A Reformed Biweekly 75th Year of Publication | January 27, 2020 | No. 3108 $2.50

Theme: Mental Health News. Clues. Kingdom Views.

CAMPUS CRISIS

Dispatches from the frontlines of the university mental health epidemic. | Zack DeBruyne

MAYBE YOU ARE A STUDENT. You moved out of the comforts of your family home to attend university, and you find yourself in a strange land. Your friends from high school are gone. The daily support and reminders from your parents and teachers are gone. You are studying a degree that you’re not really confident in – you just picked some- thing. You’re here, but you’re not sure if you should be. You might be grieving the loss of old friends, the distance from your family, the end of your varsity career or your time as a lead in the school plays. Everyone says, “Go enjoy yourself! It’s university!” But sometimes you want your old life back. Your old routine that made sense. Your old teachers that actually told you exactly what was expected. And because of all of this piling up, you have not been very motivated so far. You sleep a lot. Or, at least, you lie in bed on Netflix or scrolling social media when you know you should be in class. University is much harder than you had imagined. Maybe you are a parent. You worked hard to get to this point. Your baby is off to University! And the hopes that you have for her may be higher than your parents had for you. You have been asking your daughter which university she hopes to attend since she was in Grade 9. You are a proud parent. She is going to be a success! You are abso- lutely sure of it. And you secretly think that this success is because of everything you have done to set her up for it. Maybe you are a grandparent. You want the absolute best for your grandchildren. You care deeply for them. In fact, you worked a 50- hour shift week at that dead-end job with the dream of providing a flourishing future for your children and, someday, grandchildren. You beam with pride and joy when you think about your granddaughter. A THEOLOGY OF PERSONHOOD I’m a chaplain on a university campus, and I have met all of you. It’s Continued on page 3

Mental health emergency gets national churches’ attention. | Peter Schuurman

“Just thinking of my troubles and my lonely wandering makes me mis- which we were derived. Physi- erable. That’s all I ever think about, and I am depressed” (Lam. 3:19). cally and mentally. The Canadian Council of WE KNOW THAT MENTAL ANGUISH IS PART OF THE HUMAN condi- Churches branch called the tion, as this verse from Lamentations 3 testifies (CEV translation). Commission on Faith and Wit- To be human is to be fragile. Calvin Seerveld wrote in On Being ness is a forum for Canadian de- Human that we are “perishable goods” that “walk around in our un- nominational representatives to derwear, so to speak, tenting, exposed to harm.” The naked human pool their faith and knowledge being is a soft, vulnerable creature, as humble as the humus from and offer public statements to Princeton University students encourage anyone Continued on page 2 suffering from mental illness that “this too shall pass.”

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THEOLOGY CONTINUED or even more narrowly, neuroscience; or alternately, “human being” that not every emotional issue sensitive to labeling issues when is seen as a fiction, a variable social construction that we ourselves can be fully addressed by clergy, it comes to the topic of men- their congregations, the Cana- create. We believe, however, the ancient Scriptures have a more ho- and not every spiritual struggle tal illness. But we do know that dian public, and sometimes the listic and dignified perspective to offer – one that includes recogni- can be adequately treated by a some forms of mental illness are government on topics pressing tion of the spiritual dimension of human life and most significantly, psychologist. The line can be the result not of the paradigmatic on Canadian society. They have that we are made in the image of God. blurry, as the Heidelberg Cate- “fall” of creation, but of sinful tackled topics like bio-ethics, Secondly, we were alerted to the mental health crisis in Canada. chism, for example, addresses behaviour. If you are abused as religious diversity, and suffer- Are people suffering more mental illness than in previous centuries deep emotional issues like guilt, a child, for example, or if you ing and hope. Currently they are on the planet? I’m not sure, but the statistics on depression, anxiety gratitude and comfort, and there are exposed to the traumas of exploring the territory of human and suicide on university campuses (see adjacent article), for exam- are times when spiritual teach- war – sin definitely plays a role personhood and mental health. ple, have risen at alarming rates. One paper was presented to us that ing from a pastor results in sig- in subsequent anguish. Let me first say that I just just focused on the epidemic of loneliness – a sad social reality that nificant emotional wounds. But There is lots to say about our finished a term as the Christian reports suggest is exacerbated by modern mobility and electronic to be clear: mental illness is not mental health and our creature- Reformed representative to this communications. Furthermore, it appears Canada’s health care sys- first of all a pastoral issue: it’s ly life. The church has much to writing group, and presented a tem does not have the capacity to adequately address the rising need, psychological distress that seeks learn from mental health insti- paper from a Reformed perspec- as wait times for psychiatric help, for example, can be months long. cure, relief or coping strategies. tutions; it can also offer some- tive – as part of a mix of at least What are some of the things that have been shared so far, after This suggested two further is- thing valuable in return – both 12 other papers from other de- a year of presentations and deliberations? One question has been, sues. The first has to do with in terms of a theology of person- nominations. Secondly, since it what does “personhood” mean, not to mention the “image of God,” stigmatization. Are all psycho- hood and in terms of practical is a deliberative body that meets and even that archaic but nevertheless biblical term, “soul”? One of logical conditions justly called help and care. With the Spir- twice a year, what consensus and our Orthodox colleagues pointed out that “person” was originally “disorders” or “illness” and does it’s leading, the Commission on conclusions will surface with used to talk about the Trinity, which suggests a divine image and that unnecessarily label people Faith and Witness hopes to pres- regards to the current topic have our nature as relational creatures. “Soul” may carry notions of Greek in negative ways, leading to ent some collective wisdom on yet to be determined. So this is dualism – as something elevated above the body and the material, their further isolation? Secondly, this urgent and delicate matter a report on a work in progress. which distorts our good but fragile creaturehood. Yet the word is everything named in the DSM within the next year or two. Stay “soul” has a depth of meaning and history, and suggests something 5 a result of what is called “the tuned to the Canadian Council of A SPIRITUAL DIMENSION more than just a biological reductionism. fall into sin” and “the broken- Churches. The topic was chosen through a ness of our world” or are some democratic process, and it rose MUCH TO LEARN; MUCH TO OFFER things, like some forms of au- Peter Schuurman above all other possibilities be- One thing Dr. Harry Van Belle pressed home to me was that psy- tism, just about human limits or Peter is Executive Director cause of two things. First of all, chology and spirituality are not synonyms, and neither should be re- fragility, or possibly even “gifts” of Global Scholars Canada, we recognize in Canada that duced to the other, even if “psyche” literally means “soul.” He said, to be embraced? Some denomi- and author of The Subver- sive Evangelical: The Ironic what it means to be a person is “We must not psychologize spirituality nor spiritualize psychology. nations’ representatives seemed Charisma of an Irreligious often reduced to mere biology, Non-Christians do the former, Christians do the latter.” This implies shy of the world “sin” and very Megachurch.

2 JANUARY 27, 2020 | CHRISTIAN COURIER News

CAMPUS CONTINUED THE CLOUD

A spoken word poem on mental illness. | Nathan Beresh

WHERE DO I EVEN BEGIN to ex- How can I be brave? How can plain the chaos and noise inside I be tough? When the lies of my my brain? mind say I’m just not enough? I’m at a loss for vocabulary, when mental illness attacks like STRENGTH FROM ABOVE a fortified adversary. God, when the rain from the For a long time, I have kept my cloud tries to catch me in a flood, voice silent, from fear that what you reach out and grab me and harms me, may become more vi- save me by your blood. olent. The cloud can’t deny how you But today I am going to ex- have chosen to justify this broken plain to you, how this illness is so and bruised soul, who you con- much more than just feeling blue. tinue to make whole. It kicks and it punches and is Help me never to forget or lose nothing but abuse; there’s no way sight of who wins the war as I en- become common-place to hear dedication to caring for and seemingly perfect life. They prob- to wave a white flag and call for gage in this fight. students admit they are suffering supporting your children is the ably feel the same way you do. a truce. The cloud brings a storm, but from depression. Stress levels foundation for their success to- If you find yourself in a de- But as you will soon hear, there we can ride on a wave; my God are at an all-time high. Anxiety day. Continue to strive to care for, pressed or negative spiral, stay is more to the story; this is not will protect me, it’s only he that is bubbling up and boiling over. love and support your children there for a while. Feel what you just about pain, but about God will save. This is university life today. We in this new stage. Resist pressur- need to feel. But do not live in this and his glory. See, although the cloud is real are facing an ever-growing, no- ing them about the future. Find space. Do not dwell here forever. and it sets out to steal all the hap- signs-of-stopping mental health time to genuinely listen to your Seek out help. This might look THE CLOUD piness and joy that I try to feel, epidemic among young students. children, even if it’s all about like professional help – counsel- If someone you love has anxiety I can choose to kneel before the It’s time for these three genera- Philosophy 1F90 and the unfair lors provided by the university. or depression, you might know a Judge and make an appeal. tions to talk to each other. professor. Give them space and This might look like a community bit about its devastating oppres- And I can say this: time when they need it. Pray for of students – a club, a ministry, a sion. “God, your grace is sufficient, DEAR GRANDPARENTS them and encourage them to seek committee. As a Chaplain, I see It’s like a black cloud that fol- and your power is complete in I write this for grandparents, so a deep Christian community that the incredible merit of a faith- lows wherever you go; it’s im- my weakness; in hardships, in that you know your love and can support them (again: without ful community of students who possible to escape, if you try then difficulties, even inbleakness . hard work has not been wasted. pressure!). They need you more come around one another in emo- you’ll know: the more that you You never leave or forsake, in And that your support continues than they need to hear about your tional, spiritual and education- run, the more it will grow. you my heartache starts to quake to matter today. Whether or not hopes and dreams for them. al support and prayer. So reach The cloud stays with you from and deep within me, faith begins you feel appreciated by your uni- out. Email or call your Chaplain morning to night; from the rise of to awake. versity-aged grandchildren, call DEAR STUDENTS or a trusted professor. Walk into the sun, to the setting of its light. Every day, God, as you whis- them. Let them hear a voice of I write this for students. You are the counselling services office or Inside this cloud, you are al- per with your Spirit, give me the non-judgmental love and sup- absolutely not alone. Do not be sign-up for educational aid. Give ways in pain; when the world eyes to see and the ears to hear it. port. Mail a care package. Be a ashamed of your feelings. In fact, your parents or grandparents a sees sun, you only see rain. Help me to see that when I am listening ear, a shoulder to cry more of your fellow students feel call. Be honest. Share the diffi- The apostle Paul talks about stained with tears, that you are on – whether physically or from anxious and worried than you culties that you are facing every being rich in the Lord, but that’s near, and that you’re greater than a distance. think. Don’t compare yourself to day in your cramped dorm room tough to see when you are being my fears. the student next door, the one with or in the overwhelming class- pierced with a sword. Help me to be true, to who I am DEAR PARENTS straight A’s or the one with a mil- room. Find the support that you It’s like having a vice grip of in you. I write this for parents. Your lion Instagram followers and the need and do not be ashamed of it. fear, clenching around your soul, As I renew my mind and the You are not alone in your strug- with daggers digging in, that you fear begins to cease, fill it with gle. You can do this, because you just can’t control. what’s of you, and your unex- have the love and unconditional See, the cloud never goes, it plainable peace.” support of your grandparents, just changes in size; like I said, I Nathan Beresh your parents, your church, your can run, but it stretches the skies. community and your heavenly God, your word says ḥă-zaq Nathan is a doctoral stu- Father. Be reminded of that today we-’ĕ-māṣ, be strong and coura- dent in Practical Theolo- gy at McMaster Divinity and every day. geous; forgive me, but from in- College in Hamilton, Ont. side my pain, that’s completely as well as a missionary Zack DeBruyne outrageous. with Young Life.

