by the Rev. Lerrill J. White
 

     I've just returned from the EPIC Experience in Toronto. That international, interfaith, multicultural, multi-organizational, and multi-lingual gathering was quite instructive.  We were a microcosm of the world.  There were competing political, religious, and personal agendas.  Acceptance and tolerance came at a higher price than anticipated.  Feelings and insecurities could be easily observed.  Working collaboratively for the greater good was a challenge that motivated us to attempt to achieve the impossible.

    Toronto, as a city, has four and a half million inhabitants, 52% of whom are immigrants.  It is truly a miniature model of the world.  Everywhere I went, I was reminded that I am a minority in the order of the universe.  The Canadians are more gracious hosts to their version of the United Nations than are we Americans.  I was humbled as I observed their openness and respect for their immigrants.  I was amazed as I discovered the lengths to which the Canadian people will go to make sure that all their people are cared for.  They are committed to leaving no one behind, including the homeless, the drug users, the prostitutes, the mentally ill, the elderly, the jobless, and so on.

    The highlight of my time there occurred on Monday evening, February 24th.  This was the evening of the PCNSR Peace Walk & Dinner.  It was combined with a Walking Workshop into the Inner-City Ministries led by Bill Ryan and members of the Evergreen Centre staff.  We had sold about 120 tickets for the event, but the temperature was 20° F, the snow and slush was several inches deep on the sidewalks, and we were slated for additional snowfall during the Walk. About 65 people braved the elements for a walk of a lifetime.

    We divided up into small groups, each with a guide.  Steve, Richard and Leif led the early groups.  Bill Ryan and Don Shields led the later groups.  Those of us on the Walking Workshop began at Toronto City Hall, where many of the decisions are made each day that directly affect the quality of life of the people of Toronto.  We carefully moved from there to the AIDS Memorial, where we prayed for both the leaders of the city and for those suffering with HIV and AIDS.  We traveled on to St. Michael's Hospital (which provides much of the indigent healthcare for the city) and stopped to pray at the Metropolitan United Church nearby.  From there we made our way to the fountain at Alien Gardens.  This is the site of numerous killings of prostitutes over the past several years, and an easy place for scoring drugs.  Again, we stopped to pray for all the lives lost in this place and for the healing of those whose lives were being destroyed by their addictions.  Finally, with the snow piling up on all of us, we made our way to the Evergreen Ministry Centre for Street Youth.  There we all convened, broke bread together, and were blessed by the sharing of Janet Bach and all those who work with her to reach the people on the streets of Toronto.

    I was impressed by their desire to seek and save the "lost."  To go out into the highways and byways and bring people to a veritable feast.  It was inspiring to see what a few people with a common vision can accomplish.  It was amazing to see the miracle of the bottomless pot of oil and meal come alive before my eyes.  These are people who walk by faith and not by sight.  It dawned on me during the course of the evening that if these people could accomplish all they did on a shoestring, then we too should be able to accomplish good and great things for the children of God, on behalf of our God.  Marianne Williamson wrote, "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.  Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.  It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.  Who are we NOT to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?  You are a child of God.  Your playing small doesn't serve the world.  We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.  It's not just in some of us; it's in us all."  Let's do wondrous things this year, together!  God bless you all!!

 

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