A Canadian is often stereotyped as a polite person who obsesses over hockey, eats meals saturated with maple syrop, scoffs at large quantities of snow, and/or wears an RCMP uniform. More or less. And a Christian is defined, literally and loosely, as one who follows Christ—bringing us to the conclusion that a Canadian Christian is a courteous, maple syrop-guzzling Christ-follower. Right?
Unhelpful logic aside, it might be more accurate to say that Canadian Christians generally don’t preach much on street corners, rarely confuse Parliament for the pulpit, and have to pay more taxes and wade through political correctness—and snow—of a thicker consistency than Christians south of the border. I would hazard to guess that your average Canadian Christian (henceforth to be referred to as “CC”) is not a spiritual superhero (a person in a position of pastoral leadership, faith-driven political leadership, or a missionary abroad). Rather she is a person who drags herself out of bed in the morning, pours coffee on her cereal accidentally and has to stifle feelings of unholy rage when the referee makes a bad call against a favourite hockey team. Our CC is human, trying his best to live by faith and God’s grace in an oh-so-secular environment. Hopefully a CC’s life is marked by giving God his due during everyday tasks, in the use of talents and time, in thought and attitude, in word and action—whether or not large quantities of poutine are consumed concurrently.
Generalizations are easy to make, so it might be more helpful, or at least more challenging, to examine what a typical day might look like for a CC, as it may prove representative of the struggles, challenges and attitudes that a mass of CCs regularly experience. Let’s take a peek.
After the alarm goes off, CC prays for Friday, only to find that it’s Tuesday; prays instead for strength to get out of bed and face the day. At the bus stop, in an effort to practice thankfulness, tries to say thanks for Tuesday, but does not quite come across as sincere. Maybe reads the Bible on the bus, praying for the ability to be obedient. Catches up with coworkers, sifts through email, says quick prayer for God to preside over day’s activities. Tries to wade through the politically correct mire of the day to shine a bit of love, conviction, invitation and grace, without apologizing. Thanks God for 12:00, lunch, a free park bench, and 5:00. Despite being tired, tries to see the bus driver/café staff/fellow pedestrians as God’s beloved. Tries to love spouse/children/neighbours/friends/strangers more, to follow Christ’s example. Tries to love the frozen pizza that’s for supper. Tries to find a quiet time and place for prayer, but sleep calls. Until the alarm buzzes rudely the next morning and CC does it all again.
We could say that CCs’ expressions of faith are understated; we could say that the typical Canadian politeness and tolerance extends to the realm of faith, so that CCs’ interaction with those of other faiths, or no faith, is non-confrontational in nature. But when you look behind the politeness and pleasant demeanor of the CC sitting on the bus next to you, perhaps puzzling over a chapter in Exodus, you’ll find a person trying to live by means of God’s grace, just like Christians the world over. And there is comfort in that unifying factor.
By Tara Briggs-Kirkey
April 2008
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Inflatable Palm Trees: Creativity in the Routine
It’s unbelievable how quickly it happened. One minute, I was a university student, my noggin engaged in the discovery of literary magnificence; and the next, I’ve joined the masses of weary bus commuters to push paper in the nation’s capital. Sadly, although the transition from creative inquisitiveness to workaday drudgery happened several years ago, it still leaves me dizzy with disillusionment. Why was this transition so difficult, and what did I compromise in the process?
There may be a sizable disconnect between what I studied, what my hobbies and passions are, and what I do on workdays, but I don’t aim to bemoan my salaried work, or the fact that much of it can be drab, uninteresting and unglamorous. I may not have that perfect job that utilizes my passions, skills and interests to the fullest, and I may not feel entirely fulfilled by the job that I do have, but that does not have to mean that all is lost. So I want to do an exercise here in seizing, in my current circumstances, those glimmers of creativity and passion which I thought I might have lost once I had to put my books away and become ‘responsible.’ I want to know how to prevent the ideological creativity of my student years from being extinguished by the need to pay the bills.
I consider myself a creative person, and to illustrate this, I’ll admit to something odd. My dream vocation would be a “colour classifier,” a person who gives names to the colours of paint, cars, crayons, makeup. When I look at products that have snazzy colour names, I often think I can do better. “Sunset Tangerine” could instead be “Zowee!” and “Fresh-Cut Grass” could be “Inflatable Palm Tree.” That’s why I find a kindred spirit in Adam, whom God charged with naming all the newly-created animals. Lucky guy. (I think “aardvark” was a fantastic choice.) In fact, God had some important tasks for creative types, such as those he gave the craftspeople during the building of the tabernacle. And look at all the other creative expressions found in the Bible: pslams, songs, letters, worship, teachings, parables, the crafting of textiles used for worship or gifts. God, the Prime Creator, values the creative efforts of his children, it’s clear; and I want to, need to make such efforts on a regular basis to sharpen the passion for creativity that God has given me. So how do I go about doing that?
First, I have to look a little harder for creative outlets to enliven a 9 to 5 existence, for colours (with cool names) to add to a workday lit by the dull glow of a computer screen, for those pinpricks of joy that can be found in routine life. Then I need to incorporate creative passion into different aspects of my lift—relationships, worship, leisure time, even at work—and find meaning in doing so, even if it’s not how I pay the bills. If I can encourage and bless others by my creative yield, that should be fulfillment enough; then I can bear to push paper the rest of the time.