Zack is a Christian Re- formed Pastor and Chap- lain at Brock University, ORAL TRADITION in St. Catharines, Ont., Spoken word poetry such as this poem is meant where he lives with his to be performed, not read quietly. It depends on wonderful wife Malorie. inflection and emphasis (shown here through He blogs at zackde- bruyne.wixsite.com/de- italics) and a connection with the audience. bruyne.

@ChrCourier ChrCourier CHRISTIANCOURIER.CA | JANUARY 27, 2020 3 Editorial

family came in, two small girls in puffy pink coats. Their chins bare- people as more than their title AN OTHER PERSPECTIVE ly reached the table top. Although what I really wanted to do was or bank balance: “I shall never scoop them up and out of there, I brought them each a glass of milk. again think that all tramps are Angela Reitsma Bick | Editor [email protected] By the end of that first meal, 11 kids had come for supper, out of the drunken scoundrels, nor expect a roughly 200 people that this kitchen serves each day. beggar to be grateful when I give Angela is Editor of Christian Courier. She lives in Newcastle, Ont., with her him a penny” (p. 189). family and is a member of Hope Fellowship Church. US VS THEM This week, as I was editing the articles and letters for this issue, NICKEL AND DIMED I noticed troublesome “us” and “them” language cropping up. Not A journalist named Barbara Eh- because the writer was setting up opposites but from falling into renreich tried a similar experi- assumptions, like I did, about certain segments of society. Thinking ment for her 2001 book Nickel that everyone in a group of people is the same as the others, and and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By different from “us.” Nowadays, perhaps, it’s even more prevalent In America. She wanted to find because we feel alienated from each other, which makes other peo- out if she could support herself ple seem foreign or unknowable. for a year working only mini- Weeding out prejudice can be a full-time job. But thankfully, the mum-wage jobs – at Walmart, solution is not complicated: leave your own world, see each person as a house-cleaner and as a wait- as an individual, and look at things from another perspective. “Just ress. She barely makes it. In as to love God begins with listening to his Word,” Dietrich Bonhoef- fact, even with her safeguards fer says, “so the beginning of love for brethren is learning to listen (she starts with a car and, unlike to them.” Orwell, rules out homelessness), A Toronto journalist went undercover recently, checking into three her health suffers and her money different shelters in the city and then reporting on their conditions. runs out. Ehrenreich soon realiz- He describes the shelters as overcrowded and dangerous. “I cannot es the privileges inherent in her pretend to know what homelessness fully looks like,” he admits, but regular life. OUR FAMILY STARTED VOLUNTEERING AT A LOCAL SOUP KITCHEN “it makes sense to me now why many homeless people would rather “Take away the career and the last year. Because it’s in a basement, in facilities that the organi- take their chances and sleep outside on cold winter nights” (Paul higher education,” she writes, zation has outgrown, the place feels a bit grim – crowded and run Salvatori, Now magazine). “and maybe what you’re left down. They have plans for a new building to address the growing Good journalism can help break down the barriers we create with is ‘Barb’, the one who needs in the community. For now, there’s usually a line-up of people around different groups of people. Let me give you two examples might have ended up working waiting to get in. of writers who, like the reporter in Toronto, tried out life in a lower at Walmart for real if her father One day, when we got there late for our shift and made our way income bracket on purpose. Their experiences challenge the made- hadn’t managed to climb out of to the door, a few people said “Not open yet,” and I realized they up distinction between upper and lower classes, the haves and the the mines” (p. 169). Like Or- thought we were there to eat, too. Fair enough! You can’t tell by have-nots. They make it impossible to dehumanize “them.” well, she writes about her ex- looking who is there to volunteer and who’s there for food. Poverty perience of living beneath the DOWN AND OUT poverty line to break down class “The curse of class difference confronts you like a wall of stone,” barriers and, ideally, to inspire Weeding out prejudice George Orwell says in one of his lesser-known books, a memoir a shift toward better wages and called Down and Out in Paris and London. It was published in 1933. conditions. can be a full-time job. He was writing about the three years he’d just spent “slumming it” – deliberately moving from his upper-class origins to join the work- QUICK TO HEAR is not one-size-fits-all: each situation is unique, each person arriving ing class: on the road as a tramp, in the mines of north England and You don’t need to go undercover with different reasons for needing a plate of noodles & beef today. in a small Paris restaurant washing dishes 18 hours a day. Just like or even read those books to have The supervisor keeps everyone – volunteers and clients – moving the other men struggling to get by, he’s exhausted by the work. He your stereotypes challenged. This through their paces with well-practiced ease. After the doors open, learns that being hungry shortens his temper. He gets robbed and has Mental Health theme issue of the 10 tables quickly fill with clients, three or four per table. Once to pawn his clothes. Christian Courier is packed with they’re seated, a volunteer comes over with a tray of food and takes “The average millionaire,” he concludes, “is only the average unique perspectives – each one a drink orders. That was my first job – fetching drinks – and I was dishwasher in a new suit” (p. 107). The book offers a way to see chance to listen and learn from terrible at it. I kept mixing up who wanted coffee with six sugars and someone else’s experience. four milk and who asked for tea, two milk and two scoops of sugar. A pastor who suffered depres- I will never forget the first day, when I was being trained in the sion as a teen. drink station. A Christian doctor who feels “Don’t overfill the mugs,” the supervisor said, rapid-fire, already torn between his faith and Cana- on his way somewhere else. “Coffee tins are here. Only the kids get dian law. milk.” A friend in Australia lighting I thought I had misheard. Did he say the kids get milk? What kids? candles in prayer while forest That misconception collapsed right away. Soon enough a young fires blaze. And you can’t tell by looking at the bio pictures who is here as OVERLAP an eye witness or as the leading role. Mental illness is not one- Somewhere between 25 to 50 percent of people experiencing size-fits-all: each situation is homelessness also suffer from mental illness, according to the unique; each person has different Mental Health Commission of Canada. reasons for needing an invitation Don’t miss our page 11 story on Indwell, a Christian charity in to go for coffee. Ontario that creates affordable housing communities for people Be “quick to hear and slow with disabilities, mental health diagnoses and/or addiction. to speak,” as James 1:19 advis- es, and an other perspective will make life richer.

4 JANUARY 27, 2020 | CHRISTIAN COURIER Letters

Without family. We watched a Hallmark movie and he laughed at DARKNESS AND HOPE it – which is like shooting fish in a barrel. Not much happens in Hall- mark movies. I said, “Hallmark is popular because it helps people believe that Founded in 1945 Hallmark’s Christmas miracles and Kuyper’s coming after all your parents die and you are raised by your grandparents An independent biweekly that seeks to choir. and three of them die, and the Big Corporation wants to destroy your engage creatively in critical Christian journalism, connecting Christians with Cupcake Bakery to turn it into a horrible High Rise, and your spouse a network of culturally savvy partners deserts you with the cutest kid in the world, and the bills are due, and in faith for the purpose of inspiring all In CC’s Christmas issue, “The Wonder of Kuyper” sat prominently you’re lost and alone at the edge of the universe with no hope in sight to participate in God’s renewing work within his fallen creation. at the top-right of pagina una. I groaned in dismay. Of course, I won- – that there is still hope you’ll be saved.” I said, “Hallmark is tragical- der about Kuyper all the time, to be candid, so the title only confirmed ly lame – except that people really are living with tragedy. People still EDITORIAL TEAM & my own wonder. I wonder why we still read Kuyper. need answers for their desperate situations. They need hope to live. PRODUCTION STAFF Editor: Angela Reitsma Bick In fact, I was positively touched by what I read. In this adaptation For some people Hallmark is all they have.” [email protected] by Mike Wagenman, kudos to Kuyper who lays out the clear prophetic Kuyper was in awe of God. We need meditations like “The Wonder Assistant Editor: Meghan Kort words of the text, retaining the strong force of the words and the un- of Kuyper” because if we don’t have Isaiah’s hope, and Kuyper’s ex- [email protected] Features Editor: Amy MacLachlan compromising sinfulness of personkind in need of a savior – and the planation, and the choir in the Fred Meyer sharing the light and hope [email protected] grace of God in Christ. Further, I was reminded that in my community of Christ, and the witness of Nancy struggling to breathe as she belts Reviews Editor: Brian Bork there are precious few preachers preaching through the great and clas- out her song and stakes her life that her greater glory and joy is the [email protected] Contributing Editor: Michael Buma sic texts of Scripture. resurrected Jesus, the next step down the pit to hell is Hallmark and [email protected] Over the weekend I spent some time exploring my own thoughts the Christmas Miracles of Snow Globes and Reindeer. Contributing Editor: Peter Schuurman about this piece by Kuyper. What about it caught my attention? The [email protected] Circulation: Sarah Smith artwork gave us a real-ish Kuijper, not the studio-portrait pose. The David Snapper [email protected] title, of course, caught my attention first. Clearly ironic, because the Silverdale, WA Admin: Heather Snippe article isn’t in “awe” of the man. That would be totally at cross pur- [email protected] Development: Brittany Beacham poses with the meditation. The title certainly suggests that Kuyper On Cathy Smith’s “Gifting not getting” (Dec. 9, 2019). [email protected] was in wonder and awe of . . . something. Wilma Veldman: “I appreciated reading this article. Cathy’s experi- Website & Social Media: Kuyper opens with a choir. A choir waiting to sing. ence is so similar to my own. My mom wrapped up essentials we Meghan Kort [email protected] Layout and design: Kevin Tamming My wife Nancy sang at the local Fred Meyer store last Sunday, needed, individually so that we had more to open. We have also added [email protected] standing at a Salvation Army Kettle hoping to raise money for the some humour. Many years ago, when we went through a bag of hand- Layout and Ad design: Naomi Francois homeless and needy of Kitsap County. At this store, one of the largest me-down clothing given to us, there was a very ugly red bloomer type collidemedia.ca in the area, a handful of people contributed to the pot. The band was of underwear, and a decade later there was a fluorescent orange under- Christian Courier is published by the good – guitar, keyboard, bass, vocalist. The whole works. wear. We have been wrapping these up for decades and they are still Board of Reformed Faith Witness: Nancy felt the band put more money in the pot than did the shop- making the rounds over 40 years later! Poems have been added with James Dekker (Chair), Peter Elgersma, Sylvan Gerritsma, Ron Rupke, pers. them from time to time. With our own kids and grandkids, we try to and Emma Winter. It was sad for her – except that she loves to sing and that is suffi- give meaningful gifts and we wait for each person to unwrap so that cient. She was a little like Kuyper’s choir – all the voices are tuned, appreciation can be expressed.” The publication of comments, opinions or advertising does not but the audience isn’t ready or receptive. imply agreement or endorsement by Two years ago Nancy’s cardiologist had so totally mis-cared for her On Emily Wierenga’s “Becoming One Family” (Dec. 9, 2019). Christian Courier or the publisher. we didn’t know if she would live. On the second Sunday of December, Gay Lootsma: “Good article and quite meaningful.” The paper is published the second and 2017, she wanted to sing for worship one more time – just in case. So fourth Mondays of the month. she sang about the angels singing for Jesus and thinking ‘how much On Brian Bork’s “High Stakes Spirituality” (Dec. 9, 2019). greater will their song be when he comes again.’ The recording I made Cara Miedema DeHaan: Thanks for this, Brian! Challenging for par- CANADA MAIL Publications Mail Agreement was impromptu – I just held up my iPhone – in case it was her last ents and pastors and youth leaders . . . I will say that on the other No. 40009999 song. She was ready to die singing. I wanted to record it. side, I have had some conversations with parents who do seem more Return undeliverable addresses to: That five minutes was the most dramatic five minutes of my life be- grateful for their young adult’s spiritual health than for their choice of Christian Courier PO Box 20022 Grantham cause I/we really didn’t know how desperate her condition was (it was major or post-grad job. Thankful [for that]!” St Catharines ON L2M 7W7 worse than we thought) and yet she wanted to sing about “how much greater it will be” when he comes again. (ISSN 1192-3415)

