Jim and I host Labyrinth walks four times per year on the change of seasons. This years walk was special as we were celebrating the 15th anniversary of the construction of the labyrinth as well as paying tribute to our country, being Canadian and the 150th anniversary of confederation. As I reflected on the event, and wanting to create/write something to read prior to the labyrinth walk, I explored what Canada means to me and what it means to be Canadian.
This is what came to me:
I am Canadian, born from generations of Irish and German, immigrants who arrived on eastern shores seeking refuge from persecution, a safe place to raise families, prosperity and a new home.
We are Canadian, a tapestry of immigrants who have landed on this soil across the centuries.
We are Canadian, the original inhabitants who lived from the earth and roamed the great expanses of land before the Europeans began to trickle in.
We are a nation, born of diverse cultures, values, races, religions and belief systems.
As we gather here this evening on the eve of Summer Solstice and the eve of Canada’s 150 years of confederation, we do so with the intention of love, peace and harmony throughout our nation.
We stand proud in our desire to lead the world in peace, in health, in protecting our precious Mother Earth.
We are responsible for serving this great nation of ours as stewards of her beauty and bounty, her resources and nature.
We choose pro-activity over inaction, intention over complacence, leadership over following, speaking out over acceptance through silence, respect and love over animosity and judgment.
We take our place in the world with pride. We stand up for justice. We walk tall with the belief that we inhabit one of the greatest nations in the world.
We are Canadian.
I also wrote this prayer:
Mother/Father God.
We ask for your blessing for all who join us in celebrating our Canadian home, for those who are here with us in spirit, for our neighbors, friends and families, for our communities across Canada and beyond, for our nation.
May we prosper.
May we lead with love and through peace.
May we take our place in the world as good stewards for Mother Earth.
May we thrive and lead by example.
For now, and forever, for as long as it is appropriate, in gratitude, Amen
Please feel free to share this on if it speaks to you.
Until next time,
Betty