After a sweltering Alabama summer and Ron’s two months of pneumonia, we and two friends looked forward to a breath of cool, crisp Canadian air. We boarded the plane with temperatures in the 90s and stepped into the 40s in Calgary. The air, lakes, mountains, waterfalls, and miles of trails rejuvenated our bodies and souls. God’s handiwork in Canada truly inspires!
Every twist and turn from Canmore to Banff and down the Icefields Parkway to Jasper revealed God’s majestic creation in all its splendor. Just because He could, God painted a couple of rainbows for us to enjoy, a reminder of His many sweet promises. We were surrounded by proof of God’s existence!
On the last day of our trip, all four of us looked for a nearby place to stroll rather than keep traversing treacherous terrain. (In other words, we were dog-tired.) The Policeman’s Creek Boardwalk in downtown Canmore fit the bill. The flat but winding trail led us past a historic Mountie station, across a wooden bridge, and into Spring Creek, a new development with timber-frame condos, trendy shops, and fragrant restaurants. As we ambled along, I noticed a sign that read “inSPIRE Ministries & Church.” Curious, we approached the front door, spotted information in the window, and decided to investigate.
While I was reading, someone inside gently tapped on the glass and opened the front door — it was the pastor. He enthusiastically shared his vision for the new church and their desire to engage with the Canmore community by introducing them to the Creator behind the surrounding beauty.
The pastor went on to explain why their church is called inSPIRE. They intentionally focus on the Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Relational, and Emotional (SPIRE) well-being of their members. Such an integrated faith can’t help but inspire communities to seek, reach out to, and find God.
I appreciate churches that focus on the overall health, well-being, and growth of the whole person. In Deuteronomy 6:4, God instructs His people to weave their faith into every area of life. “Hear, O Israel: ‘The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.’” Our Heavenly Father knows that real peace and joy come when we invite Jesus into our hearts and surrender to the Spirit who guides us to the best places. Genuine, integrated faith can captivate non-believers and draw them nearer.
In Luke 10, Jesus affirmed the command from Deuteronomy: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27-28) To truly love our neighbors, we must first love ourselves. Sometimes, that’s more difficult. We can’t do this unless our relationship with Jesus saturates and heals every part of our lives. So, I’m asking myself, “Which area of my life needs attention?”
Social: Do I see people the way Jesus sees them?
Physical: Do I need to eat better, exercise more, or get a checkup so I don’t grow weary in well-doing?
Intellectual: Do I read and study the instruction manual God has given me, not as a mere fact-finding mission but as a means of becoming more like Jesus?
Relational: How well do I intentionally connect with and spend time with family and friends?
Emotional: Do I need help getting past my past so I can enjoy the present and look forward to the future?
Our trip to Canada was a breath of fresh air and a source of inspiration to improve. Better still, the Holy Spirit is continually ready, willing, and able to breathe all manner of freshness into us and inspire us to become more than we ever thought we could. All we have to do is ask.
“He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need.”
(Acts 17:24-25 NLT)
