Now that I am back in Toronto life has resumed its pace which has seemed to ramp-up with the Christmas season. It's been more difficult to find time just to think and reflect as much, but if anything my life in Tanzania taught me how important that is. So, I'll continue to try and find time to think. Even if it's just on the subway.
For the past three years we've done Secret Santa at the house. It's always great fun and we keep the price reasonable so the gifts strike that great balance of being entertaining and fun while also being a little useless. Rest assured, there were no iPods exchanged or Yankee Swap.
I took some candid shots of the guys that you might enjoy seeing.
Of course there were jokes, like wrapping up Chris' mail and giving it to him as a gift. But don't worry, he got a real gift too.
Pat got a great magic book and wand.
Mark got a Jack Bower action-figure. Though the wrapping job was a bit suspect. Maybe it was theme wrapping job.
Paul got some great DVDs.
Craig got a strange but hilarious book.
Jay got his favourite: Starkbucks money.
And then we had a group hug.
I really do love my community here in Toronto; both from Wesley Chapel and my house community. But it's hard work, a lot more than I ever really thought about. Living with people can be great and terrible all in the same day but I find at the end of that day, I'm almost always happy that I live with these people. But it's not perfect. Nothing ever is. A good friend told me a few days ago that good community needs three things: doors. locks. and hinges. I thought it was a very apt illustration. I'm glad I live in community and I'm also glad that I have a door. Together those things make life pretty good.
