Reflections from Dave Young (Saami-Anishinaabe), a certified minister living in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory with his wife Steph. They co-run 'The Homestead': a healing, personal growth, and spiritual sanctuary
[4 minute read]
I’ve recently been diagnosed with cataracts, and I’ve discovered that living with cataracts is a lot like the journey to reconciliation. Reconciliation, like seeing clearly, takes “focus”. But not seeing clearly is also a part of the journey to reconciliation.
When you have cataracts, you don’t just lose focus, you lose depth perception… and get a lot of stubbed toes. For myself, like many people with cataracts, one eye deteriorates faster than the other. And since it takes the “ACTION” of both my eyes working together for my body to get anywhere, forward movement is often cautious and slow. This is like the beginning of reconciliation – slow moving.
For many Christians, Orange Shirt Day is often associated with “reconciliation”. In its simplest form reconciliation is defined as “restoring friendly relations”. However, if we as the church continue to accept this definition of reconciliation we will never get there.
A better definition of reconciliation is much more pro-active: “the ACTION of making one view or belief compatible with another”. This requires much more than a simple “land acknowledgement”. Or simple gestures like wearing an orange shirt one day a year. Simple gestures are the earliest stages of reconciliation.
True reconciliation requires relational depth perception; a willingness to relate so deeply with the Other that you are willing to have your understanding challenged or changed so that you can learn to share their vision or belief.
I’ve been asked to write for this year’s Orange Shirt Day and to be honest I am having difficulties doing it – because I fear that as a church/society we may lack relational depth perception. Social media makes it too easy to give simple or token gestures of solidarity; just press the “like” button, or re-post. But…
…As a follower of Jesus I believe it is foundational to our faith that we build bridges to “the Other”; those who hold a different vision or beliefs than ourselves. Imagine a church NOT known for their intolerance of the Other but rather for their willingness to relationally reconcile.
You may have noticed that I’ve yet to mention the bodies found in residential school yards, and its not because I don’t want to – the reality is that we (Indigenous people) have been talking about this issue since the early 1840’s. I just feel like its time for true Reconcili-ACTION; advanced stages of reconciliation.
So YES PLEASE put on your orange shirt, press the “like” button, re-post – AND plan to take meaningful ACTION.
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Part of constructing an action plan can begin with the steps already mentioned this week and visiting the links below.