SUBSCRIPTIONS: FOR ALL WHO WILL LISTEN To subscribe, Back to Kuyper: He saw a dark world that Isaiah described. I heard the email [email protected] or call 1-800-275-9185. dark and dismal secular news of this past week and could only agree One year (20 issues): $65, six months (10 with Isaiah. The world is dark. Kuyper used that darkness as the basis issues): $35, Two years (40 issues): $120 for his meditation about the coming light, the coming hope, the soon- Please contact circulation if you cannot afford the subscription price but would to-be-reveal glory of God that would change the world. like to receive Christian Courier. Kuyper starts with the truth of Darkness. He sees the angel choir waiting to sing the glory of God – but the world is not yet ready. Isaiah CHRISTIAN COURIER PO Box 20022 Grantham sees that one day the light will break forth and the song will flood the St Catharines ON L2M 7W7 landscape with the glory of God. So – the Wonder of Kuyper. Isn’t it that in the darkness – the real New number: 1-800-275-9185 and palpable darkness of this world – that there is first the honest rec- christiancourier.ca ognition that the world is circling the drain? Then, second, there is a

We acknowledge the financial call to hope. Redeemer, Rescue, Light. Breath. It’s not here yet. support of the Government of Isaiah knew that. But the choir is singing for all who will listen. Not yet, but coming. When Nancy came home, I sat with a kid who’d been in the county mental health lockup for 10 days. Nice kid. Troubled. Lonely. Aban- Printed in Canada doned.

@ChrCourier ChrCourier CHRISTIANCOURIER.CA | JANUARY 27, 2020 5 News

from the setting sun. The sadness help me discover an identity deep GRACE IN A LOCKED WARD and loneliness washed over me, inside that was capable of more but I also had the distinct feeling than meaningless rebellion. that I was not alone, and that a The frayed memory of teenage depression in 1958. | Len Vander Zee divine presence surrounded me. SACRAMENTAL ASSURANCE I felt hope and peace for the first Two events stand out for me from time in months. that summer. One, of course, MANY YEARS AGO, WHEN I WAS I stayed at Pine Rest for three is the moment when the door 13, I began to have disturbing and months, the whole summer of locked as my parents left. Years fearful thoughts. I couldn’t sleep my 14th year. I did get better; the later, a spiritual director suggest- at night for fear that I would die pervasive fears left me. Perhaps ed to me that the little boy behind and most certainly go to Hell. I it was the ECT, I don’t know. But that locked door was still there, remember crouching in my clos- still, it seems a barbaric treatment deep inside. It didn’t take much et in the dead of night foolishly plan for an adolescent boy and persuading for me to acknowl- thinking that hiding there would would probably be thought abu- edge that as a likely factor in my somehow protect me. Oddly, sive today. That fall I returned long-time fear of vulnerability, I seemed quite normal all day home and entered ninth grade and the need to have control. long; the fears gripped me only quite easily. My nighttime fears The other is that moment in the in the dark. were gone. Years later I went to fenced yard at sunset. It has left My parents became aware of Pine Rest to look at my medical me with the vivid, almost sacra- my behavior and were under- records. I didn’t learn much ex- mental assurance that there will be standably frightened by it. They cept that I was diagnosed with light even in the darkest moments tried to encourage me by telling “adolescent depression.” I have of my life. To me, this came to me that I was God’s beloved never had a major depressive ep- represent God’s loving and faith- child. But nothing they said or once in a while an attendant would light one up for him and place it in isode since. ful presence despite my fears and did could ward off my dread. his mouth. One night as I lay awake, I heard him groaning. I hesitantly I did become a rather rebellious failures. Perhaps it’s one reason Finally, I think on the advice of went to him. He seemed to move his eyes to the cigarettes, so I took adolescent from that experience. for my life-long theological in- our pastor, they took me to Pine one and lit it. We sat there in silence as I took a puff and then carefully I think I was determined that terest in the physical, sacramental Rest Christian Psychiatric Hospi- put it in his mouth. Sharing a cigarette was somehow comforting for I would never again be in that ways by which God reaches out to tal in Grand Rapids to see a psy- me and I hope to him. place of vulnerability, so I de- us with his grace. chiatrist, Dr. Mulder. I remember One night, as we smoked together, I noticed that there were tears cided to be the one who acted he seemed very old. I only talk- running down George’s face. I felt something of his overwhelming rather than be acted upon. I was Len Vander Zee ed with him for a few minutes, sadness, but I also felt important. I could be there for this bereft human heedless of my parents and end- of which I don’t remember any- being, and I had a companion in my own pain and loneliness. ed up doing a lot of drinking and Len Vander Zee is a re- tired pastor in the Chris- thing. Then my parents talked general mayhem in high school tian Reformed Church with him for much longer while 1950S ‘TREATMENT’ and early college. It took a girl, and former Interim Editor I waited outside. The only therapy I remember was a weekly visit with old Dr. Mulder later to be my first wife Judy, to of the Banner. When they came out, they in which I didn’t say much and I don’t remember anything he said. looked sad and troubled. They And then the “treatment” began. I was taken downstairs and told to surprised and confused me by wait in a hallway with other men. One by one, they were taken into ‘VOICE AND CHOICE’ tearfully saying goodbye. Fi- a small room. I saw them emerge a few minutes later being wheeled nally, they walked through the away on a stretcher. This was not comforting. door, and a man in a white uni- The treatment, of course, was Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT). How teenage depression is treated today. form locked it behind them. That This was the 1950’s, and it was a widely used treatment for a variety Mark Vander Vennen moment of locking the door was, of mental illnesses. (Think: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.) In in some ways, one of the most those days the amount of electrical current administered was much significant moments in my life. I higher than today. When my turn came, I was terrified as they tied me I AM DEEPLY MOVED by Len ing and grounds supervisor, and don’t remember anyone explain- down to the gurney with leather straps. Vander Zee’s article “Grace in a the powerful moment of grace ing to me what was going on. They put something that looked like an earphone on my two tem- Locked Ward” and so grateful for he experienced – the presence ples and administered an injection to put me out. The next thing I his courage in sharing the story. of God in the midst of his deep LONELY TOGETHER knew I woke up in my bed. A few times they gave me the jolt before The more we can share stories desolation. This confirms what The next thing I knew I was in the medication took full effect, and I felt the convulsion surge through like this, the more we reduce the we know today from brain sci- a three-bed room with two old my body. I learned later that I had 18 ECT treatments. stigma associated with mental ence: it is especially the power men. One of them had a look of One of the major side effects of ETC is memory loss. So I don’t re- health, and the more we can act of relationship that brings about panic in his eyes and was prob- member much of what happened after the treatments began. At some as Christ-followers with one an- recovery and healing. Note that ably suffering with dementia. point I was released from lockdown and allowed to roam the grounds. other. Len is leading the way and the crucial relationships were not The other man, George Smith, At that time Pine Rest had quite a large campus in Cutlerville, which I commend him for it. with “professionals.” For Len, was lying flat in bed. He couldn’t included a farm and even its own sewage treatment facility. Mr. Apol I have at least a couple of re- Dr. Mulder had so little impact speak or move. No one told me was a supervisor for the buildings and grounds, and he kindly took me sponses to Len’s story. The first that he has no real memory of what happened to George, but I under his wing. We worked together on the farm picking asparagus, is a sense of wonder and joy that their interactions. now assume he had some kind of and he even taught me how to test beakers of water for contamination the treatment appears to have traumatic brain injury. after sewage treatment. I started feeling like a real person. been effective – or, at least, that BETTER OUTCOMES I was afraid of both of them and his depression and anxiety symp- The second is that mental health spent as little time in the room as AT SUNSET toms disappeared and have not service delivery in response to possible. I really don’t remember One vivid and lasting memory is being out in the fenced yard behind returned. I am struck by what he depression is very, very different what I did all day long. George my building, so I assume it happened rather early in my stay. It was regards as crucial in his recov- today. Treatment for depression had a pack of cigarettes on his a fine summer evening, near sunset, and the air was warm and soft. I ery: the belief in him and men- for a 14-year-old today is co-de- bedside table, and I noticed that was looking at the clouds in the west as they began to gather colour torship by Mr. Apol, the build- termined by the 14-year-old, a

