Sometimes letting things go is an act of far greater power than defending or hanging on.
-Eckhart Tolle.
National Truth and Reconciliation Day
National Truth and Reconciliation Day– September 30
Image: Unsplash/Aedrian
This is the second year in which we are called to remember the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation or more simply known as “Orange Shirt Day”. The focus of the day is to remember the children who died at Residential Schools and those who survived those schools but continue to live with the trauma of their experiences long after the last of those schools closed.
I want to acknowledge this day and I want to say thank you to the Indigenous people who invite us in healing and friendship to learn, to seek to understand and in some cases even to dance. It is day to express that it is time to heal the hurts of the past and be allies as we walk together into the future. This will take time but this is a new moment to seek healing and reconciliation for the wrongs of the past. Also, when we gather we also learn more of the truth about our Aboriginal peoples and their rich and meaningful culture and ceremonies. We learn because these people are good storytellers and stories tell us who they are and who we are.
Such change and new understanding does not come all at once, or to each person in the same way. It a journey that involves coming to know each other, listening to each other, and walking together into a new day.
I will wear my orange shirt to express that going forward I will not forget the past, and also to express my desire and commitment to create the healing needed and do this together because together we are stronger!
-Sister Joan Atkinson, CSJ, Office for Systemic Justice | Sister of St. Joseph
It Takes a Whole Community
It takes a whole community…
The city of London, Ontario could learn from the people in the Maritime provinces when it comes to helping each other. I am speaking about the response of people rolling up their sleeves to help in large and small ways to address the devastation that has hit so many individuals and families who are dealing with the effect of Hurricane Fiona. We in London are facing a homelessness crisis. We need to come together and to find a humane way to work with the people who are without food and shelter. The solution the City of London has applied to shut down this program at the Baptist Church on Richmond St. due to a bylaw violation will not change much. This may satisfy a few people who live or work in this area, but it is not the solution that is needed to create real change for everyone but most especially for those who need shelter, food and a lot of understanding.
Image: Unsplash/Jon Tyson
As the colder weather approaches us, this is not a problem that can be kicked down the road for a new council. This is problem that all of us, who are a part of London, need to listen to and understand the multiple perspectives of many people. People of faith communities, people at City Hall, people who are homeless, businesses in the downtown, neighbours, agencies, health care people and likely others who I have not named have ideas. This is a challenge facing all who live in the city - in which a simple or “one size fits all” solution will not address the crisis.
I would advocate that we start coming together to talk to each other and even more importantly, listen to each other. I believe hidden in the spaces of such conversations are spaces for some new and innovative ideas to emerge.
“I wonder if…” ideas worth considering could help us all move forward together. We will all be better for it.
Sister Joan Atkinson, CSJ | Office for Systemic Justice
National Good Neighbour Day
Originally, National Good Neighbor Day was created in the early 1970s by Becky Mattson of Lakeside, Montana. In 1978. United States President Jimmy Carter issued Proclamation 4601: “As our Nation struggles to build friendship among the peoples of this world, we are mindful that the noblest human concern is concern for others. Understanding, love, and respect build cohesive families and communities. The celebration has since become one of international significance.
Using the occasion of Good Neighbor Day has facilitated for me a most delightful trip down memory lane. Many past good neighbours popped into mind. Let me introduce you to a few.
Mrs. M. our next-door neighbour about 65 yr. ago was very good to 5 yr. old me. What defined good in the mind of this child? Well, she and I traded bird, flower, and animal cards from Red Rose tea. I always ended up with a full set and at that age I couldn’t imagine why she always traded her singletons. Though the cards have long since been donated, her kindness and fun have always stuck with me.
In Ottawa in the 70s many young children neighbours would knock on our door to see if I would come out to play. They wanted to play football because they had seen me walk up the street with one, a gift for the coming weekend. We had great fun until I took a tumble and then they became my caregivers, bringing me dandelion bouquets. Their reaching out to me, then and now, is one significant definition of good neighbour.
Most recently, I have young neighbours on both side of me. We all enjoy gardening and so often chat over the fence and exchange veggies. At most, they are half my age so their interest and willingness to engage with this white-haired lady brings me joy and awareness of what is important to the youth of the day. Their help with the heavy lifting doesn’t go unnoticed.
I often pray in the yard and am stilled by the birds, squirrels, rabbits, the cool breeze, and the shade of the maples. These too are good neighbours and ask only that I watch, listen, and learn from them.
Are all neighbours good? I guess it depends on your definition.
Are all neighbours, near or far, dear? Absolutely! May we pray for and enjoy all your neighbours and strive to be good ones.
-Maureen Condon, CSJ Associate
Advocacy in Action
It has been wonderful to see churches in London stand up and declare that outreach to people living on the street is at the heart of their mission and integral to their ways of doing worship. And there is no doubt Ark Aid Street Mission is doing critical work, meeting needs which are not being adequately addressed.
SEE ARTICLE HERE
Image: Unsplash/Nathan Dumlao
Equally encouraging has been the number of Londoners calling for City Hall to sit down with business owners, church ministers, and social agencies to find adequate solutions to the current situation. Such a dialogue would be more complicated than simply slapping a church with a bylaw infraction, but one hopes it would yield more fruit – and certainly more justice.
At the same time, the current situation begs the question: What is the city’s plan for ensuring the wellbeing of the estimated 300 people who live outdoors? How might the city’s budget surplus of $14 million come into play? How can we better support the critical work of social agencies in the city? And might we, as Londoners and City Hall together, advocate to the provincial government to use the $7.2 billion it budgeted, but didn’t spend (and indeed to add to this total) to boost programs such as OW and ODSP, mental health services, and affordable housing so we’re actually addressing some of root causes of homelessness?
-Sister Sue Wilson, Office for Systemic Justice