Thwack! Reality eventually hit me harder than the deftly aimed chair that smashed into my head.

My attacker turned and walked off, leaving me standing there, with my hands to my head, using them to carefully examine myself for any bleeding and swelling.

I stared vacantly at the chipped and faded paint on the concrete patio of the Housing Commission Block.

Amongst the broken shards of cheap plastic chair that lay strewn at my feet were the remains of another broken illusion - Courageous Peacemaking. Let me explain…

What I had envisioned looked something like taking a valiant stand against a nameless bureaucracy that was oppressing the poor to thicken their bottom line. There would I be in the midst, standing up to the tyrant, risking life and limb for the sake of the oppressed!

Some illusions need a swift hit from a chair to break.

My dreams looked nothing like getting a chair smashed across my forehead from a kid I know well with a myriad of issues that was goading and teasing another vulnerable young kid who had his own myriad of issues.

Living the dream and facing the reality do not come easy for me. Yet, when someone is abusing another, regardless of who they are, it is important to stand up for the victim.

Jesus stood between the crowd and the woman caught in adultery.

Sometimes ministry is about “getting in the way”. There are going to be consequences, not all of them great.

God is teaching us new ways to love these kids, showing us the way with the boundless love, grace extended by Jesus.

You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you?

Nice sounding words, but to actually live these out requires nothing less than a life that abides in the True Vine.

I am pretty thick and need object lessons, I just hope that the objects don’t need to be swung so hard at me next time.

Thanks for your prayers. We are well as a family and looking forward to moving around the corner soon to a house where we can fit more people in!!!

Peace,
Jon, Lisa, Kshama and Kiera Owen