That Ugly House CANADA By Nikki White
John had a beautiful view of Mount Baker from his house. For years, he had been enjoying the sunrise over that mountain every morning, each time feeling a rush of gratitude and intimacy with the Creator. So when his new neighbor decided to build his house on the one spot of their acreage that would block that view, John was mad. “Some nights, I would just go out alone on our land and yell,” said John. “But around people I’m a quiet kind of guy, so I never went over to confront them or anything.” He shrugged his big shoulders and smiled. “I just avoided them altogether.” As Multiply’s First Nations Ambassador for Western Canada, John Johnstone and his wife, Jenn, seek to build bridges and champion conciliation between those who are estranged or hostile toward one John realized that a another. John realized that a posture of resentment and posture of resentment and unforgiveness toward his unforgiveness toward his neighbor was at odds with that calling. But somehow neighbor was at odds with John just couldn’t bring his calling. himself to cross the lane that divided them. “They wrecked my view,” he said. “I didn’t want to know them; I didn’t even want to see them. Then our kids started hanging out and playing together.” He grimaced, remembering. “That made me even madder.”
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