“Any Takers?”

Acts 17:22-31; John 14:15-21

May 14, 2023

At the beginning of our time together this morning, I shared that I had an amazing experience on the Presbyterian Peacemaking trip: “Native Lands of the Southwest: The Doctrine of Discovery and its Impact.” [April 28 – May 7, 2023]

And that is absolutely true. It was incredible. So memorable. I wish you all could have come with me! In fact, if they do it again, I’ll invite you to come along.

Any takers? 

I do realize you may not all jump at the chance–especially considering that in those nine days, we covered 1300 miles, stayed in 5 different hotels, and had 21 scheduled stops (and that’s not counting any of the stops we made for gas, meals, or sleeping). 

Any takers? 

Okay, well, before you commit to either yes or no to this hypothetical future trip, listen to these other words that I’d use to describe my experience. Maybe they’ll persuade you to say yes, should the opportunity present itself… In addition to “amazing” and “incredible” and “memorable,” other words I’d use to describe this seminar include wonderful, beautiful, fun, inspiring, meaningful, powerful, unforgettable, life-changing… 

Any takers?…

Before we go any further, I want to share a few pictures from the trip, that support these descriptions… 

Our first stop was at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque…

Then we worshiped on the first Sunday at Laguna United Presbyterian Church on the Laguna Pueblo, the only Native church in the Presbytery of Santa Fe…

Then, very briefly, among some of the highlights: we went to Acoma Pueblo, aka “Sky City”…

and Chaco Canyon…

We went to Window Rock, AZ, headquarters of the Navajo Nation, and where there is a monument to the Code Talkers of WWII…

Then on to Canyon de Chelly in Chinle, AZ…home of the ancient Navajo people…

We visited Leupp Presbyterian Church, north of Winslow, AZ…

Once we made it to Phoenix, we went to Central Presbyterian Church, an urban Native American congregation…

And we also had a quick visit with some folks at Vah-Ki Presbyterian Church on the Gila River Indian Reservation south of Phoenix…

Maybe you can see what I mean when I use words like “amazing” and “incredible” and “unforgettable” to describe this trip…

So should that hypothetical future repeat occur,  what do you think? Might there be any takers?…

Well, now I might just be going to shoot myself in the foot, and push any of you who might be teetering on the edge of saying yes, right back to the side of, “No thanks, not for me.” Because in the interest of full disclosure, I need to share some other words that come to mind as descriptors, and they include hard. And heartbreaking. And humbling. And eye-opening. And challenging. And infuriating. And embarrassing. And painful. And exhausting. 

What do you say? Any takers?

Because we also learned first-hand–from Native people whose people were directly affected hundreds of years ago and who continue to be affected today–about some of the things–the terrible things–that were and are direct consequences of the Doctrine of Discovery.

For example, the unilateral and often violent removal of indigenous peoples from the vast majority of their land, and the forced removal of close to 100,000 Native children from their families, and subsequent transport of them to government- or church-run boarding schools, where their hair was cut, they were dressed in European clothing, and they were given new names. 

These children were punished–often severely–for speaking their native languages, as well as experiencing abuse of all types for any number of reasons. Additionally, they were generally not allowed to go home until they turned 18–if they survived that long…which too many did not. 

And this was not something that happened only in the distant past; many of the Native people we spoke with had at least one grandparent, and one even a parent, who had been forcily taken away from their family, some as young as 4 years old, and sent to a boarding school…where they were taught that everything about being an indigenous person was bad, wrong, sinful, and needed to be completely eradicated…

And there was more. 

More about the more than 500 treaties the US government has made with indigenous nations…and not kept. Not a single one.

More about the generational trauma that has been passed down from one generation to the next, with new trauma adding to the trauma of past generations, creating heavy, heavy burdens for all Native people, especially Native youth…

More about how indigenous women and girls are TEN TIMES more likely to experience some sort of violence or assault than anyone else in the general population of our country…

More about how the removal from their lands and the subsequent diet of primarily government commodities mixed with a more sedentary lifestyle have affected their health, which has contributed directly to the prevalence of diabetes and other serious health issues among Native people…

We heard more and more as we listened, and as we journeyed together. More and more that led to me using words such as hard. And heartbreaking. And humbling. And eye-opening. And challenging. And infuriating. And embarrassing. And painful. And exhausting. 

Having shared a more complete picture, I’ll ask again: any takers?

I hope so.

Because those are exactly the kinds of places where we need people of faith. People who are committed to the Way of Love. 

Those are exactly the kinds of places where we need people who are committed to seeing the Holy in one another, seeking the Holy within themselves, and bringing forth what’s Good and Sacred and oriented to Love in the world around them…

We need those kinds of people in those places where it’s hard, where you have to listen with humility, where you have to dig deep to be willing to be honest…

We need those kinds of people in the places where it’s complicated, where there’s no easy answer, where there’s no quick fix…

We need those kinds of people in the places where the hurt is deep, the marginalization and oppression is embedded, the pain is debilitating…

We need those kinds of people in the places where the inclination as a listener might be to feel guilty, or defensive, or incapacitated by the complexity of it all… 

And I’d suggest that as people of faith, we are that kind of people.

As people who claim to be followers of Jesus, we are called to be among those people!

And if we are among those people, I am coming to believe that we should want to be in those places!! Or at least be willing to.

Because those are the places where profound truth can be found, first within ourselves and among one another, if we are able to listen with love.

Those are the places where sacred relationships can be forged, first within ourselves and among one another, if we are able to listen with love.

Those are the places where deep and much-needed healing–deep and desperately needed healing–can begin to happen, first within ourselves and then between one another, if we are able to listen with love.

That was the kind of place that this trip was. And indeed, we heard and began to discover profound truth…sacred relationships were indeed forged…and I am convinced that deep healing did indeed begin to happen, on many levels. 

And all of that will continue, here, with you, for starters…

Even if this same trip doesn’t present itself in exactly the same way…

Because we have other opportunities to go to those kinds of places, to be present in those kinds of places, to be people who are committed to seeing the Holy in one another, seeking the Holy within themselves, and bringing forth what’s Good and Sacred and oriented to Love in the world around them…

We are not lacking in opportunities to go to those places and be those people–people who are committed to the Way of Love, as we continue to understand it through the life and death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

I wasn’t able to take you with me on the trip I just experienced…but I’d like to take you with me on this journey to those places…

Any takers? 

Amen.