Village News

There is a reason the Ten Commandments were written on stone tablets and that teenagers spray their names on Cambrian rock along public highways. Important things are meant to be seen and remembered for a long time, whether it be heaven’s wisdom or an individual life story. We want our lives to count and leave a legacy. The best way to do that is to first internalize the legacy of those who came before you. By knowing the overarching narrative and their stories you can add your chapter and keep the intrigue going. Legacy is not just about one person, but the community and story we are a part of. Today, we don’t know our place and we wonder why our lives and worlds are so disjointed.

I haven’t figured it out yet, but something inside of me says that our ancestors are more important to our well-being and vitality than we realize. That they are still with us. Providing us light as bright as a star even though it may have died centuries ago. Maybe this is what the Apostle Paul meant when he encouraged us to ‘shine like stars in the universe.’ That we should leave an enduring example and some traditions for our children to be guided by for years and centuries to come. However, if we don’t first honour and remember our ancestors, we should not expect the next generations to remember us when we join the ancestors. This is how we can leave a legacy.

Here is a poem I wrote about my five years of experience at Mennonite Heritage Village (MHV) so far:

What Mean These Stones?

A poetic phrase that sits heavy across the steel doorway to our galleries.
A phrase first recorded when God told His ancient people to remember.
Rising from the dead, they keep coming up in the fields and gardens that sustain us.
We pile them to the side, not sure what to do with them.
Another ancient people take them and put them into a sacred fire.
As they leave the fire and enter the womb of the sweat lodge they are welcomed as grandmother and grandfather.
‘Boozhoo Momonikiss! Boozhoo Nimishoomis!’
Who knew rocks could burn and cleanse?

Be sure to attend Dr. James Urry’s livestream at MHV on April 18th about his new book titled “On Stony Ground”.