By John McSwigan

When Benneth and I were in Ireland we made some new friends, Mr. Guinness and Mr. Jameson and his sons. We also learned about our Celtic cultural and spiritual heritage. Finding your rootedness in your own indigenous story is advocated by Dr. Randy Woodley, in Becoming Rooted.

He states that we’re all indigenous to somewhere. So finding your own roots can assist in understanding Indigenous (capitol I) peoples. Randy also recommends going outside to listen to nature and has a story about sleeping outside and how different it is from sleeping in your house.

The sounds of nature are all around and when you are outside enough you begin to hear layers of things that you might have missed at first. So my roots are Celtic and we learned that in the Celtic tradition going in a building to worship would be a non-starter. We had an outdoor worship service with Richard Groves, our tour guide in Ireland, and he was nonplussed at the pleasant warm dry day, because the storm and drama of the tempest was what he was hoping for.

Richard taught us about early Celtic writings and spiritual thought and one name in particular stood out. How many of you have heard of Pelagius? Ah, not so many. How about Augustine? Yeah right.

They were contemporaries and what Richard Groves taught us was that they were diametrically opposed in their view of the state of grace. He let us know that Augustine, and therefore the Holy Roman Catholic Church, held the doctrine that at the moment of conception Original Sin cut you and me and everybody off from God, whereas Pelagius believed that you could see God in the eyes of a new born baby.

Pelagius also believed that God was in everything and that belief is common to Indigenous people everywhere. Well, the battle lines were drawn, and Pelagius was outgunned. Augustine was a bishop, had the ear of the Pope and the emperor, and had Pelagius condemned as a heretic, not once or twice but four times.

And as John Philip Newell says in Christ of the Celts, the Church finally had to misrepresent what Pelagius said, twisting it to have him say that we saved ourselves and Jesus wasn’t necessary. Which he didn’t say but rather that Jesus came to reconnect us to our grace within.

So, why bring up a dispute from 4th century Christianity? Well I believe we still our dealing with the fundamental split in world views between Colonialism and the Harmony Way.

Randy Woodley believes that unless western culture and politics comes to the native point of view-the Harmony Way-we will perish as a species. The Earth will survive but we won’t be here to enjoy it. For us, the idea of separation from God and how we look at the Earth are bound together.

If you see the Earth as your home, your mother, you wouldn’t treat her the way a capitalist society does, as a commodity. Native Americans, Celts and Indigenous people all around the globe know this and have known for centuries. They see the Earth and nature and all peoples as part of All their Relations. We have to shift rapidly toward this world view for the sake of our children’s children.

Closing Prayer: Psalm 36, Nan Merrill Psalms for Praying

How precious is your steadfast love, O Companioning Presence.

We, your children, take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

We feast on the abundance of Gaia, the Earth; You invite us to drink from living streams of Life.

For in You is the very source of Life, and in your Light we see light.

May your steadfast love endure to those who know you, your saving grace to those who love truth and justice!

Protect us from the seeds of arrogance; drive away the weeds of greed.

Open the hearts of those who know not Love, O Beloved, that they might rise up and live in the Light of Oneness.

Amen

Walking Meditation, from Peace is Every Step, by Thich That Hanh

Walking meditation can be very enjoyable. We walk slowly, alone or with friends, if possible in some beautiful place. Walking meditation is really to enjoy the walking – walking not in order to arrive, but just to walk. The purpose is to be in the present moment and, aware of our breathing and our walking, to enjoy each step. . .

Be aware of the contact between your feet and the Earth. Walk as if you are kissing the earth with your feet. We have caused a lot of damage to the Earth. Now it is time for us to take good care of her. We bring our peace and calm to the surface of the Earth and share the lesson of love. We walk in that spirit. . .