6 JANUARY 27, 2020 | CHRISTIAN COURIER News psychotherapist, and ideally his or her parents. The client exercis- DOCTORS, LEAVE YOUR HEARTS AT HOME? es “voice and choice” (which in and of itself supports recovery). Except in rare circumstances, On the challenges of being a Christian health care provider in Canada. | Larry Worthen treatment is not “residential,” and only under extremely rare circumstances – involving im- on moral grounds. opinions.” But if Canada truly is minent danger to self or others Winnipeg Emergency Room a country that champions divers- – is someone placed in a locked Physician Dr. Ann McKenzie is ity, then there needs to be space facility against their will (though thankful the decision went that for all health care providers re- too often jail has become today’s way. “Having suffered the an- gardless of faith to do their work default residential “treatment” guish of losing someone to sui- with a clear conscience. facility). While every situation is cide, I think, makes me feel even Christian psychiatrist Dr. unique, treatment outcomes with more strongly that participating Randy Goossen sees a correla- depression today are often excel- in a suicide is the last thing I tion between the hope he finds lent, usually involving a com- would want to do.” in his faith and the care he gives bination of psychotherapy, some In Ontario, the debate saw a his patients. “Our role as psychia- medication and connection with different resolution. In May of trists is to search for hope and to others. 2019, the Ontario Court of Ap- be there for clients, to be able to “Electroconvulsive Therapy” peal ruled that physicians must see where they do not see, to dir- (ECT) is still used today but only continue to provide referrals even ect them to the light, to the hope, in rare circumstances, and much if they have a moral objection that they might not be seeing at differently than it was in the to the procedure. The Christian the moment.” But being involved 1950s. ECT is used only for situ- Medical and Dental Association in a patient’s access to MAID ations of severe, treatment-resist- (CMDA), along with other pro- stands in direct contradiction to ant depression. Much lower and fessional organizations repre- this calling, says Goossen. targeted doses are used under a senting approximately 1,500 of What is Christ calling us to do general but light, brief anesthet- Ontario’s 31,500 physicians, con- in this environment? We must ic. If memory loss occurs at all, it tinue to oppose the ruling. No ap- offer the hope that comes from is very temporary. Our brains are peal will be taken to the Supreme the relationship we have with our full of electronic impulses; ECT Court of Canada. This coalition Saviour. The secular solution is attempts to reconfigure those im- argues that such regulations in- to ask doctors to ignore the im- pulses. Here too, the outcomes THE ALBERTA LEGISLATURE IS SET TO RESTART THE DEBATE over a fringe on health care providers’ pact their faith might have on are now often successful. contentious law that could affect the working conditions of Christian constitutional right to freedom their work. This approach offers doctors and other medical professionals. Bill 207 seeks to protect of conscience and religion. Each no hope for humanity – it will HUMILITY STILL NEEDED physicians’ rights to take no part in medical procedures that go against provincial government must be lead to a complete lack of mean- I find Len’s story sobering and their consciences. While doctors in Alberta are currently not required encouraged to have legislation ing in our work and force many disturbing as a mental health to participate, there are fears that changes in regulatory rules that have that protects conscience rights so well qualified physicians to leave professional. The methods used already happened in other provinces could make it impossible for that physicians, nurses, pharma- patient care. Only Christ is the in the 1950’s seem so archaic physicians to care for their patients. cists and others will not be forced answer – we must propose rather and harmful, even inhumane. Since 2016, regulatory bodies like the College of Physicians and to participate in procedures like than impose the gospel message The mental health system today Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) have required physicians who object to euthanasia against their will. on a society which is hungry for can also cause harm. What atti- providing controversial procedures like MAID (Medical Assistance in the truth. tudes and methods might we be PRACTICING IN GOOD FAITH employing today that others will ‘Participating in a suicide is the last Many doctors in Canada who look back on years from now hold traditional Christian values Larry Worthen with disbelief and disgust? I hope thing I would want to do.’ feel marginalized in their secu- that we in the mental health field lar work environments. “When Larry is Executive Director of the Christian Medical learn from past mistakes, and that Dying) to refer their patients to someone who will. Protestant, Cath- I hear someone say that phys- and Dental Association those mistakes inject much-need- olic and Orthodox Jewish physicians who are unable to refer because icians should leave their mor- of Canada. He resides in ed humility into the professional of their personal convictions informed by their respective faiths are ality at home, I don’t think they Dartmouth, Nova Scotia world. faced with a stark choice – either do what the regulations require or mean I should leave my honesty with his wife, Dr. Linda Gagnon who is a family At least with respect to depres- leave the practice of medicine. or my compassion,” says Dr. Dan physician. They have two sion, we can point to significant Reilly. “What they want me to children and five grand- improvements in understanding, “Any referral that I make, I have to believe in,” explains psychiatrist leave at home is certain moral sons. treatment and outcomes today Dr. Janice Halpern when asked why she supports the protection of – even as depression remains a conscience rights. “I have to believe that I’m helping the patient. If I stubborn, elusive mystery that don’t, I would be betraying myself and my patient.” MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD ultimately we still do not under- As the government considers expanding the criteria for MAID to In one successful campaign in Manitoba, 14,000 stand. include patients whose primary diagnosis is psychiatric, those who people wrote letters to legislators supporting have advance directives and even children, many more doctors will Bill 34 to protect conscience rights. A similar be left wondering if they can continue to do their jobs in good faith. campaign in Saskatchewan has generated over Mark Vander Vennen 15,000 letters. If you support the protection of THE CANADIAN CONTEXT conscience rights for health care providers, please Mark is Executive Direc- visit canadiansforconscience.ca and write to poli- tor of the Shalem Mental Similar debates have already played out in other Canadian provinces, Health Network in On- with varied results. In 2017, Manitoba enshrined protections for phys- ticians in your province. tario. icians, nurses and pharmacists who refuse to perform or aid in MAID

@ChrCourier ChrCourier CHRISTIANCOURIER.CA | JANUARY 27, 2020 7 Reviews TALKING (THEOLOGICAL) SHOP WITH MARILYNNE ROBINSON Cathy Smith

“IT’S EXHILARATING AND CONSOLING TO READ A BOOK in which the love for his creation and his crea- encounters transcendence: “My lustre of the Christian faith is revealed with such sympathetic polish tures. “This is an interpretation,” grandfather’s grave turned into and God’s sovereignty delineated with such gravitas,” I wrote in my she says, “I find more beautiful the light, and the dew on his little 2015 CC review of Marilynne Robinson’s Lila. Lila gets the “last say,” and more consistent with my mortality patch was glorious.” I asserted boldly. I was wrong. Not the first time. At the 2018 Whea- understanding of the nature of “Marilynne Robinson and the ton Theology Conference Marilynne Robinson announced a fourth in- God than the thought of Jesus’ African American Experience” by stallment of her Gilead series. One presenter, Tiffany Eberle Kriner, death as a sacrifice.” Robinson’s Patricia Andujo is a provocative confessed something kindred to my own glee: “I have, I admit without concern, explains Johnson, is indictment of white Gilead for its shame, made the author’s ability to complete a fourth Gilead novel that the atonement suggests that complacency. She rightly char- a subject of personal prayer.” After John, Glory and Lila, Jack gets “God’s love for us is contingent, ges, “Noticeably, Jack is the only his turn! In her instructive essay, “Space/Time/Doctrine: Marilynne as if Christ’s death for our sins person who is not Christian, yet BALM IN GILEAD: A Robinson’s Gilead Novels,” Eberle Kriner pinpoints the theological enables an angry God to love us he is the most morally outraged THEOLOGICAL DIALOGUE benefit of these multiple perspectives: “Her narrative thought experi- again.” He counters, rather con- concerning the lack of social jus- WITH MARILYNNE ROBINSON ment in the Gilead novels layers types of time into the novels, dilates vincingly, “But the Bible does tice for African Americans.” Her Edited by Timothy Larsen & Keith L. them in multiple ways, and entangles scenes and characters to make not say that God loves us because assessment of Ames, Boughton Johnson the doctrine of God’s sovereignty both more mysterious in scope and Christ died for our sins: it says and similar Christian leaders is IVP Academic, 2019. usable in orientation. Robinson thus renders God’s sovereignty more Christ died for our sins because harsh: “They cower from mean- thinkable, more loveable.” God loves us.” ingful direct action, they miss the Eberle Kriner’s essay is one in a substantive collection entitled Balm Johnson argues that the sacrifi- opportunity to use their author- in Gilead: A Theological Dialogue with Marilynne Robinson edited by cial death of Christ is integral to a ity effectively, and they retreat Wheaton profs Timothy Larsen and Keith L. Johnson. Robinson herself Christian metaphysics because he into a world of vast oblivion.” contributes a chapter, “The Protestant Conscience,” and participates is Saviour as well as Creator. He She has kinder words for Ames’s in two interviews. The volume covers topics such as the theological cautions that Robinson’s inter- militant grandfather though his world of John Ames, the efficacy of preaching (Lauren Winner), good- pretation would leave us believ- abolitionism swung “too far” ness versus grace (Rowan Williams), parallels between Augustine and ing that God’s love “is prompted into violence. She concedes that John Ames (and further parallels between John and Jack), and, not by the worthiness of the human “Robinson would have to write unexpectedly, considerable commentary on John Calvin. who is loved rather than by the an entirely different novel” to Robinson is a singular voice in the intellectual public arena, brave nature of the one who loves.” satisfy her longing for a Gilead enough to declare, “I identify with my congregation, with my de- However, (I jump in boldly) without racial marginalization. nomination, with Christianity.” Even more remarkably she identifies Robinson is quoted in the same My own prediction (“Boldly go” as a Calvinist. She acknowledges an “odd sort of social pressure as essay as saying, “God’s first act as my default setting, apparent- often as I have mentioned him. Calvin seems to be neglected on princi- of grace toward us was to make ly) is that Robinson’s upcoming ple.” Against such negativity, she responds, “I was astonished to real- us worthy of his attention and novel will explore race relations ize how utterly different Calvin is from anything I had ever heard or loyalty and love,” which clearly more directly, particularly in light read about him. It was really moving to discover such a such a vast, locates the origin of our worth in of some strong words she has for lucid and gracious spirit. God’s own divinity. Augmenting self-righteous Christians in “The Predestination, a “complicated issue” according to John Ames, oc- Robinson’s idea that God’s love Protestant Conscience.” cupies a prominent place in Robinson’s work. In “Marilynne Robinson is revealed on the cross, Johnson Balm in Gilead is an erudite and John Calvin,” Timothy George contends that predestination is not, proposes that we also learn how guide to the literary and theo- in fact, Calvin’s key dogma. The heart of his theology, says George, is to love from the cross, namely, logical vision of a consummate “union with Christ” and our election is simply a mirror of Christ’s own sacrificially, like Jesus. Gracious author and thinker. Robinson’s as head of the church. Robinson herself, George reminds us, regularly and generous, this is theological spirited defense of Christianity observes that election did not originate with Calvin, but emerged from dialogue at its best, with John- remains, yes, “consoling” in this the writings of Luther, Augustine and the Apostle Paul himself. son respectfully describing his postmodern era when the faithful The weightiest essay in the anthology is “The Metaphysics of Mari- critique as a “refinement” rather can feel beleaguered. From “The lynne Robinson” by Keith L. Johnson. He notes, “The fact that Rob- than a refutation of Robinson’s Protestant Conscience” comes inson even has a metaphysics makes her countercultural.” He lauds thought. this final encouragement: “One her luminous essays for confronting the materialistic assumptions Artist Joel Sheesley contributes thing we have forgotten is that undergirding our culture. She exposes how our societal capitulation to a treatise on aesthetics, “Heav- Christianity, intrinsically, is very Darwinian and Freudian presuppositions has led to a data-driven meth- en and Earth: Reading Gilead beautiful. There is a virtual sea of odology in all aspects of life. Only what is scientifically observable Through the Landscape on the art, music and literature as proof and measurable has value. This reductionism chips away at the worth Fox River.” He traces the func- of this fact. It has left a splendid of human rationality and human experience. Human beings are just tion of landscape in the Gilead testimony we cannot wholly or another animal, products of evolutionary processes. Such empiricism, novels and beyond, detailing the finally obscure.” warns Robinson, deprives us of any moral imperative. This modern influence of place upon us all as myth of the Fall, she continues, is one in which we banish God, “reason “geographical beings.” In Gil- and science being the flaming swords that make the expulsion final.” ead, says Sheesley, the landscape Cathy Smith

