I wonder if you remember the movie Sliding Doors – a 1998 British-American romantic drama film starring Gwyneth Paltrow, John Hannah and Jeanne Tripplehorn. The film alternates between two parallel universes based on the two paths the character’s life could take depending on whether or not she catches a train. I remember walking out of the movie – which I saw with Kris – and talking at length about the way the movie skilfully handled the question “what if?”.
In both storylines, Helen (played by Paltrow) is taken to hospital and loses her baby. In one timeline she boards her train and eventually she ends up dying in the arms of her new-found love, James. In the alternate timeline she misses the train, recovers her health, and eventually leaves her cheating boyfriend, Gerry. Neither storyline fills you with much joy; Helen dies prematurely in one storyline, and she is left lonely and betrayed by the man she loved in the other.
It can be easy to fall in the trap of wondering “what if?”. Sometimes, even become a little obsessed by it!
- What if I had made the other business decision?
- What if we had gone to that particular church, not the one we’re at now?
- What if “so-and-so” hadn’t been so awful to me/my child/my spouse?
- What if “such-and-such” event had not happened at school?
- What if “that person” had not said/done what they did;
… What a difference these things might have made.
We live in a world of chaos and we often feel that things could be better. It might just be a niggle or it might be more significant. And we might not feel it all the time, or in every setting, but inevitably it happens and our understanding of God’s sovereignty is put to the test. We find it difficult when our plan for the world doesn’t seem to match God’s. Or to put it another way – when our expectation of how the world should be doesn’t align with God’s perfect plan. That’s my moment of thankfulness – that he’s blessed me with many years and Christians to fellowship with and ponder together what it all means.
In this context, our role as a community is to seek to be God’s people and work together to bring his “shalom” to situations where there is chaos. That is, to do our bit in God’s service of each other and ALL those we meet.
With that in mind, can I ask you to join with me in a “shalom” activity I have committed to? I am joining the Vinnies CEO Sleepout, as our College’s CEO.
I was touched last year by my own Sliding Doors moment when Hurricane Harvey ripped through southern USA and impacted Houston, where my daughter Mary and her husband Josh live. We see God weaving his plan in their lives every day. But last August, when Harvey hit, the water levels rose to within a metre of their front door, but they were safe in their ground floor apartment. Only 40 days earlier, they were living in an apartment that was completely inundated by water and was, at its worst, over five metres underwater! They would have lost everything they owned, and their lives would have been at risk. They would have been homeless.
It focused my attention that for many homeless people, in this country as well as overseas, there is a sliding door moment in their lives which has chaotic and far-reaching consequences..
So this year, will you partner with me to help Vinnies break the cycle of homelessness and poverty in Australia? I’ll be sleeping rough on June 21st along with CEOs from across Australia. I have set an ambitious, but achievable target and would love our College community to help this target be realised. If you’d like to join me, you can access my page at: www.ceosleepout.org.au/fundraisers/timargall
The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:40
If you are not in a position to do this, that’s OK too. Could I ask you to commit this activity to prayer, that it will stir up a far greater awareness across all sectors of society of this incredibly sad reality. But most importantly, in praying, commit those who are homeless, for whatever reason – for protection, ultimately security and a release from the bonds that come from being caught in this situation.
Thanks so much for whatever support you are able to give.
educating 4 life, too 
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