Our story

​Our story
 
When I arrived in the village of Hoonah in Southeast Alaska which was inhabited primarily by Tlingit Indians, I learned when Christian missionaries took over they forbid them to speak their native tongues, destroyed many of the totem poles which was their way of recording history, introduced new foods, and attempted to convince them that their spiritual history was not acceptable to God.   Christians are not the only ones who have been historically convinced that their version of God was the one true version or that their set of beliefs about how to live was the only way to live.  Many groups, in the name of the God of their understanding, have attempted to destroy all aspects of the history of a people and, thus, their story.
 
I was reminded of the above this morning when listening to:
 

• A Ted Talk by Gus Casely-Hayford entitled “The powerful stories that shaped Africa.
• A comment on the news that if the accusations against Senator Roy Moore were true then the accusers would not have waiting 40 years to tell their stories.
• News reports have the meeting Between President Trump and President Rodrigo Duterte.

 
The common theme of these is, of course, the telling of one’s story.   Many have said that we are our stories.  Any group or cultures has many stories. Many of them may contradict each other. For example:
 

• Senator Moore denies the allegations that he had sexual relationships with teenage girls many years ago.
• Those women who accuse Senator Moore of sexual abuse say they finally feel safe to tell their story.
• African, Alaska, Australia, and other places have stories depicting very complex and rich histories preceding the arrival of other people and cultures.
• President Duterte apparently believes he is ridding the country of undesirables. His apparent belief about the rights of humans is very similar to that of Stalin or other leaders who believe that humans must reach a certain level of development before they need to be treated as sacred.
• If we are to believe President Trump’s language he has a similar views, which may explain his friendship with President Duterte.

 
Daily we are invited to incorporate the stories others are telling into our stories as individuals and as citizens.  Daily we must decide which stories we will believe and, thus honor. How do we make those decisions?
 
If we listen to people such as Jesus, the Buddha or other wise teachers we are told some version of what Matthew reported that Jesus said, “You shall know them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:15-20).   What are the fruits by which we can judge?
 

• Sometimes artifacts of buildings, potters, art, and music are the fruit.
• Sometimes the evidence of death and destruction are the fruit.
• Sometimes the evidence of those who treat “the least of these” with respect is the fruit. Consider Mother Theresa, Homeboy Industries, some of the programs of the YWCA, and other acts of love.
• Sometimes we make a judgment based on recorded and admitted acts such as Judge Moore’s actions following a Supreme Court decision regarding the rights of GLBT individuals. 
• Sometimes, as we grow spiritually, we tell a different story.   We may start off on a spiritual journey blaming other people, places and things, but as we grow, we are able to admit that we previously made decisions, which hurt others and kept us disconnected.  Our truths and, thus, are stories change with growth.

 
The story I tell “you” and myself is who I am today.  Tomorrow I may have the ability or the courage to tell a new story.
 
Written November 13, 2017