A great deal of our work in Hebridean research is concerned with honouring voice, honouring environment; sustaining voice, and sustaining ancestral lands. There is a horizon of hills where I live in Lochs on the Isle of Lewis known as, 'Sleeping Beauty'. She is the matriarch of the mountains; and the cailleachan of stones known as Callanish rest in her forefront in Ach Mòr.
This weekend, the minister read from Ephesianach 6:2, 'honour thy father and mother', the first commandment. And then a reading of Moses on Mt. Sinai 'honouring' God at Yom Kippur, and honouring the covenants we make were also discussed. Reflecting on these two, where we live, I think it's foundational to the narrative that this was the first commandment.
The act of honouring ancestors, of being the stewards of our lands, may also be what is meant by 'honouring our fathers and mothers'. The environment and the ancient knowledge attached to it is passed down first by our mothers and fathers. It comes first. We cannot separate ourselves from the land; without it, we cannot live. To honour the mothers and fathers' Indigenous wisdom connected to our land, our 'Sleeping Beauty' of hills, and the old women of Callanish, we protect and care for the generations to come. Perhaps this is what was meant by honouring. To honour is to care.
This week, honour the mothers and fathers - their stories are a guidepost to carry you forward.
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