Beginning Anew - July 3, 2022
No Recorded Worship Service This Week
Sermon July 3, 2022 - Beginning Anew, Carolyn Smith
Intro: Image of a big old Turtle coming out of winter hibernation, piled high with mud and growing stuff on it’s shell...
Stories of how things begin, how community came to be... timeless wisdom from family stories, from scripture, from Indigenous cultures all around the world:
The Creation of Turtle Island
Many Ojibway people like to refer to themselves as Anishnaabe, which means original people. One legend they share through generations is this one.
Long ago, aKer the Great Spirit Kitchi-Manitou created human kind, the Anishnaabe wandered away from their peaceful ways and began to fight amongst themselves. Families broke down and siblings fought siblings. Gone were the peoples’ harmonious ways. Discord, jealousy and biRerness ruled the people.
Seeing that the people had lost their peaceful ways and there was no longer respect for all living beings, Kitchi. Manitou cleansed the Earth with a flood that drowned the Anishnaabe people and nearly all life. The flood was known as Mush-ko-be-wun.
The only person to survive the Mushkobewun was curious Nanabush and he floated on a log searching for land. As he searched, he allowed remaining animals to take turns resting on the log. No land could be found because the entire earth had been flooded.
Nanabush decided, “I will dive to the bottom of the water and grab a handful of earth. With this earth we can make a new land on which to live.” Nanabush dived into the water and disappeared a long time. The animals waited and waited, worrying. Finally, Nanabush surfaced, gasping for air and muttered, “the water is too deep for me to reach bottom.”
The “Mahng” the Loon spoke -“ I can dive deep for my food in the water. I will try to make it to the bottom and return with earth in my beak.” So the Loon made a clean dive into the water and after a few long minutes, only small bubbles broke the surface of the water. Finally the weak and gasping loon returned crying, ” I could not make it, there must be no bottom to the water!”
Next to try was Tzing bi biss, the helldiver grebe - “everyone knows I can dive very well,” and off he went head first, and was gone. Again, a long time passed, and the animals scanned the surface of still water, and up floated the unconscious helldiver. After he was revived, he too recounted how deep and dark was the water.
Beaver and Otter and other animals tried and tried to dive down and bring up much needed earth to the surface. Even the Zhongwayzh, the mink and Mizheekay the turtle tried but to no avail. It seemed that no one would reach the boRom and return with earth to the surface for a new beginning for all living things. The worried planning turned to sad quiet.
A soft muffled voice was heard to say “I can do it,” and all were astonished to see liRle Wayhusk the muskrat coming forward. The larger more powerful animals mocked him as too small and too weak until Nanabush reminded them all that only Great Spirit Kitchi Manitou could pass judgement on anyone. So Muskrat looked around, prepared himself, and dove into the water. The water rippled out and then in time settled again to perfectly still.
Even the powerful ones who had mocked liRle Muskrat were silent and watching. Beneath the water, he swam and swam until he indeed reached the bottom. Even with his lungs screaming for air, he grabbed some muddy earth in his paw and used his last strength to push for the surface.
So much time had passed... then the ripples showed something rising and the liRle muskrat’s motionless body floated up. A cry of mourning and song of praise echoed from the animals as Nanabush lifted him to the log. And then he saw in muskrat’s paw a little clenched ball of muddy earth. Look, Nanabush cried, and all shouted with hope and joy. Muskrat had sacrificed his life so earth could begin anew.
Turtle then swam forward and said “I can help. Use my shell to bear the weight of this new Earth. With the help of Kitchi Manitoe, we can help it grow. As Nanabush placed the ball of earth on Turtle, the winds began to blow from the Four directions and the ball of earth grew and grew some more. It formed a mi- ni-si , or island in the water. And it grew heavier and heavier and the turtle bore the weight of the earth on its back. The circle of living things including Nanabush widened and sang to help the growing island. Then the winds eased and the water stilled. And a huge green island was there for Life to begin again. Many of us call this island North America.
Let’s hold special respect for Turtle and Muskrat as the Anishnaabe people do, for their sacrifice and sharing for life around them.
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Another flood story, a sacred ‘beginning story,’ ... like our Noah Story and all cultures have ancient stories of their beginning.
I’d like your thoughts.... With some of that storytelling spirit, imagine a muddy ball of earth mounded on the turtle, growing into a new living world ... How do you want it to be? What are some ideas for living or rules maybe that you would put in place?
respect, sustainability, kindness, joy, contentment. - May it be so!
This Ojibway story is a bit like our Noah story. And Our Ten Commandments story too - of people adrift in the desert, cut off from the world they knew before, broken by discord and biRerness and the power of the Pharaoh in Egypt that mocked the sanctity of all life... This story of course is a legend too passed down since 3500 years ago! as well but as with most legends, it is steeped with wisdom that stands the test of time.
And we can imagine a community of people, imagine our congregation - mixed and different as we are in our way, in a setting we aren’t quite comfortable in. For the ancient Israelites, they had been slaves and were now granted freedom, except it was hot and dry and aimless in the desert. We are casting about as a United church in a time where more and more people won’t even think about coming in our door. And Moses’ people are debating and worrying - how to BE a people together, like Nanabush and his animal neighbours - they long for a place that feels like home but they fight, and grasp for ideas like golden calves to worship or even yikes - turning back and submihng to Pharaoh again. Moses pushes through the clouds, up the mountain to sit with God again, and God offers some direction for their life together.
Last week, Deborah reviewed the first 4, which together seem like God’s way of being with me, you - as individuals - how do you live in relationship with the Divine? And this week, the remaining 6 commandments shift
5— Honour your parents, as in the ones who care and teach- your teachers, the ones who know things and share them... Then, 6 - Don’t Murder, and 7 - don’t commit adultery, 8 - no stealing, 9 - no lying about your neighbours,- And lastly, 10 - don’t covet things don’t be jealous of those around you.
Now, if we look back at our list that we made together... respect, kindness, caring, sustainability, joy, contentment...
These are the way - the rules - politics - the way of the poli - the people! Right here... and like Nanabush learned peace was better than discord and jealousy and he worked with the living creatures to rebuild the earth, Moses and the people heard these rules
5 - Honour one another and =meless wisdom. 6 Don’t murder or 7 cheat - because if you’re doing that, you’re breaking community down and you will be cast out - indeed the only alternative is to help each other thrive. And then 8 no stealing and 9 no lying- if we have built a community, if we’re living in a community well cared for, strong and sturdy, then there is no need. We aren’t to read these as individuals and side-eye one another like “I wonder if SHE follows all the rules” no! We read this as community - have we sat together, listened to one another stories and have we met each other as neighbour, as beloved of God, and committed to life together?
My prayer together is that Canada as part of Turtle Island, part of the beloved community, with all life - not only listens but LOVES to listen to each other’s stories, hearing wisdom and a way together.
That final commandment - no coveting what your neighbour has -no jealousy, no judgement - this finally can ring true with a spirit of Contentment and joy -
When are you content - not when you have everything... when?...
Surrounded by enough, by love, by possibility - and your neighbours too - celebrating, inviting you over for a bbq and fireworks on sabbath day off - Gosh that feels joyful!
With all your heart, mind and strength - this is discipleship - following a loving God - It’s hard but it’s good and right.
Our prayer for this nation today, for all of Turtle Island, of Canada, and this all- too-small planet we live on is the Way of the people in this divine dream of enough for all, and joy from our living.
May it be so. Amen.