The Story of Easter

The Beauty of Reconciliation

Tonight I was speaking with my big brother on the phone. I told him about some amazing things that God has been doing lately. Firstly, he has been working in my heart, making it more supple, more forgiving. We all have relationships in our life that we wish didn't have to end, particularly the way in which they did, or relationships that we wish could be released of all tension, bitterness, and regret. There have been a few people that I have been close to in the past with whom I have parted ways. It was sad and painful. Relationships bring so much joy to life, so when they break down, it brings sadness and regret. God gave us relationships as a gift but we have abused his great gift.

With what God has been teaching me lately, there were a few people with whom I was hoping to reconcile. But I wasn't sure if I should contact them or not because my apology would probably seem very intrusive and unwelcome. God has just blown me away with what he cooked up. Several individuals with whom things did not end well have all approached me in the past couple of months. Wow! Clearly God is working on more hearts than just mine. Of course he is, Maria! Only God could have changed each of our hearts. Apologies were given and accepted. Forgiveness was offered and received. Reconiliation is a beautiful thing.

I told my brother that reconciliation has got to be one of the most beautiful things on planet earth. He wisely responded with, "It is the most beautiful thing, Maria. That's what God is all about and that's what he's done for us." You are so right, Joshua. The story told in the Bible is one of reconciliation, one of forgiveness, hope, love, restoration, sacrifice, relationship. In the beginning, God created us in his image. We rebelled. We ruined the perfect relationship we had with the Creator. But he had a plan to restore the relationship. Despite our self-serving, obnoxious, sinful ways, God wanted us back. He wanted us to be reconciled to him. God sent his beloved, perfect son, Jesus Christ. Jesus, who was both fully God and fully human, came to earth to save the very people who had turned their backs on God. Jesus spent three years teaching people about God and his kingdom. Then we accused him and crucified him. But that's what he came for. It was all part of the plan. He gave his life up willingly. He wanted to do God's will. Jesus then conquered death by rising from the dead. And that is what allows us to be reconciled with God.

Since we rebelled against God, there was no way we could do anything to fix the broken relationship. But God sent Jesus to be the mediator. Because he was fully God, Jesus was able to represent God and because he was fully human, he was able to represent us. A winning combination. When Jesus died on the cross, he took on all of the sin and rebellion that every single person has ever done or will do. By this, he paid the penalty to God, the Judge of the universe. If we accept Jesus as our Saviour and our Lord and have faith in him, our relationship with God is restored. We are reconciled to our Father in heaven. He forgives us. He's always loved us but we can truly love him too. That's the history of humankind. Reconciliation is indeed the most beautiful thing because that is what God's plan is all about. He created us. We rebelled. He wants us back. He made a way. We can be reconciled to him if we believe in his Son. The beauty of the relationships that have recently been reconciled in my own life are only a taste of the beautiful reconciliation that we can have with God.

Why Did I Really Cut My Hair?

Me, age 3

For the majority of my life I've had long hair - minus the first several years when I was pretty much bald and then grew some Shirley Temple curls. I love long hair. It's pretty. I love braiding my hair. I'm not one who spends time on my hair each day, straightening, curling, or styling it, although I do from time to time for special occasions. I love playing with my hair and being able to tie it back when it's hot.

But a few weeks ago the idea popped into my head to get my hair cut. I used a fun web site called Taaz to "try on" different hair styles. A few of the shorter styles didn't look too bad. Then another idea came to me: was my hair long enough to donate to cancer? Most organizations only take 10"+ but Pantene Beautiful Lengths accepts 8" ponytails. I awkwardly measured my hair with a ruler and realized that 8" off would leave me with about chin to shoulder-length hair.

Winter 2011

Donating to cancer? Check. Fun new hairstyle? Yep. But the real reason that I chose to cut my hair is this: I believe that my identity was too much caught up in my long hair rather than where it should be, in Christ. Now don't take this the wrong way. There is nothing wrong with long hair at all! I think the Holy Spirit put this on my heart, perhaps as a test of obedience. I struggled with it so much. I agonized over this decision for about a week. I know, it's just hair, right? But I loved my long hair so much that this was an extremely difficult decision. I kept going back and forth on what I was going to do. I booked the hair appointment and planned to go with my best friend after class one day. I prayed a lot about what I should do.

Just after the chop

I followed Pantene's directions and gathered a Ziploc bag, hair elastic, and envelope to take to the hair salon. When I arrived at the hairdresser, I still wasn't sure what my final decision would be. My hairdresser understood my anxiousness and let me have a few minutes to think and talk it over with my friend. Finally, I realized that this is what God wants me to do. My lower lip trembled as she snip, snip, snipped my ponytail off. But once she began to style it I liked it.

