Centering in Gifts
In his book The Healing Wisdom of Africa, Malidoma Somé writes,
…there are two things that people crave: the full realization of their innate gifts, and to have these gifts approved, acknowledged, and confirmed. There are countless people in the West whose efforts are sadly wasted because they have no means of expressing their unique genius.
Malidoma calls himself a “reverse missionary.” His people—the Dagara of Burkina Faso—were taught Christianity from Jesuit missionaries. His purpose is to share the wisdom of indigenous teaching and community with Westerners. This quote is a reflection of that wisdom. The Dagara understand that
- we ALL have gifts
- these gifts come into the world with us when we are born
- the purpose of these gifts is to maintain the well being of the community
- every human being longs to deliver their gifts and to have these gifts acknowledged
If this is true, we cannot promote and affirm the inherent worth and dignity of anyone unless we are able to acknowledge and receive their gifts. Centering in gifts is a vital practice for human well being and wholeness. This is true for individualsand the community as a whole. Our gifts are not for us—they are meant to build, maintain, and restore the community. The community needs us to deliver our gifts so it can be vibrant and strong. And we need the community to help us identify our gifts, show us where those gifts are needed, and to receive our gifts.
"Centering in Gifts" Posts From Our Practice Makes Possible Blog
Displaying 11 - 15 of 15.
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September is County Fair season in much of New England. In our UU congregations, September is also Ingathering time; water communion time; returning-to-church-time after far-flung summers laden with small jars of water from our travels and foot-long zucchinis from overflowing gardens....
By Wren Bellavance-Grace | August 23, 2021 | From Practice Makes Possible Blog -
A congregational board member called to ask what their church might do about their building. Like so many New England churches, theirs is old, labyrinthine, mostly inaccessible, and larger than they need now....
By Meck Groot | July 22, 2021 | From Practice Makes Possible Blog -
The following is based on content presented as part of the “Staying the Course” workshop at the New Day Rising Conference in February 2021. The full workshop is available to conference registrants through Whova and to new participants who enroll in the UULI course.
By Meck Groot | April 6, 2021 | From Centering Gifts -
Today, I sing praise for the gift of Black Lives. For precious, irreplaceable lives: Emmett, Trayvon, Eric, Tamir, Freddie, Treasure, Sandra, Breonna, George, Skylar, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and.... whose names I recall at all because Alicia, Opal and Patrisse and all the...
By Meck Groot | February 4, 2021 | From Centering GiftsTagged as: Racial Justice & Multicultural Ministries -
It’s been a hard fall. We made it through a virtual summer after our very first all-virtual General Assembly last June - and here we are already anticipating another all-virtual GA in June of 2021. The election season was both astonishing and surreal. As I write this, many of us are preparing for..
By Wren Bellavance-Grace | November 24, 2020 | From Centering Gifts