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...Back to journal introduction The Purpose
Driven Life (a.k.a. TPDL) If you have read, or are reading the purpose driven life I highly recommend that you open and read the relevant study in the book before reading my thoughts, as you will be able to better understand the context of the journal entry. Monday Dec 1 2003 TPDL Day 6 - Life is a temporary assignment "Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered and that my life is fleeting away" Psalm 39:4 (NLT)
"I am here on earth for just a little while" Psalm 119:19 (TEV) I am here in Togo for just a little while. That's all I could think when I read this verse. Here I am trying to pack as much value into 6 months as possible, because after that, it's done. 6 months in Togo isn't long compared to life, I am trying to do everything I can to make the most of it. I will have to live with the results of my time in Togo and myself when I go home to Canada, and stand accountable to those who sent me, those who support me, and those who are giving of themselves to help me along the way. Life isn't very long compared to eternity, am I trying to do everything I can to make the most of it? I will have to live with the results of my life on earth when I go home to heaven, and stand accountable to God who created me, Jesus who saved me, and the Holy Spirit who guides me. This parallel stands in front of me as a constant metaphor, reminding me that I'm not just trying hard here in Togo because I have 6 months, but because I have one life. "I am but a foreigner here on earth". (1 Pet 4:17 GWT) I am still young at 24, life seems to change on a regular basis, but even so I have always felt a sense of... "Tomorrow is another day". Grade school is waiting for high school, which is waiting for university, which is waiting for exams so that classes are over, then waiting for painful exams to be over so that classes can start again! Life feels like a cycle. We all know that there are ups and downs, and things we deal with day in and day out...The wheels spin until they are back at their starting point, then spin again. Maybe I have come to depend too much on the fact that there will always be the next spin of the wheel. That's a lie meant to trap me into complacency. There is only one spin in Togo; there is only one spin in life. "When life gets tough, when you're overwhelmed with doubt,
or when you wonder if living for Christ is worth the effort, remember
that you're not home yet. At death you won't leave home- you'll
go home." -Rick Warren Tuesday Dec 2 2003 TPDL day 16 - What matters most I come to the end of this week rather frustrated. I have dreams for what I can accomplish here in Vivre-Mieux, but I haven't really accomplished any of them yet. I am frustrated because I don't have the necessary computer resources to work, and it is hard for those I am trying to help to find the time for to help them! The other day we went to Lomé, because somebody told us there was a good deal on a computer. What he said over the phone was really hopeful, but when I got there it was a total piece of garbage for the price he was asking. This took my whole day. I was irritated at being deceived, and that I hadn't accomplished anything useful that day.
The next day I was reading "The purpose driven life -day 16- what matters most" and I came across the following passages: "I have been at the bedside of many people in their final moments, when they stand on the edge of eternity, and I have never heard anyone say "Bring me my diplomas! I want to look at them one more time. Show me my awards, my medals, that gold watch I was given." When life on earth is ending, people don't surround themselves with objects. What we want around us is people - people we love and have a relationship with." - Rick Warren Even though I am giving myself as a full time volunteer, for a good organization, I sometimes still depend on my accomplishments for my satisfaction. This is a weakness that I, and I am sure many other people, run into often. Some say that it's your intentions that matter, as long as you tried hard, and gave it your best, that's good enough. Others say that even if you try hard, it doesn't mean a thing unless you actually have results. "I did my best" they say is an excuse. There's a third option, "did I love"? That's the whole point, not just of work, but of life. "No matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do,
I'm bankrupt without love." Later that day Kathleen came into the office, saying that she had just come back from visiting one of the AIDS victims she is counselling. He was very sick, "I think he's dying" she said. What is left in this man's life? Hopefully love is there. Hopefully his family, his friends, his comminuty has not abandoned him. We, the Yovos aren't his real community. If Christ is in his life, I know He hasn't abandoned this man, nor will He even when AIDS takes him. I pray that he has hope in this.
These are real sports fans, they love their soccer. Kathleen was there to do an AIDS education presentation during half time, and I was to film it. It was organized by Peace FM, a local radio station that we work with. The hilarious thing is that they didn't organize to have loudspeakers there. What Kathleen had planned was a group activity with a few people from the stands that demonstrates some aspects of AIDS. This demonstration required explanation though. However, since there were no loudspeakers, the people who needed to hear the interpretation couldn't hear a thing. What's even funnier is that her explanation went out over the radio, to people who couldn't see a thing! So people were seeing or hearing, but nobody understood! (Almost metaphorical of the way AIDS is understood here)
We were what we like to refer to ourselves as "The token Yovos". When the game was over, everybody spilled out onto the field and hoisted up the winners onto their shoulders. The loosing team then came up to our podium and shook all of our hands. I saw this coming and quickly scooted out of the receiving line, but Kathleen was stuck in the line feeling silly while shaking every player’s hand!
I think he could see the bigger picture, and I suspect he coached them as though they were his own family, coaching them with love. As the captain of the winning team hoisted the cup that they had worked hard to earn over his head, I couldn't help but think about what I had read that morning. Winning is wonderful, and finding success is meaningful, whether we find success or not, we will be content if we ran that path with love. "I have been at the bedside of many people in their final moments, when they stand on the edge of eternity, and I have never heard anyone say "Bring me my diplomas! I want to look at them one more time." "No matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love." back to top
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Later
that day we went to a soccer game. It was the finals of the UN Cup
league in Togo. The place was CRAZY with fans. The players were
young, early high school aged, and they were GOOD. The stands were
filled, and when a goal scored, the stadium erupted with cheers,
songs and dancing. 
Kathleen
and I somehow ended up sitting with the league organizer in the
centre of the stands with the cup right in front of us. People were
shaking our hands as though we were some sort of celebrity or of
special importance, I have no idea why. It reminded me of watching
leafs games on TV when the camera points over to Mike Myers in his
private booth watching the game. Really, what does it matter if
Mike Myers is there, he just wants to watch a hockey game!
What
struck me was how sad the losing team was as they came through the
line. The officials would tell them that they played well and should
be proud, but they didn't seem to hear that. They are young, they
were devastated. They were bankrupt. Everyone that is, except the
coach. The coach who probably like most good coaches put even more
heart into the game than the players themselves, he was content.
