November 2026
I have learned over the years that all of us have a long and checkered history. In our past we all have seasons of pain, joy, love, dislike, success, and failure. And every part of our past influences who we are today.
In the course of my job, I am frequently privileged and trusted with people's personal life stories. These stories give me precious insight into their actions and motivations. Let me give you some examples from my life in the city.
A business leader left a very successful business to run a national family-focused non-profit. It was years later that I learned how his mentally unstable son had killed his only brother and then himself. The businessman's change of direction had been precipitated by this devastating personal tragedy.
Another friend had a business crisis 45 years ago, so he borrowed money from a Christian friend. Several years later he called his friend to say he was ready to pay him back. His friend surprised him by saying, “Don’t repay me, but please give the money you owe me to those in need in B.C.” My friend gave that money to charity and since then, for over 40 years, has been involved in philanthropy.
A woman I know who was a sex worker in Vancouver many years ago came to faith and now works with other former sex workers and their children, supporting them both financially and relationally.
In my own past with my family, friends, and extended family, I have seen divorce, addiction, affairs, struggles with mental health, poverty and wealth, crises of faith, and reliance on faith.
All of us have done things in our past life that make us proud or ashamed. We have been both kind and unkind in our actions and words. We have experienced good and bad fortune. Our past chapters include joy, guilt, gratitude, wonder, fear, love, sadness and happiness, clarity and confusion. We have good memories and also some experiences we try to forget.
The only person who knows all of our chapters is God. And He is the only One who can bring healing and forgiveness. “O Lord, you have searched me and known me! ... you are acquainted with all my ways.” “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” — Ps. 139 & 147
Going forward, let us keep in mind two things. Every person we meet has a history we know nothing about. And, equally, they don’t know our history either.
Hopefully this will give us the humility to listen, ask questions, and not judge. In this way, we will discover more about them and perhaps also ourselves. And if we invite God to be a part of this interaction, we may find ourselves experiencing His scripture: “Carry each other’s burdens and so live out the law of Christ.” — Gal. 6:2
Blessings,
Tom