This is a great story of
true community and solidarity. You may not find it in the rituals but in
a moment when the voices of many minority languages are speaking
together on behalf of the holy creation and its life giving waters.
On our last morning we had the privilege of attending a Water Ceremony. This is a ceremony that is usually carried out by women, but all were invited to participate that day. Accompanied by drums and song, we walked to the river to give an offering [typically tobacco]. . . .
We each in turn approached the Grandmother who stood at the end of the dock and leaned over to give our tiny offering to the flow. Grandmother handed us a pitcher to pour water back into the river. Then she poured water from it into our cupped hands so that we could drink of the water that is life. Her lined and wizened face beamed at each one of us.
“Water is life!” the elders shouted, and the crowd called back, “Water is life!” Then “Water is life” was called out over and over in multiple languages, including many Native American languages, Ukrainian, Dutch, Farsi, and even Hebrew. . . . Water is life, and all of what is happening in this far, cold corner of the world is so much bigger than any religion, government, or institution can manage or legislate. The river is flowing and growing, down to the sea, we sang. There’s a larger flow that carries us all onward.
The choice to divest oneself of comfort and safety, to stand with the marginalized and affirm their dignity, seems more important than ever. That has always been the Christ path, but perhaps we are now going to be awakened to it with more urgency. No matter the outcome of political machinations and the strivings of empire, there is a quiet stream of loving resistance that values the true riches of the Kingdom of God—the poor, the vulnerable, the oppressed, the marginalized. It is the way that leads to Life. It is "The Way Of The Christ."
This story was reproduced from morning devotions with Richard Rohr
On our last morning we had the privilege of attending a Water Ceremony. This is a ceremony that is usually carried out by women, but all were invited to participate that day. Accompanied by drums and song, we walked to the river to give an offering [typically tobacco]. . . .
We each in turn approached the Grandmother who stood at the end of the dock and leaned over to give our tiny offering to the flow. Grandmother handed us a pitcher to pour water back into the river. Then she poured water from it into our cupped hands so that we could drink of the water that is life. Her lined and wizened face beamed at each one of us.
“Water is life!” the elders shouted, and the crowd called back, “Water is life!” Then “Water is life” was called out over and over in multiple languages, including many Native American languages, Ukrainian, Dutch, Farsi, and even Hebrew. . . . Water is life, and all of what is happening in this far, cold corner of the world is so much bigger than any religion, government, or institution can manage or legislate. The river is flowing and growing, down to the sea, we sang. There’s a larger flow that carries us all onward.
The choice to divest oneself of comfort and safety, to stand with the marginalized and affirm their dignity, seems more important than ever. That has always been the Christ path, but perhaps we are now going to be awakened to it with more urgency. No matter the outcome of political machinations and the strivings of empire, there is a quiet stream of loving resistance that values the true riches of the Kingdom of God—the poor, the vulnerable, the oppressed, the marginalized. It is the way that leads to Life. It is "The Way Of The Christ."
This story was reproduced from morning devotions with Richard Rohr
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