4 Pentecost 2013 - THE SPIRIT OF ERIE

This is the place, my children, which your father, the Great Spirit has chosen for the site of your villages. The hills and the plains abound in game to feed you and clothe you; the pure water from the streams will slake your thirst; the fields will yield a hundred fold returns from the labors of your women; the lake will furnish you fish in abundance; the sun rising beyond the mountains in the East will give you life and the cool, health-giving breezes coming from the land of snow and ice will strengthen your sons and daughters in mind and body so that you, my favorite children, ma be the pride of your race.” – from an Indian legend of Presqu’ Isle

Working on the Perry 200 celebration’s grand pageant, THE SPIRIT OF ERIE, has been a grand undertaking. More than 200 volunteers in the cast, orchestra, and crew of the event have been working for months creating this entirely original experience. While it has been a labor of love to create, it has also been a wonderful lesson in Erie history.

What have been the greatest revelations have been the stories and perspectives of the Eriez Nation, the Native Americans who were among the first to inhabit the shores of the bay. They understood that this place we call home is an extraordinary place – a place of plenty, with a wealth of resources and beauty. They felt that they were special because the Great Spirit had blessed them with this land of wonder.

When I thought about the daughters and sons of Jacob, returning to Canaan, a land flowing with milk and honey, with abundance of gifts and the richness of the resources, it was not hard to draw the parallel. When you have much, it is perfectly natural to look to God and give thanks.

Sometimes, though, we forget what we have and see only what we lack. When we look at other places, and then look to our own community, we can covet what others have. Sure, we may not have the sunshine that other places in our country have. Yes, there may be greater wealth in others cities, and greater resources. There are certainly places where the economy has recovered more quickly, where industries are scrambling to plant roots. It is easy to look with envy on other communities, and forget what we have.

The Eriez legend forces us to recall that while we may want so much more, it is important not to ignore the gifts that we living in Erie have been given. Each time Almi and I would return to our city after having been away for a long time, driving north on I-79, and we’d come over the ridge around Summit Township and see the lake spread before us, and the bay contained by the sheltering arm of the peninsula. Then we’d look northeast and southwest to the fields and vineyards, the wooded parks and interconnected communities. It always felt wonderful, to come home, to be back near the lake, to feel the constant winds.

We are blessed to live in this wonderful place. We are blessed to recognize the gifts we have been given. We are happy to shout our thanksgivings, in prayer, in song, and in community celebration.

God has blessed us with Erie – may we always give thanks for the sky, the land, the water – the Spirit.

Peace,
Fr. Shawn+