When I look at photographs of my long hair, I still miss it a bit. But hair grows. I am learning new ways to do my short hair. I've received loads of compliments, but there's always people who think speaking their mind is beneficial. They may think it's unattractive or I'm being self-righteous or legalistic. This hurt my feelings but my mom reminded me that this is between me and the Lord. However, I know I've been obedient to my Father. I was so concerned about feeling ugly but God continually reminds me that I am his and he is mine. When I run my fingers through my hair - and it suddenly stops short - I feel a pang of sadness, but it is overwhelmed by my joy that I chose to follow God in this small way.

Mailing off my hair

Earlier this week I handed in my last hermeneutics paper. I chose to write about 1 Peter 3:1-7. Here it says, "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as the braiding of hair and the wearing of gold jewellery and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight" (vv. 3-4). It's not just braided hair, gold earrings, or fashionable clothes. Wherever we find our identity that isn't in Christ is misled. It could be makeup, a career, a romantic relationship, IQ, anything! This is my desire: to be a woman of unfading beauty in the eyes of God and of those around me.

Benjamin Isaac

My oldest nephew's name is Benjamin Isaac Scorgie. He just turned seven on March 24th. As far as I can recall, this is his first birthday that I haven't been there to celebrate with him. He was born when I was in high school but we often came down to Southern Ontario to visit my brother and his family on the March Break, so we were around for his birthday. Then for the past four years I was living nearby attending university. For his third birthday we had a bunch of kids over. It was madness, I tell you! Three-year-olds just do not understand that the gift they bring for the birthday boy is not theirs to keep. Last year for Ben's birthday we had a good old fashioned campfire in their backyard.

Auntie Maria & Benjamin, Fall 2010

This year, however, I wasn't there to celebrate his life on the special day. You see, my brother and his family moved to Manitoba this past fall. I am so very happy for them that they are where God wants them to be, but I do miss them a lot, especially my boys, Benjamin and Ezra. I haven't been the greatest at keeping in contact with them, but I didn't want Ben to think I had forgotten about his 7th birthday. So I made a video with my webcam for him, decorated a homemade birthday card, printed a photo of him and me together, and sent him an e-card. Today I got to talk to him on the phone. It was pure delight.

He's just started taking piano lessons. He played "God Is So Good" and then "Jesus Loves Me." Then he came on the phone and talked my ear off. It was wonderful :) He told me all about the fort that he and Ezra are building in the yard out of wood, bricks, sticks, and other random materials. Sounds awesome! I wish I could see it. He was just so expressive and I loved hearing him excited about life. He told me he is SOOOOO excited about our family reunion in Edmonton this August. I think it will be the highlight of his summer and of mine. He told me he's saving his allowance money for the trip, giving up buying hockey stickers now so he can save. I told him I'm saving up too.

Benjamin them proceeded to warm my heart by telling me that he, and I quote, "Really, really, really, really, REALLY, REALLY" wants me to come visit them. He said he'd give me a tour of their small town. I said I think he'd make an awesome tour guide. I can't wait to see this precious nephew of mine soon. I thank God for him and I'm committed to praying for him. I take my role of Auntie seriously. Benjamin is so easy to love and talk to. He's growing up so quickly, but I remember holding him when he was only a couple of days old. Now he's using big words, typing emails, riding his bike around town, and losing teeth. Benjamin Isaac, I love you!

Seminary Adventure

It has been nearly a year since I wrote my last blog post. Shame on me. However, I have certainly been doing enough writing lately! For the past eight months I have been attending Heritage Theological Seminary in Cambridge, Ontario. After finishing my Honours Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, God guided me into the next brief stage of my life: attending Seminary! I was quite looking forward to higher education where I could learn more about my faith, the most important aspect of my life. University was an incredible time of growth for me, but what I learned in the classroom from the typical atheistic professor was not applicable to my relationship with God. My hope was that Seminary would teach me more about God and the Bible.

And it has certainly done that! On my first day of class, I walked into the classroom with my white and pink backpack and pulled out my purple pencil case full of colourful highlighters, pens, and Post-It notes. I set my Tupperware container of Teddy Grahams or Goldfish Crackers (I forget now which it was as both are favourite snacks of mine) on the table so I would have a snack to keep me alert during the three hour class. I was mortified when the professor asked us to go around and say our name, where we were from, and...our favourite theologian! What is that? I had spent the past four years reading Communications articles and textbooks. The most Christian reading I did was historical fiction and missionary biographies during the summer. I sheepishly said I didn't have one but that I'd just finished the fascinating book, Through Gates of Splendour, by Elisabeth Elliot. As if that wasn't enough, he then informed us that we were going to get into groups and do an exercise using our Bibles. Who ever thought of bringing a Bible to Bible school? Not I! So I had to sit there silently for the next ten minutes as the other, much older, students pored over their ESVs and NIVs.