Johnson carefully demonstrates that Robinson’s metaphysics is “partners” with John Ames on Cathy is a retired deeply rooted in Calvinism. He objects, however, to her “distinctive” his pilgrimage to forgiveness. Christian school teacher view about what happens on the cross. Robinson prefers to see the As Ames awakens to the gran- living in Wyoming, Ont. crucifixion, not as atonement, but as the ultimate revelation of God’s deur of creation, he invariably

8 JANUARY 27, 2020 | CHRISTIAN COURIER Reviews ALL THIS NEED, ALL THE TIME

Sara Pot

“I WOULD NEVER QUITE BE THE SAME.” SO ENDS The Dwindling, a explaining how one of the care- and the unexpected joys and sor- personal and quirky account of Janet Dunnett’s experience in caring giving jobs included sorting the rows, Janet’s son Jamie noted, for her aging parents. Not intended as a spoiler alert, it is a truth messages on the phone answering “It’s a never-ending story, all woven through the thoughts and stories from Janet’s perspective. machine. Her father could not this need, all the time, isn’t it?” Lest we think caregiving for aging parents is gentle and warm, filled fathom why people were not re- Caregiving may be overwhelm- with vignettes of wonderful memories, Janet shares the less-than- sponding to him, as he hollered ing, but it is transformative, re- perfect but very real experience of helping her parents through their at their messages. Equally mov- minding us life is meant to be dwindling years. ing was the twin sisters’ attempt lived interdependently. Unable to reconcile after 40 years of marriage, her parents led sep- to honour their mother’s devout arate lives in the city of Calgary. Together with her twin Judi, Janet faith though Janet quietly ques- and her other siblings did their best to be present and advocate for tions it numerous times. their parents. Numerous visits to the ER, learning to navigate the Janet’s honesty in working Sara Pot fractured provincial health care system, and coming to grips with the through her own emotions, as THE DWINDLING gaps in services related to either being too sick or too independent her relationship with her parents Sara, who typically has four Janet Dunnett or five books on the go at for the various elder care homes and facilities are just a few of the as daughter is layered with care- once, lives in St. Catharines, Journeys Press, 2017. Ont. with her husband, four realities shared. giver and advocate, is compel- daughters and their golden Yet Janet takes time to share some of the humour as well, such as ling. Through the mistakes made doodle.

MORE THINGS IN HEAVEN AND EARTH

Peter Schuurman

ESTHER ACOLATSE FRAMES THE PROBLEM WELL: a hermeneutical gap al and clinical means and at the at Knox College, Toronto. Some between the church in the global South and the modern church in the same time believe in the spirit new-Pentecostals may find it vin- West. The African church, with its animist cultural heritage and the and wonder world of the New dicating, but its really intended influence of divination found in African traditional religions, lives in Testament” (New Testament and for mainline leaders who have an enchanted world where the conflicts of angels and demons affect Mythology, 1984:4). Bultmann’s lost their imagination for the spirit the details of everyday life. Supernatural forces not only manipulate project was to demythologize the world and Biblical realism. It’s a the environment and social system, but also the enter into individual Bible, to subtract the mythology refreshing reminder that there are consciousness to wreak havoc and harm. While this seems close to the (fables) from it to make it credible more things in heaven and earth Biblical worldview, it can be too dualistic, distracting from Christ’s to his imagined modern audience, than are dreamt of in our (natural- victory at the cross and missing the joy of living in tune with the Holy so that only the essential truth of ist) philosophies. Spirit. It is an over-reading and over-emphasis of the spirit world as the message was left – often re- found in the New Testament. duced to political or psychologic- Peter Schuurman Acolatse describes the situation in the West as the opposite – a al powers and principalities Peter is Executive Director POWERS, PRINCIPALITIES AND church disenchanted by the modern turn to the rational as the real and This is a dense theologic- of Global Scholars Canada, and author of The Subver- THE SPIRIT: BIBLICAL REALISM the material as what matters. She takes Rudolf Bultmann as her prime al book written by an academ- sive Evangelical: The Ironic IN AFRICA AND THE WEST example, who famously wrote that “We cannot use electric lights and ic raised in Ghana, trained at Charisma of an Irreligious Esther Acolatse radios and, in the event of illness, avail ourselves of modern medic- Princeton and Harvard, and now Megachurch. Eerdmans, 2018. A MESSAGE OF HOPE

Sonya VanderVeen Feddema

NARRATED IN SWAHILI AND ENGLISH, this vividly illustrated chil- When Ngama’s father becomes This fire is for the future of our dren’s picture book set in Tanzania relates the story of Ngama, a boy aware of his son’s disobedience, country. And the future belongs too old to be considered a child and too young to be deemed a man. he feels both anger at Ngama and to the children.” One day a car arrives in Ngama’s village – a rare occurrence – and pride in his fortitude, a promising In Light a Candle, author God- he wonders who the visitor is. His father, the chief of their clan, tells quality for a future chief – for that frey Nkangolo has realized his him that the country’s leader visited the village to ask the clansmen to is what Ngama will become. passion to “show the world that climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa, and light a Ngama persists on the journey although the widely known story candle at the summit to mark Tanzania’s independence. and reaches the summit with the of Africa is one of despair, Africa Ngama insists on joining the men, but his father forbids it. Though others. Each man takes wood out also has a message of hope.” Ngama doesn’t argue, he follows his own plan. In the morning, of his pack for the fire. When all Sonya VanderVeen LIGHT A CANDLE Ngama’s father leads the men up the mountain. Ngama follows is ready, Ngama receives a sur- Feddema Godfrey Nkongolo and Eric Walters stealthily behind. Some men notice Ngama and are convinced he’ll prising honour. His father hands Sonya is a freelance writer Illustrated by Eva Campbell soon go home. After all, the climb is steep, it’s becoming difficult to him a lit torch to ignite the pile of living in St Catharines, Ont. Orca Book Publishers, 2019. breath, and it’s cold and uncomfortable sleeping on the ground. wood, and says, “This is for you.

@ChrCourier ChrCourier CHRISTIANCOURIER.CA | JANUARY 27, 2020 9 Features

a struggle for me as well as her to keep her alive. As I was trying to understand the reason for her desire to die, she said: “I’m on the verge of losing it and if I do, I’ll have to be hospitalized again and I’d rather kill myself than go to the hospital.” Then this highly intelligent, sophisticated, competent, professional woman told me about her previous experiences of being in the hospital. For her, being in a psychiatric hospital means being confused as you’re brought in, and being badgered with questions that make no sense to you by numerous professionals. It means being examined, poked, diagnosed, charted, catalogued, assigned to a place, being told what to do without explanation, being gowned, arm banded, drugged, and watched around the clock. It means that you lose your personal possessions, your privacy, and your human dignity. I said to her, “Hospital was like FEELINGS MATTER a prison to you, right?” She said: THE IMPORTANCE OF LISTENING Often the way people feel about “Yeah, and I’d rather die than what they are telling you is more suffer that indignity again.” Every important to them than what they hospital procedure she described How we can help support mental and emotional wellness. | Harry Van Belle are actually telling you. How they to me was familiar to me as a feel comes through in how they professional therapist. But her say what they say, and in their tone experience of them was quite IN HER EXCELLENT ARTICLE in CC young people with the skills listen, to respect and to understand of voice. They may tell you what different from mine. Listening Nov. 11, 2019, Amy MacLachlan they need to listen to friends and the other, but we don’t seem to happened in a choked-up voice, to her perspective and what she made us painfully aware of the family going through a tough time. know how to do listening. for example. The proper response had gone through – and trying to many ways in which professional Their tagline is, “Lending an ear The first important step in to their story may be: “It seems he understand how that influenced psychiatric care is failing people is lending a hand,” and I couldn’t learning to listen is to be quiet. I hurt you so deeply that you are still her current decisions – was an struggling with mental illness. It agree more. have a friend who has discovered upset about it now.” important part of active listening. often leaves individual sufferers People in distress have a the importance of listening. He You must also show that you with no choice but to fend for deep need to talk about their talks about it all the time; so are listening. You show interest OPENING UP themselves as best they can, or struggles and we can help them much so, that he doesn’t hear a by your body posture when Active listening can also require become overly dependent on the simply by listening. And while word of what anyone is saying. leaning slightly forward and self-disclosure. When the other help of friends and loved ones. This many people may be willing to Whether a person opens up maintaining eye contact. Eye tells of an experience that is situation leaves those close to them provide a listening ear, they may to you is also influenced by the contact is always needed when similar to yours, it sometimes feeling overwhelmed and under- feel inadequate when it comes kind of questions you ask. Open- you have a conversation, but pays to say, “I think I know what equipped. The problem is so severe to listening skills – particularly ended questions are an invitation staring at people makes them you are saying. Is it like this. . .?” that we can speak of a mental when listening to people who may to talk; closed questions turn a uncomfortable. The best posture The response is often, “You too? health crisis. If nothing else, the be suffering deeply. After years conversation into an interrogation. is not to look at your discussion I thought I was the only one who current epidemic of youth suicides of leading workshops in active Closed questions are okay when partner directly but to allow them felt that way!” (according to the Government listening, I’ve gathered a handful you want to collect a lot of to look into your eyes. In any A caveat: Use it sparingly. The of Canada, suicide is the second- of instructions that I’m hoping facts about a person in a hurry, case, you should listen with your purpose of listening is not to talk leading cause of death for people prove helpful to those who want but not when you want to have body as well as your mind. about yourself. ages 15 to 24) ought to convince to improve their listening skills, a conversation. Open-ended Relax! Don’t be too anxious One component of listening is us that more needs to be done. and to give those struggling the questions like, “Tell me a little about your performance. Let the responding to what is being said The question is therefore listening ear they so desperately about yourself” give the speaker conversation happen. Don’t be in such a way that you encourage urgent whether ordinary, non- want and need. the freedom to say as little or as checking yourself all the time. the speaker to go on, giving a nod, professional people can do much as they want. Your job is to attend to the other. saying, “mmm hmm,” or “I hear anything to help individuals in A LISTENING ATTITUDE One of the quickest ways to Empathy is good. As you listen you” at regular intervals, or some emotional distress. As my many To be a good listener you must, kill a conversation is by making to the other, ask yourself: what other encouraging, friendly gesture. years as a trauma counsellor have first, adopt a listening attitude. In judgmental comments. So, does it feel like to be her? Try Paraphrasing what is said shown me, I believe there is. the long run you cannot pretend avoid evaluative or judgmental to walk in her shoes. Attempt to serves the same function. You Ireland’s Health Service to be listening. Active listening statements. You are not asked to understand what is being said can say, “So, if I get what you are Executive recently partnered is, first of all, wanting to hear debate but to listen. Listening from the inside out rather than saying you are telling me that. . .?” with a local organization called, what the other has to say. is trying to understand what is from the outside in. You can also paraphrase an Spun Out to create the Listening But listening is also a matter being said without necessarily One of my clients many years expression of feeling by saying is Helping campaign. It equips of skill. Sometimes we want to agreeing or disagreeing. ago was highly suicidal and it was something like, “Stuff like that

10 JANUARY 27, 2020 | CHRISTIAN COURIER Features really gets to you, eh? It makes end of your summary. This means someone to ask, “How are you can be repeated at the start of training by participating in an you see red!” that you are asking rather than doing?” And to genuinely care your next conversation. Then active listening workshop. But One of the best ways of stating, and it shows that you about the response. at the beginning of that second the point of this article is to show responding is summarizing what expect to be corrected. Mental Health First Aid USA conversation you can say, “Well, that simply by listening well, we is being said in fresh words. From People who are willing puts it this way: “Most people as I remember it the last time we can indeed do something to help time to time, after large segments to listen may be hesitant or experiencing distressing emotions discussed. . .Where do you want people in emotional distress. of the conversation, you may anxious to approach someone and thoughts want an empathetic to go with that this time around?” Harry Van Belle say something like, “Let me see who is going through a crisis listener before being offered Taking notes of the conversation if I follow you, are you saying. . or difficulty, thinking, “But I helpful options and resources.” serves the same purpose. Harry is emeritus .?” or “Do I hear you correctly, don’t know what to say! I don’t It helps the speaker, and you, These are just some suggestions professor of clinical is this what you are saying?” know how to help. I don’t have the listener, at the end of the that you can practise the next psychology at the Kings University in Edmonton Keep your statements evocative, any answers.” Actually, what conversation to summarize the time you are asked to listen. Of and a life-long therapist for example, in question form, hurting people (and, really, all essence of what has been said. An course to become a really good specializing in trauma making your voice go up at the people) want is to be heard; for advantage is that this summary listener you may need some counselling.

