Ever had an experience that opened your eyes in a new way?  A few months ago, I took part in the 4-day North Pacific Conference “Journey to Mosaic” and I can already hear myself thinking differently.  The “Journey” was a racial reconciliation trip, and our theme was Rev 7:9, which assures that every tongue, nation, and tribe will have a place in heaven.  32 of us were paired up with a person of a different race in order to gain insights into different racial experiences.  We watched videos that educated us on how race has been historically treated and what racial issues face us today. We set out on a series of visits to interesting sites across Washington State, with a dip down into Portland, OR.  For instance, we observed how an orchard business ministers justice and creates community for its workers.  An honored Japanese veteran touchingly shared his internment experience. We heard the pain in a Yakama elder’s story of how a hydroelectric dam flooded out a thriving tribal center, and we were honored at their powwow that night. As one of the “Journey” facilitators, I wasn’t sure what to expect.  And I frankly admit that after 28 years in civil rights work and being Native American all my life, I wasn’t really expecting to gain much more insight.  But when you invite the Holy Spirit to reveal what He wants you to know, get ready to grow.  As you know, growth can be uncomfortable, especially when your insight is into your own prejudices.

 I’m used to accommodating and deflecting curiosity about my Oglala Sioux heritage.  That’s a superficial investment on my part because it largely depends on my mood.  Sometimes I engage and sometimes I don’t.  The difference between this kind of curiosity and the “Journey” is LOVE.  The pure love of Jesus, flowing from Him through my sisters and brothers in Christ.  I’m not used to being entrusted with the honest vulnerability of my sisters and brothers in Christ about their racial experience.  I realized that I harbored a deep mistrust that anybody could genuinely desire to understand what it means to me to be Native American in this world.  As I look back, I see that I was privileged to catch a glimpse of what it’s like to be who God created us to be “on earth as it is in heaven.” 

You can check out the reports from the Covenant Newswire and the North Pacific Conference newsletter http://www.covchurch-npc.org/news/pdf/winter2008.pdf to get more details and a fuller flavor of our experience.  I strongly believe that the Holy Spirit uses this kind of experience to bring racial reconciliation among us. I made friends that I won’t forget.  If you can take part next time, please do. You won’t regret it. 

Lts 1/31/08

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