A Few Random Thoughts on Community

Our recent move triggered a few more thoughts I feel compelled to share. After this, I promise maybe I’ll move on to something new. Perhaps.

Awesome neighbours

It may be one of the best-kept secrets in Portage la Prairie. The Sunset Drive/Yellowquill Drive neighbourhood is the finest you could want and we will miss it. Each summer, residents hold their garage sales on the same day, ending with a community potluck. They get together at Christmas and send around gifts and cards when someone is sick or bereaved. In the four years we were privileged to live there, we participated in only a few of these events, but felt deeply touched to receive a lovely plant when Jon’s dad died. These folks raise the bar for what it means to be a community and I want to say, keep up the great work and thank you for showing us what a good neighbourhood can look like.

Muscles r us

A priceless crew of friends turned out to move our eclectic belongings and they pulled it off in a morning. (Thanks Nate, Shaun, Laura, Malachi, John, Barb, Nathan, Paul, Ferdi, Evan, Jean-Marc, Alli, and Chris! We appreciate you all.) Stuff flew out of that house and into the new one faster than I could give directions of where it should go.

If only the unpacking went that quickly.

Who knew?

Now that my walk to work takes me over the Tupper Street bridge, I’ve discovered a plaque on each end telling when it was built (1964), who contributed to the cost, and who served on City Council at the time. Did you know its official name is “Skyline Bridge?” I sure didn’t. Wonder why no one ever calls it that?

Prayer Walks

Speaking of neighbourhoods, how do you feel about yours being prayed for? From August 4-11, my church (Portage Alliance) will enter into a 24/7 week of prayer for our town, where people can volunteer to sign up for time slots around the clock and ensure prayers go up for Portage and surrounding communities 24/7, hopefully with no areas getting missed. We have done this many times before, but this time we are taking advantageous of our brief summer and taking it to the streets. 

So don’t be surprised if you see more than the usual number of folks taking a walk past your house or business. You may or may not be able to tell that some of these will be “prayer-walking,” asking God to rain blessings specifically on you and your home, for protection from harm, reduction in crime, and so on. I’ve signed up myself. You don’t need to attend our church to participate. You can sign up or find more information at www.portagechurch.com. Click on “24/7 Prayer.”

I don’t personally know anyone opposed to these prayers being prayed in their corner of town, although I suppose there might be a few. Unlike the “anti-fogging” appeals for mosquitoes, I am not aware of a number you can call to request a “prayer-free” zone around your house. Sorry.

 

It’s hard sometimes to keep believing in what you can’t see, isn’t it? May you see the results of answered prayer in your neighbourhood soon. If you don’t believe in prayer, I assume you at least trust it can’t hurt.