INDWELL’S ‘KNOWABLE’ COMMUNITIES

INDWELL IS DEDICATED TO HELPING PEOPLE in Ontario with disabilities – in- cluding those with mental health diagnoses and/or addictions – by creating af- fordable housing communities that promote, according to its mission statement, “health, wellness and belonging.” Their “knowable” communities are deliberate- ly small, with 40-60 apartments per building. The organization dates back to the 1970s, when a number of Christian Reformed (CRC) churches in the Hamilton area, under the visionary leadership of John and Siny Prinzen, began what was known then as Homestead. Harry Van Belle was one of its early Board members. Initially, Van Belle recalls, the Prinzens opened up a bedroom in their house to one young woman who needed a place to live. They soon realized the great need for support for adults dealing with mental health issues, so a group of churches bought a house in downtown Hamilton and offered it as a residence to seven people. “Residents were responsible for buying food and making meals, doing house- hold chores and regularly taking their medication. They were encouraged to cre- ate and follow a set of goals, geared toward eventually graduating into the wider community to live on their own. All of this happened under the in-house super- vision and support of a married couple called ‘house parents,’” Van Belle says. A tenant with Indwell. “The two-year program proved very successful. In-hospital care in the absence LOW-ENERGY INITIATIVES of aftercare tends to become a revolving door. By contrast, most Homestead res- Last month, Indwell won an Energy Conservation and Innovation Award from the idents successfully graduated from the program and began living on their own. city of Woodstock’s Chamber of Commerce for its development of low-energy It helped that members of the CRC churches in the area regularly interacted with and low-emissions buildings. As Cubitt explains, “We believe that our Christian the residents in a caring way and included them in their church communities.” calling to love our neighbours as ourselves includes environmental stewardship, so as developers and operators of multi-residential buildings, our everyday actions FAITH THAT MOVES MOUNTAINS impact creation long-term. In 2016 we made the decision to adopt Passive House In 1999, Homestead expanded into what today is known as Indwell, which one design principles – a standard that was developed in Europe 25 years ago – to help year later bought its first apartment building. According to Graham Cubitt, Di- us achieve very deep reductions in energy use and emissions compared to just rector of Projects and Development, Indwell’s success stems from a focus on constructing to basic building code standards.” relationships, in addition to social service connections. This model translates Through this experience, Indwell has become one of Canada’s leading developers into housing stability, lower use of emergency services, cost savings for govern- of low-energy and low-emissions buildings. The Woodstock Chamber of Commerce ments, and, most importantly, better quality of life for hundreds of people every highlighted a recent project designed to cut energy use by 70 percent and greenhouse year. Cubitt stresses that church support is still central to the services that Indwell gas emissions by 69 percent. “The award recognized Indwell for helping our tenants provides. and our communities take leadership in addressing environmental issues through Van Belle agrees. “When local churches sponsor or organize an initiative like adopting new approaches to building sustainable homes,” Cubitt says. Indwell, guided by a clear vision and a community committed to realizing it, Indwell currently supports about 600 people in 570 apartments. While the major- these projects can be practical examples of faith that moves mountains.” ity of the communities are still in Hamilton, Indwell also has programs in Wood- Christian Courier asked Jeff Neven, Indwell’s Executive Director, to describe stock, Simcoe and London, with building projects in development in these cities a project he’s excited about for 2020. as well as Mississauga. “While Indwell works with churches in many different ways,” Neven says, “our partnership with Hughson Street Baptist Church is unique. In a few short Angela Reitsma Bick months, Indwell will be opening 45 apartments above their new worship space Angela is Editor of Christian Courier. She lives in in the north end of Hamilton – the first time we’re creating supported affordable Newcastle, Ont., with her family. housing above a church. I’m really excited to seeing all the benefits this close relationship with a church will afford the people who will find a home there.”

@ChrCourier ChrCourier CHRISTIANCOURIER.CA | JANUARY 27, 2020 11 Woodland Towers in AURORA

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12 JANUARY 27, 2020 | CHRISTIAN COURIER @ChrCourier ChrCourier CHRISTIANCOURIER.CA | JANUARY 27, 2020 13 Columns

scouring the floor for spilled THE PULSE OF CREATION lunches, is a creature who looks back to Day Six with unfallen Curt Gesch | [email protected] interest. He revels in getting and giving attention, hardly Curt was helped to see his call to be a visitor through the work and sensing a handicap but seeing witness of the CRC/RCA Disability Concerns organization. human beings. For Mark Stephenson You: your hands, your voice, your smile or tears. You, your AS A FARMER WITH ONLY four CUT OFF love and concern are the pulse cows and a calf, I find that sitting Betsey and I just returned from a of creation, an incarnation of the in the tiny barn while they masti- Christmas Day visit to the nursing real stuff, void – if you’ll allow cate, belch and chew cud is some- home where we sang Christmas yourself to be revealed – of sham, thing that enables me to be aware of songs – lots of hymns and then the artifice and distance. many things: especially what might fluff (“Frosty”) as well. It struck My friend and rector of our be termed the pulse of creation. me that one of the biggest traged- the benefit of house sparrows and in nursing homes or shut-ins Anglican parish, Wilfred Alero, Some years ago, my full-time ies of living in a nursing home is chickadees) in their own homes? Not be- comes to the nursing home when dairy farmer neighbour was get- being cut off from the pulse of But they don’t get to regularly cause you can sing a song, while we are singing. He offers a ting his cows in for milking at creation. House plants abound. feel the wind at their backs; the read a Bible passage or bring blessing to all the residents when about 5:30 a.m. in mid-winter There are occasional meals on humid smells of decomposing lit- a card, although all of those we are finished singing at the when he noticed that the northern the Terrace, weather permitting. ter in the spring; the shadow of are important. You should visit end but mostly just sits with the lights had not simply “pulsed” but Some folks have good friends or raven’s wings or a raven’s mar- because contact with you (and residents. He calls this the Min- formed a dome, from the four cor- relatives who “take them out” for ble-in-a-tin-can rattling call. No your dog!) is direct, unmedi- istry of Presence. ners of the earth, as it were. I hap- a walk (a push in the wheelchair) cows belching in the barn or in ated contact with the creation Should you visit those unable pened to be awake and outdoors or by car to church or to McDon- the concentrated silence of the and – therefore – the Creator to travel about freely but con- one mile away and saw the same ald’s for coffee. There are some boreal forest. Instead there is the of all. You are not an image fined to buildings in one way thing. Later, we both somewhat garden boxes for flowers and a hum of fluorescent lights and the on television or a voice on the or another? How can you deny hesitantly mentioned that thoughts few tomatoes and in this nursing non-stop rattle of fans, air con- radio. You are Adam and you them your self, your presence about “second coming” flashed home (unlike many retirement ditioners or furnace fans. Clinks are visiting Eve. You are Sarah complete with breath and bone. through our minds. In retrospect, I homes, residents are allowed to from a distant kitchen, perhaps. visiting Abraham. Better yet: How can you deny them another think perhaps we experienced the hang a bird feeder outside the you are those three “men” visit- reminder of the Creator and Re- reality of the presence of our God window of their rooms, filled by YOU ARE ADAM ing Abram and Sarai. Rufus, deemer, with or without words already here. staff members occasionally for Why should you visit people your golden retriever, intent on or song? INCONVENIENT HOSPITALITY Bogotá might have very little in Danielle Steenwyk-Rowaan | [email protected] common with a Syrian refugee claimant from a farm outside Danielle lives in Hamilton, Ont., with her husband Dan, their German shepherd-kangaroo cross Roo, and their housemate Brad. Aleppo or with a South Sudanese claimant who has spent long peri- ods of their life in a refugee camp. I’M NOT NATURALLY VERY GOOD at hospitality. I like control, and be- Refugee claimants can come ing able to mostly expect what my day will bring. This is all well and from utter poverty or upper mid- good for throwing parties or having friends over for lunch, but biblical dle-class lifestyles, from cities hospitality is another thing entirely. or the countryside. They can be Think of Abraham, who threw out the red carpet for three visitors well-educated or have never at- who showed up unannounced at his tent one day, rushing to provide tended school in their lives. They them with some of the best of what he had. As it turns out, one of could have fled using a fake pass- those visitors was God himself, who came bearing a great promise port and faced immigration de- of the individuals that I know. to welcome Gentile believers into that would change the course of Abraham’s life. tention upon arrival, or come on And so I try to practice a radical the fledging Church, after all! No Or think of Peter, who accepted the hospitality of a Gentile centu- a student visa and then claimed openness to the full humanity of small request. rion, a soldier of the very people who were keeping Israel under tight protection from the persecution each refugee claimant I meet, and to What are the barriers in me to control and crucifying hundreds. It’s another key turning point in the that awaits them back home. They encourage our volunteers at Open be more welcoming or to receiv- biblical story – and the main character is receiving hospitality, not may arrive in Canada by plane Homes Hamilton to do the same. It ing the invitation of others? What providing it! (There’s another lesson there.) (the majority that I meet), by foot, is so easy to collapse this incredibly are the barriers I put up to seeing Biblical hospitality can be inconvenient; it crosses social barriers like by car or by boat (the minority). diverse group of people from all the full humanity of the other? race, class, religion and economic status. In welcoming or being wel- Refugee claimants have noth- walks of life, all over the world, into Do I assume that I will always be comed by the stranger, we open ourselves up for God to surprise us. ing in common except the experi- a few easy “types.” But this denies the giver of hospitality and never ence of fleeing for their lives. As their full humanity and uniqueness. the recipient? What does this say RADICAL OPENNESS soon as I think I have a handle on Like Peter’s dramatic change about who I believe that I am, and As you know, I work with refugee claimants, people who show up “what a refugee claimant looks of perspective towards Gentiles, who I believe “the stranger” is? unannounced at Canada’s doors needing protection. I am an enthu- like,” I meet someone who chal- both giving and receiving hos- We never know who might siastic defender of their right to claim protection, which is protected lenges that expectation. This may pitality also include some re-ar- show up needing protection; as by international law, not to mention by our Christian obligation to sound obvious, but it is tempting ranging of my heart. God asked Hebrews 13:2 and the Christmas welcome “the stranger.” to project a certain expertise or to Peter to reconsider his theology to story teach us, we may end up en- But it turns out that a Colombian refugee claimant from the city of read all refugees through the lens receive Cornelius’ invitation and tertaining angels!

