Spiritual Perspectives
Ten Things to be Grateful for in Gallup, McKinley County

By Don Steele
Special to The Independent

Have you noticed that newcomers to Gallup frequently get asked, somewhat anxiously, "Well, how do you like Gallup?" And regardless of what the answer has been, there is a quick response, "Well, you will." There is an assumption that there is much that takes getting used to and that anyone not used to the area will have an initial negative impression.

This is interesting in an area where there is so much positive in our spiritual assessment of the land and its people. Navajo spirituality speaks of nizhoni or to walk in beauty, and the book of Genesis for the Hebrew and Christian traditions teaches that God looked upon the creation and God's word was, "Good."

So how can we residents of Gallup and McKinley County live out of that positive assessment by the Creator in a way that communicates to others our delight in the beauty and goodness of this place? In turn, how can our naming of what is right about our area lead to actions that help to create a place that more nearly mirrors God's intention for how we can walk together in harmony?

I believe we can begin with an attitude of gratitude. We are allowed to live in one of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring places on earth. Any time any leader in the community is asked what they like most about this area, the immediate answer is, "the people." So maybe beginning each day with a sense of thankfulness for the land and the people where we live and an acknowledgment that this is a gift of God, allows us to interact differently and move toward living into the way in which God chooses to view us.

I want to suggest that we begin with 10 things to celebrate about McKinley County and Gallup. This is not like David Letterman's list of "top tens" and is in no particular order all of these could be number one. Yet they all are persons or groups or efforts of which we can be proud and which make this a better place to live. Here goes:

• The Navajo Code Talkers are patriots who led when it would have been easy to say our national history allows us to step aside.
  
  
• The Rehoboth Christian High School Choir, led by Gail De Young and Bob Ippel, bring healing and hope to us and to the area devastated by Hurricane Katrina, and soon to the part of Germany linked with us by a particular tragedy.
  
  
• The Sacred Heart Retreat Center is a place of respite and reflection for all that leads us to prayer and reflection for our community, our nation and our world.
  
  
• Habitat for Humanity is building not just houses but homes one by one until the community addresses the need for adequate homes for all God's children.
  
  
• Battered Family Services works to heal the brokenness around domestic violence, but also works to bring healing to those who have battered, stopping the cycle.
  
  
• Disabled Services, Inc. (DSI) addresses the needs of the developmentally-disabled and their families in a program that despite minuscule funding, is nationally recognized.
  
  
• The artistic community symbolized both in music and art manifest in the Arts Crawl, the public art, the various musical ensembles of all genres and in a fine school art program represented by the murals at Tohatchi Middle School.
  
  
• CARE 66 is a remarkable model program addressing homelessness, housing, and job development.
  
  
• The Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Office of the Diocese of Gallup, including the remarkable leadership of Maryknoll Sr. Rose Marie Cecchini, challenges us all to look for the connections both local and global in our efforts for social justice.
  
  
• The Committee for Native American Progress initiated by such visionaries as Anna Rondan, Gilbert Shorty, Gloria Begay and Joe Darack with efforts to register voters and develop the gifted leaders in the Native American community to be recognized throughout the whole of the city and county.

These are only 10 in a list that could go much longer and name many more local heroes. I invite you all to name your own list of persons and groups that you are grateful for and proud of. Send them a thank you note. Better yet, send them a check to help with their efforts. Volunteer some time. Write a letter to the editor recognizing their services.

We live in a place that is nizhoni beautiful, and also a place that God has called "Good." We are invited to join together to be sure that we live into that good creation.

The Rev. Don Steele is pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Gallup. He can be reached at steele1217@earthlink.net or by phone at (505) 722-3247. This column is the result of a desire by community members, representing different faith communities, to share their ideas about bringing a spiritual perspective into our daily lives and community issues.

For information about contributing a guest column, contact Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola at the Independent: (505) 863-8611, ext. 218 or lizreligion01@yahoo.com.