As I walked out to my vehicle this morning and began cleaning another layer of snow off the windows, I lamented over the mountains of snow that have yet to be cleared from the streets. Ugh, another lengthy transit to OIM HQ…winter sure seems to be dragging.
I thought of the street teams that struggled through the snow of the second major snow storm to hit the city during the past week to bring relief to our street friends who themselves struggled with finding a place to sleep that was out of the elements. Where they could have respite. Winter can be hard.
Then I heard a cardinal sing. I stopped and looked up to where the sound was coming from and there in a very tall fur tree was the cardinal, singing his heart out. Briefly, I thought, don’t you know that it is -17 C? But, I also listened. I listened to the Cardinal’s singing, and I became aware of the beauty of the moment. The sun was shining in spite of the morning cold. In a few hours, OIM would host its weekly outreach to Veterans. In a few days, OIM would conduct the Coldest Night of the Year to raise funds for those experiencing homelessness and poverty in Ottawa’s inner city. And later in the day, I would meet another donor who believed in OIM’s mission.
In John 16:33, Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” The words of Jesus are true. Trouble seems to define the daily struggles of our street friends and OIM’s efforts to demonstrate the message of Christ in deed and word to our community. However, His words remind me that He is overcoming the trouble, and I can have hope for the future of our street friends.
So, we press on with confidence that spring is coming, that OIM volunteers will continue to serve the inner city community and that Jesus is overcoming…one life at a time and that someday, soon, all voices will be singing praise to the King (Psalm 47). Maranatha!
~ Gerry, Executive Director
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