“Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from there?” “Just come and see for yourself,” Philip declared" (John 1:46 TLB).
Two weeks ago, a couple of my friends challenged me to post an album cover, one a day, on Facebook, showcasing the music that has impacted me over the years. Growing up mostly in Germany, we had no phone or TV. What we had was music, and needless to say (but I’m going to say it anyway), music had a huge impact on my life. During this FB challenge, memories of grade eleven came flooding back.
My father being posted back to Canada, I had to leave my friends and head to a strange land: from Germany to Petawawa, Ontario. The first thing I did was sign up to play baseball. I loved sports, and it’s a great way to make new friends. Sadly, our team was not allowed in the league, and I quote, “The military kids just want to fight.” I just wanted to play baseball. So, I decided to hang out at the recreation centre to work out. But, the centre was closed for the summer for renovations. I’ve always enjoyed going to the movies, and it is a good distraction, but the theatre in Petawawa was also closed for summer renovations!
I had a part-time job, backing up a paperboy. But, he only called me when it was raining, snowing, or really cold – and it was also the heaviest weighing paper in Canada (Ottawa Citizen). To date, that’s still one of the toughest jobs I’ve ever had.
To complete the miserable year, three of my schoolmates were killed by a bear. Yes, a bear! Two of them trying to save the third. And two other classmates drowned in the local watering hole, one trying to save the other. :(
I was beyond overjoyed when my dad informed us we were moving back to Germany for my grade-twelve year. If you were to ask me, “Petawawa, can anything good come from there?” – my answer would have been loud and clear: NO!
But, God has the power to redeem all, and I am living proof that something good can come from anywhere! I was a bitter teenager with no belief in an afterlife, and no belief in myself, but God took that broken vessel from grade eleven, remoulded him over time, and created a life of value.
Where have you been? Where are you now? Can anything good come of it, or from it? God has proven over and over again that it can. Are you still not sure? There will be a time when we’ll be able to congregate together, and you will have an opportunity to find out if anything good can come from Petawawa.
As Philip declared to Nathanael, “Come and see.” Come to The Stone Church and see!
For where two or three gather together because they are mine, I will be right there among them” (Matt 18:20 TLB).