The Heart Grows

"Decolonization once viewed as the formal process of handing over the instruments of government, is now recognized as a long-term process involving the bureaucratic, cultural, linguistic and psychological divesting of colonial power [1]” https://www.ictinc.ca/blog/a-brief-definition-of-decolonization-and-indigenization Jan 25/19  This re-understanding is my journey of decolonization, one rooted in my Acadian identity; rooted in my relationship with the Mi'kmaq, Wolastoqey, and Passamaquoddy; rooted in this Land.This is not an exercise in contextualization, or worse, appropriation, but in decolonization and unsettling the YWAM values for the benefit of all of YWAM.  Decolonization is the responsibility of the colonizer more than the colonized. Decolonization is something you practice. These values aren't really values at all but words of the Lord spoken to YWAM. These values, as time goes on, the revelation of these Words continues to change and grow. They are ...

This journey of decolonization has been long. Longer than I expected as I reflect. This journey has felt isolating. In many of my circles, few people were at this place, at least that was my impression. In the recent years, as I have become more vocal about decolonization and taking simple steps of justice and love, I have found many others. There have been certain people and incidents that have spurred deeper reflection and journey. I have to tell you that one of the communities that has helped me quite a bit is NAIITS--an indigenous learning community.  Though I myself have just been on the periphery of this group until recently, some good friends have journeyed in this circle for quite a while. I attended the recent NAIITS symposium this past June in Wolfville, NS. They have many of their lectures available to watch on their Facebook Page . The breakout groups and beers with peers afterwards were certainly my personal highlight. There are people who are thinking about this s...

"My heart breaks." That short sentence seems to repeat in me often this past year. There has been a lot of grief this year that has affected my family. My heart breaks. Injustice rages in our neighbour country. My heart breaks. Our Canadian government is not holding to its promises. My heart breaks. So much happens and my heart breaks. It is difficult to not become overwhelmed. Do you ever find yourself talking about something deeply and passionately that feels like a deep matter of life and those around you give you 'The Look' or its verbal cousin 'The Tone?' There are those already on the way of decolonization. There are those indigenous people that have lived and led and carried this way. Then there are those who look at me like I am crazy. They look at me with betrayal, like I am an enemy who used to be a friend. They look at me like how I would assume they look at indigenous people. My heart breaks. Relationships have been broken because of my decol...

Part of this journey of decolonization is simply celebrating together. Go to National Indigenous Peoples day in Canada. Find when the powwows are happening in your neighbourhood and check them out. See some great dances. Eat some delish food. Hear from elders. Just go. Let people know its your first time and you will have folks that will host you well. Learn about some of the stuff I do from my recent patreon post.

Well, I have not posted in quite some time. I am still not sure how often I will write here. It feels like I spend much of my life writing but none of the writing is particularly ground breaking or significant. Currently, this, what you are reading right now is full stream of consciousness stuff. I have kept a journal for 24 years. They are numbered and I am well into the 50s these days. People change and grow. When you keep a journal you can see how you have grown. That is why I have changed the name of this blog once again. I am on a personal journey of decolonization and this has been going on for decades but I didn't know  how to name it. This journey weaves itself between the many areas of my life. It weaves itself through the topics I enjoy writing about here: archaeology, art, and the Jesus Way. So we all throw things out into the universe. Sometimes we burn letters and the smoke and ash are blown into the ether, sometimes we talk to the trees as we walk through a fore...

St. Patrick’s Breastplate A prayer to finish this devotional path. This is the end of this book guided journey for me. It feels like the beginning of some of the lessons that the Holy Spirit is teaching me: the nature of 'accountability'  and St. Patrick. This book has also added to things the Holy Spirit has already been teaching me like community, Church, being missional, and contemplation. I am also challenged to  continue  this devotional/Quiet time journey with some other book but also in the  public  sphere.  I will be reading over and praying through this for the next several days. You can find several iterations through Google but after a quick look, I prefer the one adapted by Jamie Arpin-Ricci and its use of first person plural “we and us.” I included one version below. "I arise today Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, Through a belief in the Threeness, Through confession of the Oneness Of the Creator ...

Conclusion and Ear Worms The fear of death is powerful. Vulnerability is the paradoxical key. How typical of Jesus. He flips it upside down... Just like the Fresh Prince .  Share our weaknesses. Share my weaknesses. Humanity has this in common .  We all have that in common. We are all common people. I guess it is a music association morning.  This vulnerable faith is the truth and love. It takes a beginning and it is a practice. Just like many things. We practice and we get better. Vulnerable faith is both something individual and communal. Truly, following Jesus is a communal activity in the deepest and most real way. I and we are to share grief and joy and failings and triumphs and be ready to learn from others and to teach and to sponsor and to be sponsored. I want to live in this type of community. The eternal transformation and reconciliation is surprisingly present and right now.   That is the last one I promise. The automatic music choices of my...