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2 SPRING 2023
PRESBYTERIAN
Connection
MESSAGE FROM THE MODERATOR
presbyterian.ca
 A Reflection on
a Good Friday
Encounter
  By the Rev. Dr. Robert (Bob) Faris, Moderator of the 2022 General Assembly
April 15, 2022 I met the crucified one today
on this “Good” Friday.
He had to sneak into the church and squeezed into my space— for just a few minutes—
when the others had gone
and when the wind was shifting to come from the northwest.
I knew him,
had met him often before had given him a few minutes and few pieces of silver
to buy my time.
Today though he wanted me to meet him
to stop and look upon him nothing that would attract my gaze
nothing that would take my time.
He was a survivor of the
60’s scoop.
His brother, his older brother, had not survived
had taken his life, like so many others in his family.
Or perhaps others had taken his life by his own hand.
He had been fostered, and abused.
He had been adopted, and abused.
He had tried to find his own family
and had been rejected too white
without the bank balance to make that worthwhile.
He was trying to love but had not learned how
and his beloved had not learned to love
and once more their love was broken.
He had been beaten and called worthless. He longed to be known
and to be worthy.
But he was brought low.
His mind had been scourged by the one he called Mother. And his body had been ripped and torn
by the one he called Father. Who is my mother?
Who is my brother?
The government would pay the pieces of silver
much more than the poor faced church ever could. Twenty-five thousand dollars. Is that all my life is worth?
Is that all my pain is worth?
Is that all my beautiful, contorted poet baby brother is worth?
And nothing for the one who is no longer here.
I will give it back to them gladly throw it down at their feet
if they would only listen to my story, truly listen.
But what government would ever do that?
What government even looks, really, beyond covering its ass?
I can play the system.
It is just a system.
The system that had grown out of the old Empire.
Is it lawful to pay taxes to the Queen?
A soapstone sculpture of the crucifixion by artist Thomassiapik Sivuarapik from Puvirnituq, Que., taken at Vancouver International Airport. PHOTO CREDIT: REDHA BELHACHEMI
She lives in England.
The system is us.
A new Empire.
A new way to crucify, and to paint maps.
To take and pay silver.
To not meet. To not listen.
There is nothing to make us listen.
Nothing that we should desire him.
Published with the permission of the storyteller.
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