It’s true: the temptation is great to let our work define who we are, which is only natural, since we invest so much of our time into it. And because we invest so much time into it, we hope to find fulfillment in it. It hit me on one of those days where I doubted the worthiness of my work that instead of letting my work define me, I should be the one to define my work. My attitude and my approach to tasks should determine the value of my workday, so I should seek to infuse creativity into work that appears un-creative on the surface. I can be creative in how I communicate and relate to my coworkers; I don’t have to give up on that youthful determination to incorporate originality into the everyday. I can put an inflatable palm tree in the corner of my office to make the atmosphere a bit zippier.
Or maybe something a bit subtler.
-Tara Briggs Kirkey-
There may be a sizable disconnect between what I studied, what my hobbies and passions are, and what I do on workdays, but I don’t aim to bemoan my salaried work, or the fact that much of it can be drab, uninteresting and unglamorous. I may not have that perfect job that utilizes my passions, skills and interests to the fullest, and I may not feel entirely fulfilled by the job that I do have, but that does not have to mean that all is lost. So I want to do an exercise here in seizing, in my current circumstances, those glimmers of creativity and passion which I thought I might have lost once I had to put my books away and become ‘responsible.’ I want to know how to prevent the ideological creativity of my student years from being extinguished by the need to pay the bills.
I consider myself a creative person, and to illustrate this, I’ll admit to something odd. My dream vocation would be a “colour classifier,” a person who gives names to the colours of paint, cars, crayons, makeup. When I look at products that have snazzy colour names, I often think I can do better. “Sunset Tangerine” could instead be “Zowee!” and “Fresh-Cut Grass” could be “Inflatable Palm Tree.” That’s why I find a kindred spirit in Adam, whom God charged with naming all the newly-created animals. Lucky guy. (I think “aardvark” was a fantastic choice.) In fact, God had some important tasks for creative types, such as those he gave the craftspeople during the building of the tabernacle. And look at all the other creative expressions found in the Bible: pslams, songs, letters, worship, teachings, parables, the crafting of textiles used for worship or gifts. God, the Prime Creator, values the creative efforts of his children, it’s clear; and I want to, need to make such efforts on a regular basis to sharpen the passion for creativity that God has given me. So how do I go about doing that?
First, I have to look a little harder for creative outlets to enliven a 9 to 5 existence, for colours (with cool names) to add to a workday lit by the dull glow of a computer screen, for those pinpricks of joy that can be found in routine life. Then I need to incorporate creative passion into different aspects of my lift—relationships, worship, leisure time, even at work—and find meaning in doing so, even if it’s not how I pay the bills. If I can encourage and bless others by my creative yield, that should be fulfillment enough; then I can bear to push paper the rest of the time.
It’s true: the temptation is great to let our work define who we are, which is only natural, since we invest so much of our time into it. And because we invest so much time into it, we hope to find fulfillment in it. It hit me on one of those days where I doubted the worthiness of my work that instead of letting my work define me, I should be the one to define my work. My attitude and my approach to tasks should determine the value of my workday, so I should seek to infuse creativity into work that appears un-creative on the surface. I can be creative in how I communicate and relate to my coworkers; I don’t have to give up on that youthful determination to incorporate originality into the everyday. I can put an inflatable palm tree in the corner of my office to make the atmosphere a bit zippier.
Or maybe something a bit subtler.
-Tara Briggs Kirkey-
Saturday, March 8, 2008
What's up with Montreal Christian Young Adults?
Let's cut straight to the point. I want to start a blog for Christian Young Adults. I've been reading Relevant (a pretty good magazine) for Christian 20 to 30 year olds and have been very impressed about how they keep bringing thought-provoking articles and current culture issues to the Christian market. This is not the young adult ministry of before. Christians are becoming more connected to their world and to the culture around them and not looking like crazy bible thumpers. But often I finish reading the magazine and think...What about Canada?
What about Canada. Where is the relevant media outlet for all the cool Christian university students and young professionals that address spirituality and culture and Canadian issues?
From Under Baskets is hopefully a starting place. I'm not actually cool or hip but I love Jesus, am very Canadian, and luckily know a bunch of very cool Jesus lovers as well. If you have an opinion about anything or want to be an author on this blog, please join me. Spread the blog site. (This is where I get all 'big speech' like...no...must suppress the desire to be Denzel Washington) Let’s just start with checking again to make sure I at least write something more! Until next week!
What about Canada. Where is the relevant media outlet for all the cool Christian university students and young professionals that address spirituality and culture and Canadian issues?
From Under Baskets is hopefully a starting place. I'm not actually cool or hip but I love Jesus, am very Canadian, and luckily know a bunch of very cool Jesus lovers as well. If you have an opinion about anything or want to be an author on this blog, please join me. Spread the blog site. (This is where I get all 'big speech' like...no...must suppress the desire to be Denzel Washington) Let’s just start with checking again to make sure I at least write something more! Until next week!
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