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The beauty in owning our mistakes

Writer's picture: Christine VanagasChristine Vanagas

Updated: Jun 4, 2023

Romans 1:20 states “For since the Creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made.”(NKJV) This verse always excites me because I can see similarities in how I was taught to see the world by some of my Anishinaabe teachers. We were taught that everything Creator placed here was given a purpose and is interconnected – the animals, the land, the water, the moon, star and planets, etc. Just in the same way that the fall of mankind in the Bible affected all of Creation, colonialism has had a detrimental impact on everything because we are all in relationship and interconnected.


The old ones say that Creator placed humans here last – so we have a responsibility to learn from Creation how to live in balance, respect, reciprocity and harmony. In the same way that a young child learns that certain squiggles become letters that form sounds and words, Indigenous people look at creation/nature as a text book. Our ancestors just had to learn a different type of coding to understand it and use it to transmit our ways of knowing.


The feather is one such teaching tool. The Dakota and Lakota people have a beautiful teaching about the talking feather and hearing one another. This isn’t a story I feel is mine to re-tell, but one of the details mentioned was how one holds the feather with the curve towards themselves so we are reminded that our words always come back to us. We, therefore, must be gentle and loving with our words. The teachings I received from my teachers shares a similar focus on the structure of the feather and what it represents about us and our journey here on earth.

The quill represents our path that Creator set us here to do.

The fluff represents our infancy because it is fluffy and soft.

Over time, we see the these eventually shape into the veins. These represent our choices and mistakes that often lead us off our path.

The veins are balanced by two sides of veins – good/bad, right/wrong, and to borrow from scripture, fearful and wonderful, etc.

The feather itself seems fragile, but it is designed in such a way that it actually withstands each storm.


In Psalms 139: 13 – 16, we read: “For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works . . . I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written. The days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them” (NKJV). It is my belief that what the psalmist is was referring to is similar to what Anishinaabe wisdom carriers have shared about the tip of the feather – this is where we enter into this world. Numerous were Creator’s thoughts of us, including the mistakes and choices that we would make that would lead us away from the path (or “book”) that was imagined prior to our existence. I am reminded by the verse in Lamentations where we read that Creator’s mercy is new every morning. Why? Because we would need it! Nevertheless, Creator chose us for to carry out our unique and special purpose anyway!


When I sat with knowledge keepers, they speak about not getting hung up on our mistakes. They told me that the world will try to define you by your mistakes; however, in our worldview, our way of seeing a person is measured differently. The veins (or mistakes) are there, but so are the lessons! And these lessons are what defines us and our journey. Therefore, the sooner you admit to the mistake, or take responsibility, the sooner you receive the lesson.


We are also taught not to look at another's mistakes with our own understanding. From the outside, our mistakes, choices, crimes, etc. may look similar, however, not one person’s mistake is the same because they will come at different points in our life and each person has a different lesson that each they need to learn and carry for their distinct purpose in life. This may be why restorative methods may appear differently in Indigenous circles- an understanding that it is all part of one’s journey is applied. One is not defined by their mistakes, but rather what they have learned.


So what is our role when those around us make mistakes, or when we make our own?


I think everyone knows the story of Adam and Eve in the garden and everyone knows that there was a rather BIG mistake made that impacted ALL of Creation. But even though a mistake was made, the Creator did not smite the garden and start over with new beings that “would know better.” Rather, we read that God, a patient Father, still went to look for them. He pursued them and wanted to spend time with them despite their mistake. Adam and Eve did what we all might do. They hid.


When I read this story, I believe that the God had to apply a consequence in this situation because not one person in this story took responsibility or admitted to their mistake. Adam blamed the woman that God had placed there, and Eve blamed the serpent. But as Adam and Eve were being led out of the garden, Genesis 3 tells us that God made them clothing. Adam and Eve were hiding because they felt naked and ashamed, but God responded in love and helped them find a solution for the very thing they were anxious about.


Comparing what I have learned in the teaching lodges and what I read in the Bible, I believe our role is to respond just as Creator did. We need to recognize the lessons that get us back to our purpose are not always easy to go through. We need to see that it is also not easy for our brothers and sisters. While there is a tendency to hide, I think we have a responsibility to change how we measure ourselves and others so we all have the ability and grace to arrive at our lessons surrounded by an abundance of love, humility, honesty, bravery, truth, wisdom, and respect.



God of Creation, You hung the sun, moon and stars (Psalm 8:3). You created the earth, water and all the dwell therein. The more we learn of Your Creation, the more we come to know your awesome creativity and wondrous ways!

I thank You that Your mercy is new every morning and that Your grace extends to us even when we fail. Help me to understand You more each day so that I may see myself and others as You do. Let Your Word be an ever present lamp unto my feet (Psalm 119:105) and order my steps (Psalm 37:23). I ask that you give me discernment to see the lessons along my path - and help me to extend love and kindness to those who are learning along theirs.

In your precious and wonderful name I pray!

Amen!


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