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Hi everyone! I hope you’re having an enjoyable, sunny week. 

Mine has been somewhat mixed. The sunshine is wonderful, for sure. And Diane and I enjoyed a few days of rest this past week, which was refreshing. At the same time, lately I’ve been to the hospital more often than usual, and hospitals aren’t fun places.

Walking the halls at Lions Gate Hospital, some old memories have flashed up on my radar. There was a time as a young person when I thought seriously about pursuing a career in medicine. I had good grades, steady hands, and I handled pressure well. In those days, I functioned OK even when I didn’t get enough sleep. Also, a number of family crises and losses created a strong sense of motivation to make a difference. All those things pointed me toward becoming a doctor, perhaps a surgeon, or a medical researcher. It seemed like it would be a good fit, and it would be a way to invest my life in doing good.

Well, God had other plans, as you all know. Before I had a chance to explore too far down that path, the Lord did a number of things in my life that challenged me to take my walk with Him more seriously. (There was a car accident, a week at camp, some new relationships, and other things that I won’t go into now. You can imagine, no doubt, as most of you have your own versions of the story.)  In the process, I also began to sense that my calling was to be in some form of full-time “ministry”—a sense that became increasingly strong, ultimately leading me on a different education and career track. The rest is history.

People sometimes ask what a “call to ministry” is like. What kinds of things happen, and what ideas go through someone’s head when it begins to form? My own sense of call involved a variety of things, but one in particular has been on my mind these days. For me, the shift away from medicine into ministry was partly a kind of equation, or cost-benefit analysis. I found myself asking: what could I do that would make the biggest, most significant difference? I have one life to live—4 or 5 or maybe 6 decades (I was in my teens at the time) to spend. What would be the most profitable place to invest those years?

The answer that kept coming to me was something like this:  if I spend my life helping people to live a little longer and a little healthier, but if those people have no reason for a hope beyond this immediate physical life, how much have I really helped them? In the end, they’re no further ahead. On the other hand, if there really is life beyond death, that changes everything in our lives, whether long or short. And if that life is found in Jesus, then nothing could be more important than serving Him. So … it seems obvious which investment brings more bang for my buck.

Jesus said it better of course. His comment: “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world [with a long and healthy life as well], yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?”  (Matthew 16:26; Mark 8:36-37)   By implication: what could be better than to invest in people’s souls?

So lately, as I’ve walked through hospital corridors, I’ve found myself reflecting. Once I expected to do this wearing a doctor’s scrubs and stethoscope. Instead, I come as a pastor, seeking to be a voice of faith and hope and a glimpse of eternal life. I’m not much of a source of hope myself, of course, but I represent One who is the very definition of hope, who died and rose for us in order to make our lives utterly different. I don’t love hospitals. I hate the pain that almost always comes with hospital visits. But I’m so glad Jesus shines His light into every dark place, including hospital wards. It’s a huge privilege to serve Him and to share His message—on the ward, in church, and everywhere else we go.

We’re not all called into pastoral ministry. But all of us who know Jesus are invited to play a part in sharing the hope and life He brings. I pray that our whole church community will grow in our ability to do that and to find joy in the process.

On that note, many of you will have heard by now that our Lord took Howard Meakin home to be with Himself earlier this week. We’ll all miss Howard terribly, though the loss is far-and-away most profound for Kathy and her family. Please be in prayer for the Meakins, that God will uphold them through this dark and difficult time, and that they will be encouraged with glimpses of the eternal and unfailing hope that Jesus brings. I know our church community will enfold Kathy in the arms of love and care. Thank you all in advance for your ministry to her.

And thank you so much, Lord Jesus, for Your gift of forgiveness, hope, and resurrection life for us all. What a mess we’d be in without you!

Richest blessings, grace, and peace to you all this week.

Pastor Ken