Pastor John Van Sloten

A news story on the book made the Globe & Mail, Montreal Gazette, Edmonton Journal, METRO, and more this morning. Fun stuff. Here’s the article as it was found in the Metro – http://ow.ly/2BJGB

This is what makes me cry.  On a day when nothing seems to be moving fast with either the book or my level of sermon inspiration, I make this Arcade Fire/Biblical text connection.   In a new song called ‘City with no Children’ I hear, ”I feel like I’ve been living in a city with no children in it, a garden left for ruin by a millionaire inside a private prison,”  and the words just grab me… and I can’t move on.   I keep thinking “no children in the streets… no children in the streets.”  And the image of a ruined garden just hovers in my mind… the parallel to our ‘East of Eden’ world palpable.  So I head off into the Old Testament prophets, knowing that it’s there somewhere, and find these words from Jeremiah;

“For death has crept in through our windows
      and has entered our mansions.
   It has killed off the flower of our youth:
      Children no longer play in the streets,
      and young men no longer gather in the squares.”  Jeremiah 9:21, NLT

And I lose my breath for a moment… at God’s amazing parallels, at how he’s above time, and authors all truth, whispering it to prophets old and new. 

And then, after I come down from the mountain, a Google Alert surfaces with a link to a national news story on the book, and then I get an email request to come speak on the topic, and…  the beauty of it all is; in recent weeks I’ve been thinking about  how I need to  balance my day job/real calling and the book – that I really need to put my heart into continuing journey into the idea, developing it, growing it, and living it FIRST…  the rest will take care of itself. 

And so it does.

This morning I said to my wife Fran, “Sometimes I think we forget how much it takes to parent a disabled child.”  Managing his money, vocational schooling, transportation, personal hygiene, recreation, clothing purchases, medication, etc…  it all takes time, and emotional energy.  This morning’s challenges were mostly clothing related.   It’s near impossible to find jeans that fit our uber-stout downy boy.  I’m not sure he ever feels fully comfortable in what he has to wear.  I know he especially hates having to do up that single hard-to-do button.  I remember, as a young kid, how challenging it first seemed; the hole was always too small and rigid, and the button had to be angled in in just the right way.  For Eddy it continues to be a struggle.  Combine his fine motor skill challenges with his unyielding stubbornness, and you’ve got a recipe for a 10 minute “Yes you will… no I won’t” dance.  Sitting on the couch, Edward contorted into every position possible just to avoid having to stand up and do his button up.  Finally, as I frustratingly admired Fran’s patience, he capitulated…  and he did it himself… and it was good…  the third day of the week.  Then I got to wait with him for his 1/2 hour late Handi-bus.  Most times I stew and frustratingly think, I’ve got work I’ve got to get to.  Today I just sat on the couch beside Edward, staring out the living room window with him, waiting.   Eddy leaned over and nuzzled his face into my neck and chest.  He’s so soft and warm.  And when he gives himself to you, nothing is held back.  It’s so beautiful.  And in that moment I feel again, what I’ve felt so many times over the years… a tearful sense of perfection, the knowledge that everything is just as it should be.

There’s this lady I know, she’s no more than five feet tall, and in her seventies, and she delivers flyers in our neighbourhood.  Two or three times a week she pulls a heavy, homemade, wooden, wobbly wheeled, wagon, filled with flyers  through our streets; up and down all the the hills, up and over curbs, through rain, snow and heat.  Every time I see her do it I’m amazed, and a bit saddened (I think of my mom having to do something like that). 

Often, I’ll say hi, or talk to her for a few seconds as we pass each another.  Today I decided to stop and have a conversation.  “How’s it going today?”  I asked. “Fine,” she said, ”Today is my last day!  For 20 years I’ve been delivering flyers in this neighbourhood and today is my last day.”   “Wow, 20 years, that’s amazing.  I’ve watched you over the past 5 and I can’t believe that you’ve been strong enough to pull this heavy thing…”  (I grabbed the handle of her wagon and pulled it a few inches – it must have weighed 40 pounds!)  “It’s not so bad… you get used to it.”   “So why now, why retire this year?   “Over this past year I’ve just realized that I can’t do this any more… you just know these things.  I’m thinking of working at Walmart.”   “That would be great for you, better weather!”   She didn’t catch my joke and said, “Walmart will at least keep me warm in the winter.” 

And then I started to feel a bit bad.  This is her last day, I thought, her retirement.  Is there going to be a big party later tonight? A gold watch? Speeches?  “Well then I better thank her,” I thought.  

“You know, you must have helped thousands of people in this community save money over the years – with all those coupons and sales flyers.  Thank you for that!”   She just paused and took it in for a second and then said, “Yeah I guess so.”  Then she smiled.  I said thanks again and then I asked her what her name was.  “Colleen…”   “Hi Colleen, I’m John…” and then shaking her hand I said, “All the best in your retirement.”  And then I continued on my walk, and she picked up her wagon handle, looked over her address list one more time, and pulled her stack of flyers to the next house.  I had to take a picture as she walked away.   I’ll miss her.

Too many times over the years I’ve felt a disdain for the flyer industry and everyone attached to it.  All that wasted paper, and recycling hassle.  All that endless consumer pressure.  But for Colleen it was her job, her life in some large part.  

I can only hope to do what I do with as much dignity, perseverance and strength.

Here’s a link to a CNN belief blog piece on the book. First big national story… and a good piece.    http://on.cnn.com/ddbTzZ

Here’s an interview with WGEX-FM Dayton, Ohio.   The DJ, ‘Nudge’ was excited about the book. A little more relaxed than the CJAY talks.   My brain felt a bit soft.  : )    http://www.wxeg.com/pages/nudge.html

Just did a second interview (in three days) with CJAY92. I can’t believe how accomodating and excited they are about the book. It blows me away actually… I walk in there and for a second it felt like a church meeting, Forbes, Redd Dawg and Steve ‘the Grunt’ all happy to see me, along with the Rum guys pitching their product for  international rum day, and Tony Spoletini handing out Spolumbo’s breakfast sandwiches to us all.   Everyone got a free book and we gave a few away to listeners as well.   Here’s the link to the interview; http://bit.ly/9b3syp

Here’s a link to a live interview I had with Gerry Forbes on CJAY92 this morning (early!). This is the station that brought the Metallica sermon to Metallica’s attention years ago… a DJ spoke with Lars Ulrich, and then Lars sent a Warner Music camera crew to film the service. CJAY wants me back on Monday to talk more about the book and hand out some free copies.   http://bit.ly/ahcMdT

And here’s a link to a Calgary Sun story on the book (also from this morning)… a bit skeptical, but hey, don’t they say that all advertising in good advertizing?  Some of the “quotes” are a bit of a stretch too… the risk in someone else writing your story.    http://bit.ly/cb09xs

Exciting day.  New Hope’s mass order of 364 books arrived at the office this morning.  Amazon.com is now selling (and they are now allowing a sneak peak into the book).  And I’m doing an interview with CBC radio in half an hour and then the CJAY 92 interview tomorrow at 8:10 am.  Lots of buzz happening right now.

Pretty exciting. I’ve got a couple of media interviews set up. Hopefully the one I did with CNN’s Belief blog will run this week. I have no idea how all of this is going to play out… and at least for now, I feel very comfortable with that.