STAMPEDE WEEK

Nathaniel Froese, Young Adults Pastor

I believe with all my heart that I live in the greatest city in the world. I love Calgary, I love Calgarians, and I love the culture of our city.

One of the most culturally unique features of our city is the week that we are entering into. Stampede week marks the height of tourism in the city of Calgary. For ten days thousands of Calgarians work and volunteer to make The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth happen and during that time well over a million people come and enjoy our beautiful city.

Growing up however, I often heard people joke about how our city becomes so busy that the coming 10 days is actually when real Calgarians leave - which is another fascinating cultural quirk our city might have. Over the years I have heard any number of people express different things about Stampede.

• More concerts and music festivals than any other time of the year happen during Stampede

• More injuries on those scooters I’m too scared to try happen during Stampede

• More fun food is sold on the Stampede grounds - but also just special menu items to commemorate the week across our city

• More trafficking happens in our city than usual during Stampede

• More community events happen during Stampede than any other time of the year

That’s a lot. I’m grieved that we live in a world full of sin and in so many ways, Stampede shows Calgary at its worst. I also am so often thankful by how much kindness human beings are capable of, and once again Stampede shows off Calgary at its best.

Lately I’ve been quite struck by Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:46-47 where Jesus expresses that if my love is going to mean anything, it really ought to be expressed beyond those who are easy and convenient for me to love. I love Calgary, but I wonder if this week gives us a unique opportunity for us to love God and love neighbour. Afterall, this is the most important thing a person can do (Matthew 5:34-40).

Our city is about to show itself off at its best, and its worst. So I wonder if we as followers of Jesus can meet the celebrations with our best? Can we commit to praying for our city this week? Our city desperately needs it. At a Stampede breakfast, can we commit to meeting someone new, even taking their dishes after? Can we commit to engaging with the community events in our neighborhoods? To be the hands and feet of Jesus where he’s planted us? Can we care well for the strangers we meet this week, no matter who they are and where they come from?

I’ve visited the Stampede grounds every year since I’ve been on the team at RockPointe, and every single year I’ve bumped into at least one other RockPointer. We are about to have a flood of people come and enjoy the greater Calgary area, and I’m so proud to show Calgary off, but I’m even more excited about the possibility of the kingdom of God seeping into our city, and I think this is a pretty important week to do it. After all, I’m completely convinced that it's the Spirit’s work of turning us into people of love, and joy, and peace, and patience… (Gal 5v22-23), that begins to alert people to the possibility of God’s kingdom fixing so many of the problems our kingdoms have created.