Hi Joe, so much for speaking truth to power and working within a system to educate & expand understanding and empathy for neighbors. Found it difficult to click the ❤️ … still allowing myself to re-align somehow. As I regather, aim to continue working toward right relationships with indigenous peoples and for those who are in prisons or detained. Your daughter’s sentiments land squarely with me. As a white woman, married 39 years + to a black man, it is clear that we are entering a very dangerous time for any and all who are in the margins.
Jan, thank you for continuing to stand with our siblings on the margins. These are dangerous times, indeed, and nothing is more timely than the truth. May we all have the courage and clarity of a sixth-grader.
Wow, between your words and your wise daughter’s words, it feels like scales have fallen from my eyes. Currently I am in Vancouver, Canada where the people are protesting against the local government who plans to fell thousands of trees in Stanley Park and thereby destroying the habitat of countless species of birds, etc… one protester we talked to offered her support and sympathy to us as Americans as we did the same for her. Her advice? Don’t give up.
It's hard to hit the "like" button on that. And you are right: that thought has been in the back of my mind - probably should be much more in the forefront - since reading books by Sarah Augustine. Not only how we have destroyed the cultures and original peoples of this land - tragic enough - but also through our behavior throughout much of the world. After we confront that shame how do we move ourselves to repentance and action with the legion of assaults we'll be facing in the weeks, months, years ahead?
Such a great question, Diane. I believe true repentance is a repudiation of all that ruptures relationship and a return to those we have harmed in seeking repair of relationship. It requires a heart change that compels a life change. And, in practice, it will look different for everyone. For me, my repentance landed me thousands of miles from home, friends, and family alongside a people who have borne the costs of the systems of oppression that served me all my life. It required me to lay my body down next to theirs so that their fate would be mine. And, while everyone’s journey will be different, I do believe repentance requires us to join our lives to those we have hurt. That all might have life.
Stated differently, can we disavow the outcome of the election without disavowing the policies and principles that created the candidate who won?
Hi Joe, so much for speaking truth to power and working within a system to educate & expand understanding and empathy for neighbors. Found it difficult to click the ❤️ … still allowing myself to re-align somehow. As I regather, aim to continue working toward right relationships with indigenous peoples and for those who are in prisons or detained. Your daughter’s sentiments land squarely with me. As a white woman, married 39 years + to a black man, it is clear that we are entering a very dangerous time for any and all who are in the margins.
Jan, thank you for continuing to stand with our siblings on the margins. These are dangerous times, indeed, and nothing is more timely than the truth. May we all have the courage and clarity of a sixth-grader.
Thank you for your leadership and courage. See you in a little bit at the Roundtable
Wow, between your words and your wise daughter’s words, it feels like scales have fallen from my eyes. Currently I am in Vancouver, Canada where the people are protesting against the local government who plans to fell thousands of trees in Stanley Park and thereby destroying the habitat of countless species of birds, etc… one protester we talked to offered her support and sympathy to us as Americans as we did the same for her. Her advice? Don’t give up.
It's hard to hit the "like" button on that. And you are right: that thought has been in the back of my mind - probably should be much more in the forefront - since reading books by Sarah Augustine. Not only how we have destroyed the cultures and original peoples of this land - tragic enough - but also through our behavior throughout much of the world. After we confront that shame how do we move ourselves to repentance and action with the legion of assaults we'll be facing in the weeks, months, years ahead?
Such a great question, Diane. I believe true repentance is a repudiation of all that ruptures relationship and a return to those we have harmed in seeking repair of relationship. It requires a heart change that compels a life change. And, in practice, it will look different for everyone. For me, my repentance landed me thousands of miles from home, friends, and family alongside a people who have borne the costs of the systems of oppression that served me all my life. It required me to lay my body down next to theirs so that their fate would be mine. And, while everyone’s journey will be different, I do believe repentance requires us to join our lives to those we have hurt. That all might have life.