14 JANUARY 27, 2020 | CHRISTIAN COURIER Columns

Quebec why they supported Bill A PROPHETIC MOMENT 21, I heard a rush of stories about how Roman Catholic priests came Kathy Vandergrift | [email protected] into their homes and ordered them or their mothers to have Kathy currently serves as a Vice-President for the Canadian Council of more children for the sake of the Churches. She lives in Ottawa. francophone church and state, re- membered with a visceral “never TO IMPROVE MY MENTAL HEALTH, I decided to stop reading stories again” passion many years later. about Christians and U.S. politics. High anxiety and loss of hope were There are other historical ex- affecting my work. I’m glad, however, that I couldn’t resist the Chris- amples as well. The question is tianity Today editorial just before Christmas. It was a bold call for whether we learn from history. evangelical Christians to end the un-questioning allegiance to Donald Now is an important cultural mo- Trump. Two things made this a prophetic moment and lifted my spirits. ment for North American Chris- First was its focus on the impact for the gospel message, not for U.S. tians to stand up and be counted politics: “Consider how your justification of Mr. Trump influences your gelicalism with this presidency government in the U.S. The Quiet by explicitly rejecting and tak- witness to your Lord and Savior. Consider what an unbelieving world has wrought enormous damage to Revolution in 1960’s Quebec was ing distance from the practice will say if you continue to brush off Mr. Trump’s immoral words and Christian witness.” The table was a reaction to the oppressive fusion of Christian nationalism, south behavior in the cause of political expediency. If we don’t reverse course inviting contributions from Chris- of the Roman Catholic Church and north of the border. The now, will anyone take anything we say about justice and righteousness tians across the political spectrum with the Duplessis Regime. The Reformed branch of Christian- with any seriousness for decades to come?” (Mark Galli, Christianity for on-going discussion. It is more collusion of church and state in ity has a contribution to make Today, Dec.19, 2019). than a one-shot opinion piece. that oppressive period in Quebec to the discussion, but it will re- That gives me hope. history is still a deep cause of the quire a more robust strategy of SOUL SEARCHING resurgence of the Bloc and Bill- engagement than I have seen in Second was the decision by Christianity Today to raise a flag of warn- CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM 21 which restricts public religious Christian Reformed circles in ing and set a table for soul-searching dialogue among Christians about On the Canadian side, we know expression in Quebec. Churches 2019. Dare I hope that I may be our gospel witness in the current context. Thoughtful dialogue has been and still live with the impacts of also continue to pay a heavy price less embarrassed to be labeled a in short supply in the highly polarized context in both the U.S. and another case of Christian nation- as Quebec went from a highly re- Christian in the public square in Canada. The flag was a statement by board chair Timothy Dalrymple alism, the term used to describe ligious society to the most secular 2020? That would improve my that repeated Galli’s main judgment: “Out of love for Jesus and his the current fusion of evangelical province as a result. When I asked mental health more than with- church . . . we feel compelled to say that the alliance of American evan- Christian identity with the current some thoughtful women from drawal from the field.

TIPPING POINTS AND GRANDCHILDREN is more open water, leading to and Russia are also accelerating more sunlight absorption, which the changes we are seeing. And Rudy Eikelboom | [email protected] in the system elicits a second- further increases the temper- at my university, researchers are ary change that offsets the first ature, leading to further ice loss. documenting how Arctic perma- Rudy, who has five wonderful grandchildren, is a pastoral elder at Waterloo CRC and a professor in the Psychology Department at Wilfrid change, resulting in an overall It is now likely that the Arc- frost in our north is thawing at an Laurier University. stable set of conditions. For ex- tic Sea will become ice free in alarming rate, unfortunately re- ample, the circulation of warm the summer; this process may leasing more greenhouse gases. AS WE START A NEW DECADE, the 2020s, I find myself reflecting on and cold water in the Northern be one reason why the north is All these changes combine to in- the earth I will leave my grandchildren. In particular, I am contemplat- Atlantic brings warm water to warming faster than other parts crease the rate of climate change. ing our climate. Many scientists are concerned that current changes in the Northern European coast of the world. I have grandchildren who, un- climate are approaching tipping points. Tipping points are moments in and returns deeper, colder water less our Lord returns, will inher- processes when a change becomes self-reinforcing; after the tipping to the tropics. This circulation RISKS AND SIGNS it the world we leave them. I am point, the process accelerates and becomes unstoppable. If we are in- maintains a warmer Europe and What makes this heating in ashamed at what is happening deed approaching or even crossing a tipping point in climate-related stabilizes the climate across large the Arctic a concern is that ice to the planet our Lord gave us events, then changes that result may be irreversible. areas, moving heat away from the packs and glaciers on Green- to hold in stewardship. Perhaps Many things that control our biosphere are mediated by feedback tropics and bringing colder water land also seem to be melting it is time to consider how we loops that act to stabilize the environment. A change at one point into that area. faster. The melting of sea ice might make sacrifices like those Other systems seem to be has no effect on sea levels (the many of our grandparents made controlled by positive feedback weight of the ice floating on during the world wars a century loops: a change in one aspect water is already included in the ago. Rationing, going to fight leads to a consequence that sea level) but the ice packs on overseas, buying Victory Bonds, makes the change larger, and Greenland and in the Antarctic and in Europe hiding Jews were the situation intensifies. One are on land. If they melt faster individual and community de- instance may be sea ice cover than the amount of snow add- cisions that sometimes had im- in Arctic waters. Ice and snow ed each winter, the water that mense costs but were necessary are white and thus reflect much flows from them will increase because our faith demanded sunlight back up away from the sea levels. Even a small rise in them of us to live justly. Today earth, preventing it from warm- sea levels will put many coun- we need to ask our leaders and ing the surface. Open water is tries at risk of flooding and loss pray for policies that will clearly darker and so absorbs more of of land. address the environmental need the light and its heat. For a long At this point, it is not clear how and then fairly share the cost of time, the chronic surface ice in fast the changes we are seeing in the sacrifice across our country. the Arctic Sea has kept temper- the Arctic are happening, but the Our children and grandchildren atures down. Currently, because signs are not encouraging. In- should not bear the burden of of the warming climate, there creased fires in northern Canada our unfaithfulness.

@ChrCourier ChrCourier CHRISTIANCOURIER.CA | JANUARY 27, 2020 15 Features

RAK OR PAK? “. . . With everlasting kindness, I will have compassion on you,” Bob Bruinsma | [email protected] says the Lord your Redeemer (Is. 54:8b NIV). Bob is a retired professor of language arts living in Edmonton. He has a wife, three children and three grandsons. DAILY LOVE IN ACTION Last time I checked, the Scrip- APPARENTLY, I MISSED TWO VERY IMPORTANT DAYS this past November. tures seemed to enjoin us to en- First, I missed World Kindness Day on November 13, and, a little later, gage in exactly the opposite of the even more important Random Acts of Kindness Day, November 29. random acts of kindness, which Wikipedia tells me that Random Acts of Kindness Day (RAK Day) I take to be purposeful acts of was first created in Denver Colorado in 1995, but it achieved real trac- kindness (PAK). Other words for tion in New Zealand in 2004 and has since spread to many other parts purposeful are orderly, thought- of the world. In order not to miss out on this important day in 2020, ful, regular, systematic and the I am hereby giving you important advance notice that RAK Day will like. Where the NIV of the Bible be celebrated in North America this coming Sunday, February 17. On uses the word kindness, as in the that day, you are encouraged to engage in random kindness, for no above quoted verse from Isaiah, apparent reason at all. the NRSV uses the word love. My dictionary defines random as lacking a definite plan, purpose or One could say that kindness is was nothing random about Je- in which we pursue Random Acts pattern; made, done, happening or chosen without method or conscious love in action. In I Corinthians sus’ love for those with whom he of Kindness (RAK) with regular decision. My thesaurus provides synonyms for random such as irregu- 13, the Apostle Paul tells us that came in contact. It’s clear to me (daily, weekly, monthly and year- lar, sporadic, unintentional, directionless, purposeless. So we have one the most excellent of all the gifts that we, his followers, are simi- ly) Purposeful Acts of Kindness month to plan our “unpredictable” acts of kindness for February 17. of the spirit is love. God’s un- larly required to show our inten- (PAK) instead. That would be a Later in the year, when World Kindness Day rolls around on November failing love for us is expressed in tional, daily kindness to all those thoughtful and systematic way to 13, we can engage in completely directionless acts of kindness in some sending Jesus to us as the prime whom God places in our lives. make a meaningful difference in sort of universal solidarity of purposelessness. Does this strike you as a example of never-ending and in- Here is my proposal: Let’s ex- the world. Choose PAK instead sort of craziness? Me too. tentional love in action. There change the occasional day or two of RAK!

SHEPHERD LEADERSHIP tails. Temples were meant to reflect creational order and restored rela- tionships, fundamentally with God. Tom Wolthuis | [email protected] Ezekiel sees God returning to live Tom is a minister in the Christian Reformed Church and the Director of with his people and restoring life Geneva Campus Ministry at the University of Iowa. (Ez. 43:1-9). From the presence of God flows an expanding river of life (Ez. WE HEAD INTO THE NEW YEAR WITH CONTINUING political chaos in 47:1-12). It starts small, but it the U.S., Canada, the UK and the world. At the close of the year in the grows deeper and wider. “Swarms Christmas season we sang “King of kings and Lord of lords.” We heard of living creatures will live wher- the song of Mary expecting a revolution to “bring down rulers from their ever the river flows. There will thrones” (Luke 1:52a). The season of Epiphany follows Magi, repre- be large numbers of fish, because sentatives of kings, coming to worship a new king, who is anointed the this water flows there and makes royal Son of God in his baptism. How does his kingship address today? the salt water fresh; so where the Ever since Israel lost its kingship with the Babylonian captivity, the river flows everything will live. . . people longed for a new king. The Psalms sang of the old kings with . Fruit trees of all kinds will grow the hope of a coming one. The prophets more and more turned from on both banks of the river. Their the present political chaos to envision true godly leadership. leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. . . . Their fruit will EZEKIEL serve for food and their leaves for In the chaos, Ezekiel sees a future hope. He hears the words of the Great healing” (Ez. 47:9, 12). Shepherd, “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; proph- esy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to ENVISIONING THE KING you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not The visions of Ezekiel are to help shepherds take care of the flock? . . . For this is what the Sovereign us see the Kingdom through the LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them . . . I chaos. They help us see what the will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend King has brought us – a good them; he will tend them and be their shepherd” (Ez. 34:2, 11, 23, NIV). shepherd, a spiritually changed Ezekiel hears not only of a change of leadership but a change of heart, a new living body, victory the temple presence of God into the 1:53-54a). We, as followers of this heart. “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will over evil, renewed experience of chaotic wilderness with the fresh King, seek to be rich in mercy. remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh” the presence of God, and the be- water of life to produce nourishing We give refreshment to the weary, (Ez. 36:26, NIV). Ezekiel sees this new spirit revive the bones of a ginnings of the river of life. fruit and bear healing leaves. food to the hungry and shade to dead nation and reunite them into a living body. This new people with This calls us to a different vision Mary sang, “He has filled the the exposed. Shepherd leadership. God will defeat the forces of evil and violence (Ez. 38-39). of leadership, following new pic- hungry with good things. . . . He “King of kings and Lord of lords. Ezekiel’s visions culminate in the sight of the new temple. Because we tures of the Shepherd King in our has helped his servant Israel, re- And he shall reign forever and ever. do not live in a temple culture, we have a hard time relating to all the de- lives. With this vision we flow from membering to be merciful” (Luke Forever. And ever. Hallelujah!”

