We often hear the expression “Walk the talk” to denote a person who is authentic in living out his/her values that are professed verbally.
But when there is an invitation to “TALK THE WALK” it has a slightly different twist: it assumes that the person has already or is engaged in the walk that is professed. For example: Recall a time when you have experienced a situation in which you have been unexpectedly called upon to speak or act out of personal truth and conviction,. What was that like for you?
This Talking the Walk is done in the Kairos Teaching and Sharing Circles that have recently been birthed to educate mainly Non-Indigenous peoples, although not exclusively, about the history and culture of the Indigenous peoples of Canada. The TALK is given by an Indigenous person, who has and continues to WALK in the steps of the ancestors. These Talking and Sharing Circles have become another forum along with the Kairos Blanket Exercise, for the true history of the relationship between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous peoples of Canada to be told from the Indigenous perspective and provide an opportunity for ALL people in Canada to become more knowledgeable to “Walk the Talk”.
We, as a nation have just embarked on implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s report that came out in 2015. We have an opportunity to SPEAK OUT, to move towards reconciliation. https://secure.kairoscanada.org/civicrm/mailing/view?reset=1&id=800
In our own personal lives, what might it mean to “Talk the Walk”, to “Walk the Talk”?
- Submitted by Kathleen Lichti, CSJ