On December 9th, our congregation’s Social Justice Council recognized the creation of a new committee known as MENDING THE SACRED HOOP. The “sacred hoop” referenced in the title refers to the interconnectedness of all life. It incorporates animals, people, trees, fish everything that shares the original DNA launched with the creation of life. This group is focused on enhancing our congregation’s knowledge and understanding of this relationship and how it can inform our behavior today.
For some of us today, life is but a series of speeding interacting fractals moving through time striving to survive by getting more. This pursuit of “more” has left many of us feeling exhausted and without a sense of purpose. When we stop and appraise the situation, we realize there are other ways to live. Maybe it isn’t even a race!
Indigenous people from around the world organize their life around a circle. They engage as their primary teacher. What do the cycles of the year tell us to do? What does the beat of the drum invite us to consider?
We the originators of this committee feel that connecting to our native people will assist us in understanding their culture, traditions and gifts which are based on the core connection we need to mend. We do not seek to appropriate but to form an alliance of learning between us. It is our intention to create educational experiences for our congregation with the hope that appropriate action will follow naturally.
Grandmother Nancy Andry, (Elder & Storyteller of the Innu & Ojibway Nations)
Rev. Jim Francek, (Community Minister)
