All Can Be One. It’s a Choice.

Last Saturday morning at the annual meeting of the East-Central Ontario Regional Council (ECORC) of the United Church, our day was started by Dorothy Taylor, an Elder of the White Porcupine clan of Curve Lake First Nation. Wearing just a taste of the beautiful beadwork that spoke of her First Nations ancestry, Dorothy greeted us in her native tongue, Anishinaabe, then, in English. We heard her, offered her our respect and our friendship. Dorothy offered us the same. She carried the message to us of the “Seven Grandfathers’ Teachings” of her spirituality and culture. She summarized these teachings as “Love, Respect, Courage, Truth, Honesty, Humility, Wisdom.”

In our Western society, what we fear, we reject. Dorothy represented First Nations people. There was no fear in the room. The seven teachings she shared were familiar, not alien. There was no rejection, only respect, friendship and learning.

The risen Christ said, “Do not be afraid.” Without fear, we can learn. Our guest began with a declaration. “The Creator God is the source of all creation, including us. What God creates is good. You are God’s creation. When you wake up in the morning and look in the mirror you can say, ‘I am good. I am beautiful. I am God’s child.” This message is all we need to remember.

Today I read John 10:11-18. In this passage Jesus speaks of himself as the shepherd. Shepherds are not as common today as they were in Jesus’ time, but we can understand the metaphor. I’ve read this passage many times prayed with it and preached on it. Today, I saw it with new eyes. In The Message, Peterson translates verse sixteen as Jesus saying, “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.”

Some people describe our First Nations people as being from a different sheep pen from that which we inhabit. That logic would put those of different ancestry, faith, race, and more in different sheep pens from Christians. Yet Jesus says, “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen.” For me Jesus says, all people are God’s people and calls us to follow his example.

Coming as settlers to this land, our ancestors met human beings different from anyone they had ever known. These strangers looked different, dressed differently, lived in a different spiritual reality. Our ancestors were afraid. They must have forgotten that Jesus said, “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.”

I pray that all Christians today will learn and follow Jesus’ teaching. His dream can be ours. There can be one flock with one shepherd. There is no need for many pens. It’s up to us. We are making a beginning. With every effort at acceptance, we take a step closer. Thank you, Dorothy Taylor for bringing your teachings to us. We were truly blessed.

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