Reconciliation between First and Second Nations peoples is a long and difficult road. That road must be punctuated with reminders, mourning and celebration of relationships and story.
This term at the Elsternwick Campus, our Reconciliation chapel provided an opportunity for our staff and students to come together in this spirit.
We sat in circles for this service, as there is no front or back to a circle, indicative of the mutual nature of reconciliation. Boonwurrung representative, Willie Pepper, shared story and insight, and we shared songs and prayers in the spirit that this opportunity was gifted to us.
Our Bible reading for the day was 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. Our particular focus was verse 7:
If we love people properly, we will keep on loving them, no matter what happens. If we love people, we will keep on believing good things about them, and we will keep on hoping good things for them, and even if we are getting trouble, we will not give up.
To close our time together, the community was blessed with this prayer, written by Uncle Vince Ross.
Noongar Blessing:
May the God of creation warm your heart like the campfires of old
Bring wisdom and peace as shown to the first peoples of this land
Shake off the dust from the desert plains by the refreshing rains
Followed by the glow and warmth of the sun
Let the light of God show us the right path and stand tall like the big
River gums drawing life from the ever-flowing waters.
