, what's been going on in the life of Roisin?" you may be asking. Well, dear stalkers, let me tell you: these past few weeks have really been a time for me to consider and reconsider and re-reconsider everything in my life from what colour blush I should wear to what I should do with my future. Maybe I'll comment one day on everything I've learned about makeup in the past few days, but today I want to focus on my choice of careers.
Ugh. I was so set on joining staff with CCCI...but a conversation with a friend of mine a few weeks ago reminded me of something I've been trying not to think about ever since I made that decision. Now, don't get me wrong, I love C4C: It's through this organization that I really learned what it meant to live in the Spirit; through them I've met a lot of awesome Christians my own age; it was through a missions trip with them that I got to live probably the best 3 months of my life thus far...and when I leave Kingston, this'll probably be the hardest thing to leave behind.
But do I really want to be involved with them for the rest of my working life? As much as I love sharing the Gospel on campus, is this really where I belong? Is it possible that the only real reason behind my decision to pursue this career is because that way I'd only need to complete one more year of school and then be done with it? Is it possible that I've been ignoring other possibilities and denying the fact that my heart's really into something else?!?!
Sigh....every time I come back to Vancouver I'm reminded of a life I left behind. I'm reminded that there's an awful lot of work that still needs to be done here.
In 2003, the CBC came out with a list of the top 10 cities in Canada to live in. Vancouver was voted #1. So that's interesting: in a metropolis of just a little over 2,000,000 residents, there are 2,000 people living on the streets. In fact, the homeless population was sitting at around 1,100 in 2002, and rose to 2,100 by 2005. The homeless population increased 235% between 2002 and 2006, and it is estimated that the number will be over 3,000 by the time the Olympics come to town.
Why is there a homeless problem? From what I can see, it's been a really long series of unfortunate circumstances that have conglomerated over the past 20 years: downtown Vancouver has become more urbanized, forcing homeless people there to migrate eastward, community centres have closed, landlords of low-income housing unexpectedly increased their rent, thus losing most of their tenants, mental hospitals were closed, and the interests of the private sector have continued to dominate political motivations in this area. Plus, a lot of homeless shelters (including some prominent Christian ones) have closed down due to lack of funding.
The mitigating factors leading to life in the DTES consist of: A lack of access to safe & affordable housing (92% can't afford market rental costs); difficulty accessing support services (as I said, a lot of shelters have recently been shut down); Health, mental health & substance use issues (though it's interesting to note that only between 20-30% of homeless people are drug addicts, whereas the image we tend to have is that the vast majority of them are); Family violence, racism & discrimination...to name a few.
Of those living on the street, 40% report being victims of physical violence, and 21% of women report being victims of rape.
And the native demographics show that although natives represent 2% of the general population of Vancouver, they represent 30% of the homeless in the DTES.
Hmmm....
These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: "Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. - Matthew 10:1-8
'Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. And heal the sick there, and say to them, The kingdom of God has come near to you.' - Luke 10:8-9You ever notice that when Christ was with us here on earth, He went straight to the lost? Straight to the downtrodden, straight to the outcasts? You ever notice that when Christ and His Apostles shared the Good News of the Kingdom of Heaven with the world, the Gospel was always preceeded by healing and miracles?
Well, gee. I mean, it's only the sick that need a doctor, right?
So...why is it that, though I want to be a missionary, I'm focused on hitting the "future leaders" of the country? Did Jesus go for the leaders, or did He go instead for the outcasts? Isn't that how His glory was magnified?
Don't get me wrong: if there's one thing I've learned from sharing my faith, it's that everyone is sick without Christ, and that's kinda the point of our ministry....
But there's also a lot of sickness, a lot of lost souls left in Vancouver. And forgive my ignorance, but between gentrification, safe injection sites, and 20 years of public and governmental apathy, we don't seem to be making much progress toward healing those suffering through the cycle of abuse, homelessness, crime, drug addiction and prostitution.
There's work to be done...and I keep getting the feeling that by ignoring the fact that I really have a heart for those struggling there, I'm ignoring God Himself.
Hmmm....Grievin' the Spirit, man...grievin' the Spirit.
Well, I think this post is getting pretty long already, so I'll cut it short for now.
wow roisin,
well...since you are yearning for comments, i think i'll talk some more =D (cuz I'm kinda jobless anyway)
wow...i just never realised that. I always envisioned Vancouver as this magical place because I had a "magical" week while I was there. But reality is strong.
Also the same thing about C4C - you really need to think about where your heart is. I love C4C and I think Calgary 2006 was also the best time of my life - those 3 months.
Yea - Jesus did go to the downtrodden. Your comments reminded me of 'the Jesus I never knew' by philip yancey. Those pictures you posted are also raw and jarring.
I may come to Vancouver to work at the Olympics. It all depends. Who knows what the future holds? God is good. Well, this is uber long. Talke soon
Posted by
drich4 |
1:36 PM
Hey Roisin! Nice page! I've never been here before, but I like it! I guess now you can up your readership to "5"! I realy liked what you wrote in this post. Keep an open mind and God will always lead you.
Posted by
Anonymous |
10:37 AM
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