But how are people interpreting and working towards reconciliation?
Senator Murray Sinclair stated, "If you thought the truth was hard, reconciliation will be harder." This podcast is a forum to face the difficult, complicated, and messy nature of reconciliation. We have heard Indigenous leaders call settler people to step into this reconciliation journey.
Within this podcast we intend to deliberately place ourselves, those who come from a predominately settler background, in this space and identify where we can be challenged and encouraged to keep moving towards reconciliation.
Reconcile: Everyday Conversations is a project of Mennonite Central Committee Saskatchewan.
But how are people interpreting and working towards reconciliation?
Senator Murray Sinclair stated, "If you thought the truth was hard, reconciliation will be harder." This podcast is a forum to face the difficult, complicated, and messy nature of reconciliation. We have heard Indigenous leaders call settler people to step into this reconciliation journey.
Within this podcast we intend to deliberately place ourselves, those who come from a predominately settler background, in this space and identify where we can be challenged and encouraged to keep moving towards reconciliation.
Reconcile: Everyday Conversations is a project of Mennonite Central Committee Saskatchewan.
“If we are going to offer reconciliation to the world, we need to offer space. Space to reconcile ourselves to God and space to reconcile to ourselves”.
Jacqueline Block is a MCC Saskatchewan board member, has a Masters of Theological Studies in Old Testament, and recently finished training as a Spiritual Director. Jacqui believes that her own journey of reconciliation with God, in Christ, compels her to seek peace with and for others. Within this episode Jacqui challenges the listener to take risks in relationships, to know that there will be hurt and woundedness, but trust that we can turn to God for a true reconciliation.
Jacqui’s invitation to enter the reconciliation journey is to offer space. She states, “If we are going to offer reconciliation to the world, we need to offer space. Space to reconcile ourselves to God and space to reconcile to ourselves”. For Jacqui this means trust, graciousness, forgiveness, and risk as we engage in relationships. Jacqui goes on, “I allow God’s grace and forgiveness to come into my heart and allow this to be the key thing that reconciles”.
We invited Jacqui to our house for a meal and conversation around these five questions:
1. How would you define reconciliation?
2. What experiences have defined this understanding?
3. Where have you seen grace in the reconciliation journey?
4. How would you invite other people into understanding reconciliation?
5. Why is reconciliation important to you?
Then we recorded her reflections.
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Links from the episode:
Queen’s house Retreat and Renewal Centre
Mennonite Central Committee Saskatchewan
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Reconcile. Everyday Conversations is a project of Mennonite Central Committee Saskatchewan aimed at facilitating conversations among settler/non-Indigenous Canadians around our role in reconciliation.
Project Coordinator: Heather Peters
Recording and Editing: Jo Kroeker
Music by A Northern Road to Glory