Even though most students and staff were wearing a cheerful orange
shirt, there was a quieter, more reflective atmosphere in chapel this
morning. The focus was on a time period in Canada’s past where first
nations children were treated in ways that crushed their culture, snuffed
out future opportunities, and in some cases exposed them to abuse. One
might mistakenly think that this happened in times long ago and in places
faraway, but that simply isn’t the case. Residential schools still existed in
the 1990’s. Mt. Elgin, just southwest of London, had a residential school.
Water quality on first nations reserves is still a pressing, urgent concern
as exampled by Autumn Peltier, age 15, addressing the United Nations
last week.
Purposefully re-visiting these past and present situations of harm and injustice and lingering there helps our
students to learn. It urges them to recognize that sin exists, that people on earth can treat each other very
poorly, and that it is important to make it right. It helps them to recognize that as part of society, they participate
in systems that affect others deeply. It invites our students to the sense of urgency with which Christ directs us
to be reconciled not only to himself, but to each other.
Reconciliation is hard work, but the world has no shortage of need for people who are competent, committed
reconcilers, motivated by Christ’s call. May our students be a blessing to present and future communities they
will be working in. |
| September 30 chapel |
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