Get out of your shelter and stand in the wind

Afriend once gave a stirring talk in which he compared life to building a windmill. He said much time and technology is invested in the design of every aspect of a windmill from propeller blades to support structures.

“However,” he added with a grin, “when all is said and done, nothing matters as much as placing the windmill in a windy place.”

I’ve never given much thought as to how much effort I expend sheltering myself from some of the harsher realities of life.

Like complex filters put in place to keep harmful or annoying material from entering my computer, I’ve placed shields all around my life.

Something has happened this week that is causing me to question my sheltered lifestyle and consider lowering my guard.

I am writing this from the Kootenays in the middle of the Cops For Kids ride. Cops For Kids is a charitable foundation involving primarily members of the RCMP family dedicated to coming alongside children who have suffered a medical, physical or traumatic crisis in their young lives.

It’s amazing how many innocent little ones, who through no fault of their own, are forced to address harsh realities in their early years. Often they don’t fit any of society’s systems and fall between the cracks.

I can’t relate details, but today I hugged a youngster who swam in the last Special Olympics, and whose life was radically impacted by Cops For Kids.

Right beside her was a little guy born with significant medical issues, but who today is flourishing. Cops For Kids helped make his medical treatment possible

If I hadn’t had the opportunity as RCMP chaplain to join the Cops on this ride, I never would have met these children, would have remained in my sheltered bubble and would have gone on blissfully unaware that by riding a few miles and raising a few dollars, I can have a part in actually changing the outlook of a child’s life.

As a Christian pastor, I have somehow not paid close enough attention to the number of times the Newer Testament of the Bible says of Jesus, our leader, “He was moved with compassion.”

He saw people in all their need and he cared.

In other words, he stood in a windy place.

I understand placing breakwater barriers in our lives. No one likes to have to face harsh realities every day. But, every once in a while, it’s healthy to let your guard down and let the wind blow where it will.

Here’s one opportunity for you to do just that.

Sunday morning at 11:30 a.m., the Cops For Kids ride returns home to Kelowna.

Twenty plus riders accompanied by several “little ambassadors” will meet at the Enterprise parking lot of the Ramada Inn to celebrate how little lives have been touched by this year’s ride.

Why don’t you join in welcoming the riders home and hearing the stories from several young ones who’ve been helped.

Both will appreciate the encouragement.

And you might want to bring your chequebook along just in case you find yourself standing in the wind.

Tim Schroeder is a pastor at Trinity Baptist Church and chaplain to the Kelowna Rockets and Kelowna RCMP.