One man's junk is another man's treasure

For those of you who don't know what I have been up to recently, I am kind of on the down and out. For the past 3 months I have been looking for work in Edmonton but have been unsuccessful. I am looking for part time work while I deal with some things and I think finding part time work is more difficult than finding full time work.

Although I do have money left over from my last job and I am kind of been supported through family, friends and EI I am still ambitious to make more so I can support myself. Since work is hard to find I have resorted to finding whatever I can as I journey through the city. Some times I find loose change or bottles and cans or discarded clothing... whatever. If I think it is useful and someone threw it away I might take it.

Anyway, Yesterday I started to do something I did not do before, I started to dig through trash cans to look for recyclables. I found many bottles and cans that people had placed in the wrong spot, but also some other interesting items:

• A decent cake pan (the kind with the removable side)
• A pair of gloves
• A slightly dented unopened can of diced tomatoes
• An unpeeled greenish yellow banana
• A pair of Uggs
• A pack of sheets talking about self esteem (very good advice for me on those sheets)

I took everything but the Uggs; they were not my size. Digging through the trash is humbling, but I am sure that it is a reality that many people have come to in these hard times.

I feel that I am being drawn towards a lifestyle of poverty and that I can not seem to escape from it. During the last Bible Study I went to someone posed the question 'What is God doing in your life [right now]?' This question is based on the assumption that God is always doing something in my life whether I am aware of it or not. Therefore, whatever I am going through right now, God has a part to play in it. This leads me to believe that my state of semi-poverty is somehow ordained, even if it hurts and I don't understand. What is God trying to tell me?

In a recent Facebook status I talked about foot washing and how it has appeared in my life throughout the past 6ish years. The symbol of washing someones feet brings up ideas of humility, service, health, cleanliness, relationship, trust, etc.; it is all around a good thing. When I couple foot washing with my exposure to a lifestyle of poverty I begin to wonder if I am supposed to 'wash the feet of the poor' or whatever that might mean realistically. I will have to look at this closely.

Back in Edmonton, yes I know Im slow.

Well, I'm back in Edmonton after spending some time in Abbotsford for Christmas. I am thankful for the 3 weeks off but I am also thankful to be back at school. I found that 3 weeks off is a bit too long if I am not working or travelling, it can get boring.

So I returned to TKUC on January 4th and have been enjoying my classes. This semester I am taking Biology: Organisms in Their Environment; Sociology: Deviance; Psychology: Adulthood and Aging, Sensation and Perception, and Psychology of Religion.

Before the semester started I was really excited about my Psychology of Religion class because one of the texts we need to read is "American Gods" by Niel Gaiman. It's not every day that my favorite author is used as a required text. Especially outside of an English class. American Gods is a good book, but the reader ought to be warned before picking it up. It is kind of pulpy and it includes several occasions of erotic situations. Nonetheless, I am thrilled that I get to read a Neil Gaiman book for a class.

I am worried about my sociology class because I didn't enjoy that professor last time I had him 2 years ago. Biology shouldn't be too bad. The other two psychology classes should be allot of fun.

Also this semester more people should be getting involved with activities at the Edmonton Young Offenders Center. Hopefully. It has been very frustrating trying to get things organized. I decided to ask for help and let someone else handle that aspect of it. It is hard to let go of control and trust others, and God.

On a final note, This weekend our apartment got a new roommate to replace Jesse. Our new roommate is Darren, who I graduated from Abby Christian with 7 years ago! Its so random! He seems to be fitting in and I am glad that he ended up in out apartment.

Taking God with you...

Today I went out to Timmy's with a friend and we talked about few different things but one thing in particular that we talked about was taking God with us. What I mean when I say this is allowing God into our lives to trust him with even the little things, not just the big things.

It makes me think how often i ignore God when I go to work, hang out with my friends, or spend time alone. God is the sort of person that we should take with us everywhere.

I am reminded of a skit that was performed during Worship 937 last semester that starts with a girl deciding that she is going to spend some quality time with Jesus. So she opens her bible and begins to read. suddenly there is a knock at the door and two friends are there enticing her to come to a party with them. She tells them that she can't go but then they tell her that a certain boy will be there at the party. Now she really wants to go and makes for the door, only Jesus (personified) stays right by her side. She does not want to take Jesus with her because she will be ashamed if Jesus sees her at that kind of party, so she tries to make him stay. She tries to tell him that she will spend time when she gets back and tells him to wait but Jesus remains at her side. Finally she is so frustrated that she grabs some spikes and a hammer and crucifies Jesus to the wall and walks out the door to the party.

Sometimes I really feel that God is like that in my life. I think sometimes that I try to leave God at home whilst I work and play; only to dust him off every few days. How can I know God if I don't spend time with him? It's not just alone time with God but ALL times with God. I should be able to take him to work or down to the coffee shop or to the movies, band not be ashamed to have him there side by side.