2/15/10 - Reflections on Valentine's Day
As Valentine's Day 2010 approached, my thoughts went to previous Valentine's Days. How different days or holidays can be a year apart. Let me share of two very different Valentine's Days, 2003 and 2004.
In 2003, I was blessed to attend a regional Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Windwalkers International conference during the Valentine's Day weekend. I became aware of Windwalkers International and its leader, Mary Glazier, a precious sister in Christ, over Labor Day weekend 1998 at the Rapid City, SD WCGIP (World Christian Gathering of Indigenous Peoples) gathering. Since I had had difficulty attending her gatherings in Anchorage, AK during the summer because of audit preparation at that time at work, I decided to fly to Edmonton that wintry Feb. weekend.
I arrived early that Feb. 13 to get situated at my youth hostel before going to that night's meeting. The hospitality and helpfulness of Canadians that we've heard about became real that weekend. The staff at the youth hostel were so helpful to help me navigate the local bus system. While Mary recognized me for journeying from the US, another meaning event during that powerful night was a simple act of Canadian hospitality. A Canadian lady who attended that evening offered me a ride when she saw me waiting for my bus back to my youth hostel. I had felt so welcomed by the Canadians that evening, and this simple act was icing on the cake.
God poured out His Love that Valentine's Day through the messages of Mary and her guest speakers from the US. They spoke of the Love He had for us, little insignificant spots in the vastness of the cosmos, but yet He longed for us. While the Edmonton temperatures plunged outside, the warmth of the Holy Spirit wrapped us inside and roared like a blazing log on the hearth of God's Heart throughout that day. It was one of the most special Valentine's Days I had ever spent, my first outside the US, my first in Canada.
Fast forward to Valentine's Day 2004. I had become involved with a ministry at that time called ISI (International Students, Inc.) that helped visiting scholars with their English. The visiting scholars were primarily Mainland Chinese who already had their Ph.D. and were doing research at UC-Berkeley. In the natural, David Lin, one of the founders, and I could have been very disappointed. Two weeks prior we had had many volunteers and visiting scholars. That Valentine's Day it was just David and me with two Chinese visiting scholars, two ladies. However, just having two students turned out to be to our advantage. The Holy Spirit was present in a powerful way drawing them to the Father through His Son. They had so many questions, and David and I were able to share portions of our individual testimonies. I was so moved by how the Holy Spirit was moving during that morning that it was hard to contain tears.
Two very different Valentine's Days but reflecting on my Associate Pastor's 2/14/10 message, "Take A Chance On Love", as we realize His great love for us individually, we can minister that to others. As great lovers, we listen and adjust what we share. We relay the love of God by listening. As great lovers, we learn and adopt. As great lovers, we lead and advance. For love to lead us, it has to be solid.
After enjoying, understanding and laughing with Chinese at a Hong Kong movie, a comedy called "72 Tenants of Prosperity", a tradition that is part of the Chinese New Year, Valentine's Day 2010 was capped off by a Celebrate Recovery meeting in the evening. It was so powerful to hear one of the participants share how their destructive addiction was slowed in its tracks by the Presence of God coming on the scene at just the right time.
Hopefully these Valentine's Day memories will be a blessing to you. Feel free to post your comments about how God touched you.
