Thursday, June 12, 2014

A testimony that safety comes from the Lord

Prior to leaving for Vancouver on June 8, 2014,  a friend of the family insisted that I call her before the cab to the airport so that she could pray with me. Knowing that I had to wake up before 5 to make it in time for my 6:20 departure time, I literally shook my head at the thought that she wanted me to call her so early in the morning so that we could pray. I thought "why couldn't she just pray for me (without me calling her prior to my departure)?"

Well, the wisdom of her initiative was proven by the end of my trip. On my way to Vancouver, I lost my phone (either between connecting planes or the airport). Further, the hotel that I stayed at was situated in a location where I had to walk pass a lot of afflicted persons (homeless, seemingly drug addicts or users, possibly mentally ill and possibly prostitutes). Even though I thought to myself, that "this is Canada and it is much safer than downtown Kingston, Jamaica" I would later be surprised. On my departure from Vancouver airport, I learned of a gun battle in downtown Vancouver. To think that I might have walked in that very location as that incident and ended up nursing gun shot wounds humbled me. Further, my departure day also coincided with the funeral of the Moncton RCMP officers who were gunnned down by a lone heavily armed gunman.

Just the day before, I had told a friend that even though I walked past apparent drug users and afflicted people, I felt safer than Kingston, Jamaica, where I knew there were illegal guns. However, for the first time I realised that Canada was not as safe as I had thought.  This reminded me that safety and security does not come from migrating to a country with better policing, but from God who decides whether or not to preserve one's life from the evil intentions and inclinations of men (and Satanic forces).

So my prayer for you and me today is from Psalm 22:19-21, 29 (KJV):

But be not thou far from me, O Lord: O my strength, haste thee to help me.20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.21 Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.
29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul. 
May you be blessed and may the Lord indeed preserve your soul and life.