I rushed home from class, called my mom, and cried my eyes out. Why am I here? I'm half the age of the majority of the students. The average Seminary student is a middle-aged man, married with children, returning to school to become a pastor as a second career. And I was a 21-year-old who still found delight in my Goldfish-shaped plastic snack container. Mom wisely advised me to persevere. I did.

It would probably take me weeks to express in writing all of the marvelous things that I have learned this past year. For instance, in Biblical Introduction, we were required to read the ENTIRE BIBLE in two months. It was insane. But oh so worth it! To be honest, I did have to skip over some of the Minor Prophets, but the rest of the Bible I did, in fact, read. Wow. I see the Holy Scriptures in a whole new light now. God is great. God is good. God is sovereign. God is creative. God is holy. God is merciful. God uses sinners like me to do his work. In Small Group Ministry, I read a great book by Joseph H. Hellerman entitled, When the Church Was a Family. Now I long for the Church today to be what it was always meant to be: a family. A body of believers with Christ as the Head. By far my favourite book of the year was Christian Theology by Millard J. Erickson. It's a whopping 1312 pages. But through this book I began to understand what I believe and why I believe it. I could go on. Perhaps I shall in future posts.

The main things things that I've taken away from my Seminary education are: a love for the Scriptures, a desire to be a lifelong scholar of the Word, an awe of my Great God, a thankful heart for the absolutely incredible things I can see him doing in my life, a fascination for theology that I never dreamt I would ever have, a passion to pray, and an answer for people in my life who ask me to give them a reason for the hope that I have (1 Peter 3:15).

A Uniform

Sixteen days ago I packed up my apartment and moved home to live with my parents for the summer in order to spend time with them, work, and save some money for more school this fall. I had just returned home from a spectacular two-week journey to the Holy Land. It was just amazing - my fellow travellers were so friendly, the hotels were by far the best I've ever been to, the history I learned from the guide and the professors was fascinating, the landscape was breathtaking...I could go on. And I likely will, in another post, along with posting some of my 1500 photographs.

But the reason I chose to write this evening is because of what I have been doing the past three days. Since returning home, my job hunt has proven fruitless, despite my best efforts and even a couple of good interviews. So last Friday I signed up with a temp. agency in town and they told me to arrive at a particular conference centre/hotel Monday morning at 7:45am for a housekeeping job. I can't say that I was thrilled, but I was certainly in need of some work.

I showed up right on time, probably a few minutes early actually because I'm kind of obsessed with that, and waited with a handful of other ladies from the temp. agency to begin working for the week. We were taken to the basement and I was handed a blue striped shirt that labelled me as a chambermaid as soon as I put it on over my pink t-shirt. To be honest, I was pretty embarassed. Never before have I had a job where I had to wear a uniform.

Well, the work was long and hard and my feet ached by first break. I was so thankful to be put with a quiet, hard-working lady who was patient with me. Some of the other staff were not the crowd that I'm used to - their humour was crude and I felt quite uncomfortable sitting next to some of them in the lunchroom.

Everytime we went downstairs to the breakroom, I was hoping I wouldn't see anybody that I knew, lest they see the blue smock I was wearing and somehow think less of me, as I was already thinking of myself. I can't count the number of people who looked at me with disdain, simply because of my uniform, probably thinking that I was an untelligent girl who didn't speak any English, because I did not really talk to anyone. Every time I got that look, I felt like shouting at them, "Hey! I just finished university! At the top of my class! I just returned from a majestic trip to one of the oldest places on earth! I just quit a great job to move to this town! Don't look down on me because of this silly shirt! You don't know the real me!"


Over the three days that I've worked here, I made exactly $2 in tips, $1 yesterday and $1 today, from the same hotel guest. It made me so happy and I kept rubbing that little loonie between my fingers in my pocket all day. Another thing that perked up my day a bit was when a hotel guest was entering his room, one we had just finished cleaning. He looked me in the eye and thanked me sincerely for the work I was doing and how much he appreciated it and how important the work is. Simple, yet profound.


