Friday, January 3, 2003

Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe is condemned. Mark 16:15-16

Remember (anticipate) your baptism and be thankful.

Perhaps we have had the privilege of participating in a worship service where this remembrance (anticipation) took place. It's a wonderful service. The pastor walks up and down the aisles of the church flinging water at everybody and says the words, "Remember (anticipate) your baptism and be thankful."

The people in the congregation get wet. The drops of water fall in a kind of haphazard way. Touching them. (A wonderful metaphor for grace.)

As we begin a new year it is important to remember who and whose we are and to consider the challenges of our day. And one of the great challenges we know in our time of an ever-shrinking world is the reality of the many differences within the human family.

Differences that include appearance, ethnicity, language, traditional customs, thoughts, religions, etc. And the challenge for us as Christians is, "How do we proclaim the good news that we are blessed to know in ways that reflect our joy and the unique gift of our baptism and at the same time approach others who hold different ideas in ways that demonstrate a sense of mutual respect and sharing?"

It's a difficult question. And for me these words of Chief Red Jacket of the Seneca people spoken in 1805 continue to hold kernels of insight.

Brothers, the Great Spirit has made us all. But He has made a great difference between His white and red children. He has given us a different complexion and different customs. (1)

Within Chief Red Jacket's words is the assumption that the same creator creates all people. This was a starting point for many of the Native Americans on the North American continent. However, history tells us that this was not always an assumption given to the Native Americans by those who came to settle.

This is not said to negate the many acts of courage, faith and nobility that was demonstrated on both sides. Nor is it an attempt to belittle the acts of violence and even atrocities committed on both sides. For both sides acted in human ways. Demonstrating the best and the worst that is within us.

And I can't help but wonder if that wasn't Chief Red Jacket's point all along. Pointing us to an assumption by which bridges of difference can be crossed.

John Ruiz

(1) Kent Nerburn, The Wisdom of the Great Chiefs: The Classic Speeches of Chief Red Jacket, Chief Joseph, and Chief Seattle (New World Library: San Rafael, California) 1994, p. 9.