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The business directory ads are 2.4068 by 1.6708 inches - can that be simplified? Will send individually and also greyscale ones in proper .pdfs when I know these are ok. They are currently for the second issue of the month but can put 4 in one issue and 4 in another or so when there are two issues in the month. Classi eds

BIRTHDAY OBITUARY PASMA, Alice SCHAT, Alice Beimers With praise and thanksgiving, together with March 14, 1923 – January 4, 2020 her children, grandchil- dren and great-grand- It is with profound sadness but with gratitude for her long and children, Alice Pasma rich life that we announce the passing on of our beloved matri- will celebrate 100 years arch, Alice (Aafke) Schat, née Beimers, peacefully at Shalom of God’s faithful provi- Manor Long Term Care in Grimsby, Onario. sion on Feb. 12, 2020. Mom is now home and safe in the arms of her beloved Sav- We thank God for her iour. She lived her long life with determination, kindness and life, love and the model love of family. Her strong faith in God helped her survive the of faith she has been to deprivation caused by the Great Depression, the horrors of us all. WWII and the challenges of immigrating to a new country. She worked hard all of her long life with her loving husband An Open House will be held on Saturday, Donald (Douwe) Schat (1920-1990) by her side. Feb. 15, 2020, 11:00 - 3:00 p.m. at Bethel CRC, 716 Classic Drive, London, Ont. She will be forever missed by her children: Fred Schat (Barb) (Hennie-deceased 2014), Richard Schat (Beth), Helen Van Dyk (Bill), Karin Terado (Jun) and Ann Guillen (Al). She was a wise and cherished grandmother and storyteller to Sean, Lara, Aaron, Jonathan, VACATION Adam, Stacey Paul, Danielle, Christopher, Alexander, Beth and Steph and a loving great- grandmother to 21 great-grandchildren. She is survived by three brothers, Krijn Beimers, HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION Joop Beimers and Wiebe Beimers, all of the Netherlands. IN HOLLAND Mom’s greatest gift to her family, her friends and all those who loved her was sharing her with vehicle rentals and tours. deep and abiding faith in her Lord Jesus Christ. chestnutlane.nl A celebration of her life was held on January 9, 2020 at Mountainview Church, 290 Main St East, Grimsby, Ont. It was Mom’s wish that in lieu of fl owers, donations be made to the Hope CLASSIFIEDS and Healing International Organization or the charity of your choice. Submit ads online at christiancourier.ca or email classifi [email protected]. Any correspondence can be directed to: Fred Schat Next issue dates: February 10, 24 109 - 10 Isherwood Avenue Cambridge ON N1R 8L8 Deadlines are 14 days before the issue dates. HOME CARE WORKER PASTOR

Senior gentleman living in the Bowmanville, Mountainview Christian Reformed Church CALVIN INSTITUTE OF CHRISTIAN WORSHIP Ont., area is looking for quiet, friendly indi- in Grimsby Ont., Canada, has an opening WORSHIP.CALVIN.EDU vidual to provide live-in home care. for a full-time Pastor. This position requires aid with meal prep, Our Search Committee is eagerly searching light house keeping, minimal personal care, for a CRC (or RCA) Pastor with 5+ years NEW BILINGUAL HYMNAL and transportation. Knowledge of diabetes of Pastoral experience. We invite you to an asset but not required. explore with us if God is calling you to our This live-in arrangement off ers a clean, pri- congregation. vate living space, meals and fi nancial com- To learn more, or to request a copy of our pensation. Church Profi le, please contact our Commit- For inquires call Carol at 905-809-1596. tee Secretary, Karen Antonides at searchc- [email protected] or 905-945- You can view recently run job ads on our 0004 x200. website: christiancourier.ca and click the All inquiries are held in strictest confi dence. Classifi ed link. CAMPUS MINISTER PALESTINE / ISRAEL A Christian Response The Christian Reformed Campus Ministry at UNBC (Prince George, B.C.) is seeking Ineke Medcalf is a applications for the position of Campus former Ecumenical Minister to begin in July 2020. Accompanier who worked in the South The Board will work with the successful Santo, Santo, Santo / Holy, Holy, Holy equips Spanish-speaking and Eng- Hebron Hills of the applicant to explore a variety of models of lish-speaking Christians to sing together in congregations and parishes, occupied Palestinian campus ministry, and includes serving as territories. the Coordinator for the Interfaith Chap- seminaries and schools, care facilities and homes, off ering communities a laincy Association at UNBC. comprehensive collection of songs that span the full range of worship ele- She speaks to churches and groups and works with Jews, Muslims and Christians Interested applicants may contact Charlotte ments, occasions, and pastoral and theological themes. to bring about justice in the region. Groot by email unbcchaplaincy@gmail. (GIA Publications, Inc.) com for a full job description or request a For more information or to book Ineke phone call back. email [email protected] or phone 905-937-3314. Application deadline is Feb 15, 2020.

@ChrCourier ChrCourier CHRISTIANCOURIER.CA | JANUARY 27, 2020 19 News

sorrows could be an act of faith and I hope that still. I hope that attention something sad and even dangerous LIGHTING CANDLES IN can deepen into meaningful action and that we can meet the needs of the that Koala Blue faces in that dark weary world through our work together as the church. In the face of the place, but he likes how the friends SMOKY TIMES world’s griefs, again and again, we reach for hope. are all there, waiting, and how the poem says that she could hear their Katie Munnik SOLIDARITY voices as they talked together. An Australian friend recently posted a photograph on social media of her tabletop decorated with a white cloth and four small candle holders, GENTLE STEWARDSHIP each marked with a letter, spelling out the word HOPE. Sarah Agnew is I’m glad this is what he values. a minister with the Uniting Church in Australia and her photograph felt Our world needs more of this kind to me like a pull back into the season of advent as well as a call towards of hopeful solidarity and gentle the new year. Previously, she’d been posting about Australia’s fires and stewardship of our neighbours, the dangerously smoky air that filled her neighbourhood, so this image ourselves and the world around us. of hope’s candles was poignant and tense. Four burning lights offered in We need to be more attentive and a smoke-darkened time become a strange solidarity with those who fight notice when we ask – or take – too the flames. much. We need to learn new and As well as being a minister, Sarah is a poet who writes about flickering better ways to treat each other well. hope and sacred encounters, and in 2017, she published Blue, Koala? We need space where we can listen an illustrated story about living with depression and finding companion- and wait. We need to scale back ship through hard times. The central character is Koala Blue, who hides our own hunger and learn to adopt herself away in a cave and, over the course of the story, her friends learn simpler ways of living. We need to Gregory Fire, Queensland, Australia. how to wait with her, offering her gentleness rather than solutions while offer and rely on the comfort of the she learns again to look for hope. The story is told in verse and moving- gathered community. A NEW YEAR AND THE SAME OLD ACHES. The headlines change, and ly illustrated by Grace Mitchell, touching a wide and varied audience. Letter by letter, this is how we the photographs are different, but we still watch and worry, adding the It’s the sort of book that is wise enough to speak to children as well as spell out hope. names of far-off places to our church prayer lists. This year began with adults. I imagine finding it on a coffee table in a university chaplaincy Australia’s massive bush fires. How do we answer? With prayer? Grief? office or on a library shelf in a quiet church, places where it might be read Katie Munnik Action? Donations? As with news of any disaster, it can be hard to know by someone who needs its message of gentle, patient compassion. My Katie is a Canadian writer liv- where to start. own family’s copy is often found under our youngest’s bed where he can ing in Cardiff, Wales with her In October, I wrote in my column about trying to find a faithful re- reach it without getting up. He tells me the best part is the picture of the family, and the author of The sponse to the world’s hard news. I hoped that grappling with the world’s friends waiting together, looking down into the hole. He knows there is Heart Beats in Secret.

ized clickbait. But thanks to your THANK YOU! continued support, Christian A TOTAL OF $36,000 Courier is firmly anchored some- CC’s 2019 fundraising campaign surpasses $25,000 where deeper. Together, we’re WAS RAISED! asking questions that others ig- goal! | Meghan Kort nore, we’re offering hope instead of sensationalism and we’re tak- ing the time to actually read and AS THE WINTER ICE SETS IN OUTSIDE OUR WINDOWS, your letters and learn while others are scrolling donations have warmed our waters. Thanks to your joyful willingness on by. to dive into the DEEP. CURRENT. of independent Christian journal- While many publications have ism, we have reached and exceeded our 2019 year-end fundraising been forced to cut down or cease goal! print production, we find our- When we started this campaign last fall, we chose the image of a selves adding pages! As you may determined yellow boat diverging from the fleet as a symbol of our have noticed, the last three issues hope-filled journalism ministry. But in these frostier months, Isee of 2019 had 24 instead of our CAMPAIGN a different image. When I walk by the mostly frozen river near my usual 20 pages. What a blessing! house, I’m reminded of the life-giving power of a DEEP. CURRENT. Your subscription and support COMMENTS While the cracked and icy surface looks quite uninhabitable, beneath are a persistent partnership in this FROM CC that layer, the fish are still thriving, the light still penetrating, the sea- life-giving DEEP. CURRENT. weed still green and growing. Thank you for taking the polar READERS: In the world of journalism, the DEEP. CURRENT. may go unno- dip with us into another year of ticed at times. The world skates about on the surface, chasing produc- faithful ministry! • “Keep up the great work!” tivity and profits. Our screens are filled with icy veneers and crystal- • “We need Christians speak- ing out now more than ever!” • “I don’t always agree with the contents of CC (I more often disagree!) but we think it’s important that there is a viable Christian publication in Canada.” • “Thanks for all your ongoing amazing work!”

20 JANUARY 27, 2020 | CHRISTIAN COURIER