As I reflect on my walk as a Christian and my walk towards reconciliation, I notice parallels.
Before I became a Christian I knew a great deal ABOUT Jesus. That was before I actually came to know Him through a personal relationship. Now my walk is a balance of growing the relationship and growing in knowledge. Two very different, but connected, experiences.
My reconciliation experience has followed a similar path. I first became a student: reading the news; reading history (and fictionalized versions of history); studying the 94 calls to action (from Canada’s Truth & Reconciliation Report); reading survivor stories; and much more. Then, I intentionally set out to develop individual relationships, both on and off reserve.
My faith in eternity is built on my personal relationship with Jesus Christ. My faith in reconciliation is built on personal relationships with Indigenous individuals.
In each case, the study work is very IMPORTANT, but the relationship work is ESSENTIAL.
Without relationship, we are only pretending to love …
“Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.”
Previous Posts in our Reconciliation Series
Indigenous Relationships (serve under indigenous leadership) — posted 2021-03-27
Hayley’s Story (a parable of reconciliation set five years into the future)
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