By Pr. Rhoda Klein Miller
“Shotgun! Shotgun! Shotgun!” Instinctively I froze behind a large tree I was walking past as the alarming shouts registered danger. It was 10pm and my neighbourhood street was normally quiet at this hour when I took the dog out for her evening potty break. Window curtains parted as curious residents responded. A German Shepherd ears alert pressed its nose against the glass of an overhead balcony. The pounding footsteps were coming in my direction. Three figures running right down the middle of the street. “SHOTGUN!” a young lady screamed as she tagged the EVO car parked a few yards from where I stood. Suddenly I understood and slowly exhaled. She just wanted to sit in the front passenger seat. Part of me wanted to scold them for creating an unnecessary disturbance and amping up my nervous system but as I watched the friends laugh and fall into the Prius I made a choice to shrug it off. Why was I so on edge? Why assume the worst case scenario? Perhaps I’ve been primed by recent news of gun violence. Maybe it’s my strong eschatology. Unfortunately too much emphasis is placed on the doom and gloom of the end of the world, but paradoxically the end of this chapter in human history is full of hope, relief and joy for those who live under a banner of love for the Creator and creation. Join me for further study in June when we tackle a three part message series at OAC titled “Is this how it ends?”