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By the time this publication is in your hands, I will have gotten on a bus in the middle of the night, ridden to New-ark, taken off my shoes for the security check, passed through at least one metal detector, displayed my pass-port, boarded a plane, eaten one tiny pack of pretzels, flown to Texas, changed planes, eaten one more tiny pack of pretzels, flown to Alberta and been met at the airport by yet another bus hired to take me to my final destination. I will have done this along with 10 of my favorite East Hills teenagers plus a whole cadre of other folks I'd never met previously. By the time this publication is in your hands, we travelers will have all assembled in Calgary as the 2005 Youth Convo.
In my dreams, this assortment of young people is joining me on this far-flung adventure because they desire a pilgrim-age-a spiritual journey which leads them ever closer to an authentic encounter with God. In my dreams, this collection of kids quests for purpose, for meaning, for the essence of life to be revealed. (Shhh! Don't spoil the illusion by telling me that the bigger draw is the promise of meeting exotic Canadians of the opposite sex!) There are lots of reasons to travel: to find beauty in fresh landscapes; to imbibe doses of cultural diversity; to learn about a particular time and place and to be enriched by that learning; to find new perspective; to rise to new chal-lenges; to meet new people. And travelers who allow themselves to be filled up with the sights and sounds and smells of their adventure will be changed by it. They will become broadened and deepened. "Your life Is a Journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God." 1 Peter 1:17 (The Message) Will our Convo trip be affected by our awareness of God? Absolutely! Will your summer vacation? Your weekend at the shore? Your cookout at the lake? Your flight to Timbuktu? Definitely!
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| On the Journey, |
| Pastor Chris |