As I said in my first "Northern Light" print column, I hope to use this blog to interactively pursue some of the themes I touch on there. Comments are welcome and in fact encouraged. I am sure that our discussions will inform subsequent "In Contact" contributions.
If your first arrival in Yellowknife is by air (quite common) or by boat (romantic, but not so common for a first visit!) the structure pictured here will likely be the first hint that you are getting close. It is the head frame at the Con Gold Mine. The Con Mine and Giant Mine - both situated within the Yellowknife city limits are no longer active. The land they occupy is being reclaimed. Reclamation involves removing all the mine buildings, and because that means the red topped head frame as well, it is causing a bit of a stir among Yellowknifers.It might not seem like a pleasant landmark, but the Con Mine tower is a distinctive and useful navigation aid. Not only does it mean that you've arrived in Yellowknife, but for boaters, dog mushers, para-skiers, and snowmobilers it is a very useful and reassuring sight. It's kind of like our own magnetic north pole, or a GPS waypoint that can be seen for many kilometres in all directions. It has guided many people home, including me!
So when talk of tearing it down is broached, many people just can't imagine how that can happen. They speak as if they've lost their way.
I am reminded by this of another "way", namely "Followers of the Way" - a term that has been used to describe the early Christian community. I'm sure these our ancestors in faith were excited, confused, eager, anxious, wondering, determined and hesitant all at once. That's the way it is when you find yourself in the middle of something that is emerging - strange and exciting all at the same time.
I can't help but feel that present day times are much the same. We know that the great peril of climate change looms over us, and I don't dismiss the importance of the issue at all. In fact, I think that it is the most important issue we face - one that will challenge us physically and spiritually. I also feel that there is something happening in the world, and in part it comes from a groundswell movement of young people working on climate change issues and particularly the ways that human beings contribute to the problem. It is a spiritually based movement, one that serves to take us in new directions, with new insights, new ways of being in community together, with new openness to different expressions of faith, and a theology of inclusion that breaks all boundaries of separation, including ones we did not even know were there.
These then comprise "the way" I feel the spirit is leading me at this time as president - climate change, new ways of being community, emerging church.
What do you think? Thumbs up? Thumbs down? "Preach it brother!" or "Where did that come from?" Let me know with your comments.
Note: Links to outside sites do not constitute endorsement of the content, but rather serve as invitations to further reflection, study and information
