Children of Men

Tonight I went to see "Children of Men" with my friend from the war college, Ian.
This film is powerful. It brought up a lot within me and I was stirred as I watched. There was this scene where there was war all around - shootings, violence etc. Suddenly a baby crying and everyone stops. All guns, on both sides, are put down, everyone stares in amazement. No sound. Just the baby crying.
I started crying a bit (of course) as it made me think of two things. 1) Christ in flesh appearing - Christ incarnate. To a world that needed a Saviour, He came as a helpless and defenseless babe. Pure, precious, innocent.
2) That often we, as humans, try to end war with reconciliation, and methods of peace etc., which are all good and well, but it reminded me of the power of purity, innocence and hope. I've heard it preached before that to be life amidst a place of death is powerful in itself. I believe this. I wouldn't be here in the Downtown Eastside if I didn't. Christ in us is the hope and glory.

So after the movie, we were walking back into our neighborhood and we see this guy outside of the Shaldon hotel, on the worst trip that I've seen since Cheryl (Denise will remember this well!). We stopped to talk to him and were quickly escorted away by another man. Fair enough, he was trying to protect us. He left, we prayed for him and then went back to our struggling buddy. He was doing a crazy crack dance. I started to talk to him and found out that his name is Robert. He wasn't the best at holding down a conversation, so in between Ian and I would pray, or speak in tongues, or just recognize the LORD's presence there in that moment. About 45 min. passed before we left. Despite the fact that whenever we said the name of Jesus, even under our breath, that he growled, did not stop us. We stood there peacefully, calmly praying and trying to embody this peace that he desperately was seeking.
After leaving him I saw a prostituted person about a half a block from my place making a deal with this man.
I came home and wept.
Christ in us is the HOPE and GLORY. Let us grasp this life in a dying age, let us hold on to Jesus, who is the Prince of Peace, amongst the chaos around us, and be 'Jesus with skin on' as someone once said. Amen.