Reflections in anticipation of National Aboriginal Day Sunday, June 17 2012 Mother Jessica Schaap One afternoon a month, I visit the Young Wolves Lodge, a recovery home for young Aboriginal women operated by the Coming Home Society: a society which began here at St. James’ and in the diocese of New Westminster. During the visit we engage in conversations of often profound depth and questioning. Many are extremely vulnerable to believing that they are unloved and unloveable. Some of the questions they ask me speak volumes about the intensely diverse and adverse life experiences they have had. Here’s a sampling of some of the questions that get asked:
Have you done an exorcism? Are people who commit suicide damned? Can native spirituality and Christianity go together? Do you have workshops on having good relationships? What do you think of reincarnation?
When those questions start firing. I try to answer responsibly from what I have been taught from the Christian tradition and when I don’t know, I tell them or offer suggestions where they might find the information they are looking for. Today I‘d like to explore with you three things: 1)the nature and character of their spiritual seeking, 2) how their spiritual experiences and seeking is very revealing of our society’s assumptions about the spiritual life. 3) How we might offer to grow in solidarity and support of these women and their spiritual journeys. 1) Nature of spiritual seeking – fragmented; intensely curious