I'm done this job for now, as I am heading out on another trip this week, which includes my convocation from university. I do hope that I can find a more permanent job for the summer, but, despite the hard work, sore back, chipping fingernails, and hot rooms, I am actually thankful for this work because it taught me a lesson that I could have never learned had I not been the girl in the uniform. My parents have taught me to respect all people, regardless of their position, and we often thank the cashier behind the counter or the person collecting our garbage. But now I am going to make an even more conscious effort of thanking people by looking at them in the eye - because they're worth it and their job does not define who they are - and even leaving a tip on my pillow every now and then.

The Most Valuable Things I Learned During University

On the eve of the completion of my undergraduate degree from Wilfrid Laurier University, I would like to express my thoughts about the most valuable things I have learned during my university years.

= Your family is a gift to you from God. I am incredibly thankful for mine. Of course, I do have the best family in Canada. Thank you for your unconditional love, encouragement, patience, and a wonderful childhood.

= Seek out good friends with compatible beliefs and values. I have been incredibly blessed with the friends I have made while at university. I value these friendships far more than I do my degree.

= Make sure your professor learns your name. You may be intimidated by the size of the lecture hall or the status of the professor, but it is worth it to make yourself known. Talk to them after class, visit them during their office hours, or send them an email about a connection you made between the course and something in the news. Not only will this improve your mark, but you will feel more connected with the course and realize that professors are regular people.
= For your electives, don't choose what others call 'bird courses'. Take this opportunity to learn a subject that you are curious about. I've now taken beginner and intermediate Spanish! I love this language.

= If your laptop distracts you during lecture, leave it at home. Return to the old-school method of note-taking with a pen and a notepad. Doodling is not quite as distracting as Facebook.

= Try to stay in contact with old friends. Don't worry if you don't connect for a few months if you're both busy. Life happens. If your friendship is strong enough, the next time you meet it will feel like no time has passed at all. In the past two weeks, I have reconnected with five different friends. It's so great to catch up!

= Find a good church and stick with it. Take a few weeks to decide but then make a decision; church-hopping does not help you develop relationships with anyone. Go with a friend and make friends there to keep you accountable. It is super easy to sleep in one Sunday morning, and then let it become a habit. Worship, Christian fellowship, and serving are essential to the soul the heart, and the mind.

= Jesus is your constant companion. Rely on him through the hard times. But also learn to stick close to him during the good times too! May prayer be the air you breathe.

= Eat breakfast. It will help keep you awake during your morning classes!

= While I love getting A+s, I have learned that marks aren't everything! You will still pass the course, complete your year, and graduate even if you have that lovely nap or spend an evening with friends instead of studying. If a friend needs you, drop what you are doing to be with them. If your grandma calls, take the time to talk with her. If it's a glorious sunny day, go to the park!

= Find a great radio station on your radio or iTunes and listen to it each morning when you wake up and get ready. This makes me happy.

= Smile at people when they give class presentations and ask questions during their discussion time. Unfortunately, I have learned how professors feel when nobody bothers to unglue their eyes from their laptop screen to look at you or when nobody participates in the questions you have prepared. In a recent presentation, a peer gave me a great idea for my final project just by asking one question.

= Encourage others. It may be just what they need at that moment. This same peer stopped me after class to tell me how much she liked reading my blogs and that I'm a wonderful writer and person. It made my day and encouraged me greatly at the end of the semester.

= Spend quality time with family and friends. Plan parties, theme days, sleepovers, holiday dinners, movie nights, formal outings to dress up, apple-picking afternoons, beach days, and afternoons exploring the woods. These make for lifelong memories, beautiful photographs, as well as inspiration to get through the rest of the week.

= Learning is a lifelong activity. I have learned so many concepts and theories at school, but I am excited to take courses throughout my life in photography, graphic design, languages, and cake decorating.

= If possible, choose to write your papers on things you care about. Often, there is something in the course that matters to you personally, so research it and learn more about it. For example, I am currently combining my interests in Communications, education, and children to write a paper on media education for our youth. It's easier to write a paper on subjects that you value and you will learn something that will stick with you.
= Stand up for what you believe and for what's right. I've written letters and even met with the Dean. You may not always get the result you want, but it is important to express yourself respectfully and go as far as you can.

= Choose a major in which your interests and abilities intersect. I switched from English to Communication Studies. Maybe not a big difference to some, but I found it a lot more relevant to my life.

= If you get the chance to do something you've always wanted to do, take it! One month from today, I am heading to Israel for a Holy Land Tour. It is the perfect time to go: I will have just finished exams and not started a job yet. You have the rest of your life to make money at a job. Enjoy your freedom!

This list is certainly not exhaustive. But I am exhausted. Feel free to leave comments on what you have learned during your university years. I'd love to hear your thoughts.