Where are you from?

This is a question that I get asked quite a bit, especially when I'm meeting new people as a cadet. It's a pretty straight forward question that is asking for a pretty straight forward answer, but I never feel like the answer is quite as easy as it should be.

In the past, I've usually responded with whichever city I'm living in at the time, but now people generally are looking to find out where I'm originally from. They often know that I live in Winnipeg, but they also realize that I'm just here for school and that this isn't my hometown.

So, I search for another answer. I could go with Edmonton, the city that I last lived in before coming to Winnipeg, but it doesn't quite feel right. I lived there for a little over two years, but it never quite became 'home.'

Then there are the other places I've lived: Peace River, Lake Munmorah, Calgary, Ottawa, Hamilton, Mississauga and Listowel (working my ways from most recent to when I was born). All of these have been home for a time, but it's hard to pick one to 'be from.'

I probably make it more complicated than it is, but in a lot of ways where a person is from is part of their identity, so it isn't easy to let the question go.

Often I come back to the little town in Ontario where I was born: Listowel. I was only three and half years old when we left to move to Mississauga, but this community has become very important to me, especially I've grown into my twenties.

This semester I've been working on a research paper for one of my courses, History of The Salvation Army. I was given the opportunity to select the topic for my paper, so I decided to write about the history of the Army in Listowel. It wasn't an easy project, since I am a little removed from the location and don't have overly strong ties to the town. There is very little academic work about the town, and I couldn't find anything written about the corps there, so I was left to explore primary sources, such as newspaper articles (actually, almost entirely newspaper articles).

I contacted the local archives which, for a small fee, sent me quite a bit of information. By referencing more general materials about the Army in Canada and religion in Ontario I was able to build an eight page paper.

I had a great time reading about the history of Listowel, the Army and learning a bit about a piece of my heritage. When I finished the paper on Wednesday I was glad to have the paper (which is worth 40% of my course mark) done, but I was also a bit disappointed that my task was complete.

I think this is something that I might have to continue to pursue down the road as a personal interest...

Acts 29

Over the past 4 Sundays, Edmonton Temple has been privileged to have three distinguished guest speakers visiting. The first was Dr. Ron Powell, a local youth ministry instructor. He came to us to speak specifically to the problem of bullying that faces so many people in our society, both children and adults. Second was Dr. Don Burke, President of Booth University College. And today we were blessed by the teaching of Dr. Paul Magnus, who is a member of the faculty at Briercrest College and Seminary.

Dr. Magnus challenged us to be a church of Irresistible Influence. I would invite you to listen to his challenge online.

Another brief conversation that I found interesting today came just before the Sunday morning service. Last Sunday I was presented with my Candidate pin, indicating that I have been granted acceptance to enter into the College for Officer Training, which I wear on my uniform. While I was in the church office waiting for something I needed for the service one of the other members of the church commented on the significant level of commitment that this little pin indicates.

This person made the comment that they believe that people's desire to avoid making commitments is a serious problem in our society. I would have to agree that there is a general tendency by people to avoid long-term commitments.

As a high school student I was told by educators that, statistically speaking, I would likely hold not only multiple jobs but would most probably change careers several times. People just don't stay with the same employers for 40 or more years very often any more.

In my previous position with The Salvation Army I attended a couple of volunteer management seminars and workshops. During each of these, as part of the teaching given on attracting volunteers, we were told that volunteers are often not looking for ongoing opportunities, but rather prefer to commit to one-time events.

As I listened to Dr. Magnus' challenge to be a church of irresistible influence, I wondered how much more significant and effective our witness would be if our level of commitment to the faith we claim wasn't hindered by the evasion of commitment that is so common in our society.

I sincerely believe that God has a calling for each person's life. I know full well that not all are called to vocational ministry such as Salvation Army Officership, but God does still call some to this lifestyle. It can be a difficult thing to commit to, but I am confident that God equips those who are willing to surrender to this calling. I know for myself that part of this equipping has been a change of attitude. I was extremely resistant to my own calling to Officership, but since I decided that I wanted the best that Christ had in store for my life God has given me a new enthusiasm for the life that lies ahead of me.

While commitment is something that we resist, it seems obvious to me that those things that require of us the greatest level of commitment are the things that provide the greatest return on our investment.