I was part of a wonderful conversation over dinner on Monday evening with a group  of people being introduced to the new Bishop of New Westminster, Melissa Skelton.http://www.vancouver.anglican.ca/AboutAnglicans/TheDiocese/BishopMelissaSkelton.aspx  It was a festive evening, with a collection of very interesting people ranging from former provincial cabinet ministers, senior bureaucrats, for profit and not-for-profit executives, with a couple of facilitators thrown in for good measure. And in our midst was  Chief Bobby Joseph,  I urge you to have even a short look at his bio, http://www.sfu.ca/dialogue/programs/blaney-award/joseph-biography.html

I have had the honour of meeting him once or twice in the past, but Monday evening was the first time we were able to speak at any length, as we found ourselves standing to one side of the larger group in a quiet corner of the room. Our conversation focused, not surprisingly on reconciliation and on recent events in the US and elsewhere. I should mention, that because the Bishop was there I was wearing my clerical collar. It was therefore profound for me to be talking with Chief Joseph, especially given the history of the church (across denominations) and the residential schools.  And it was not profound at all, as we are simply two human beings doing the best we can in this place and this time. History, the present and the promise of a reconciled future; it was a wonderful evening.

In the midst of the conversation, Chief Joseph said, ‘you know, I’ve been thinking about this time of year, and that people just seem to become a little better with each other.’

What a thought for us all. What might it take for each of us, in our private, public and corporate lives, to become just a little better with each other? I hope that as we move closer to the holidays and the bringing in of a new year, new hopes, new possibilities, that we might heed the words of an Elder for his people, for Canadians, and for peoples all over the world, and become, a little better with each other.