Returning to Harmony: Shalom and Indigenous Wisdom
A Coffee Break Conversation with Randy Woodley
Many of us feel the disconnect. Between what we believe and how we live. Between what the world teaches us to value and what our hearts quietly long for. We know something’s off but what does healing actually look like?
In this Coffee Break conversation, Tim Soerens sits down with Dr. Randy Woodley a Cherokee theologian, author, farmer, and longtime friend of Parish Collective to explore the deep wisdom of shalom, indigeneity, and what it means to truly belong to the land and each other.
If you care about justice, place, and reimagining faith beyond empire, this one is not to be missed.
What You’ll Hear in This Conversation
Why Shalom is more than personal peace
Randy unpacks the biblical construct of Shalom-Sabbath-Jubilee: a vision of collective well-being rooted in justice, generosity, and repair.How Western Christianity lost the plot
Through story and critique, he names how American missions, shaped by white supremacy and dualism, traded shalom for empire, and how we might find our way back.The call to decolonize and re-indigenize
True transformation, Randy says, begins by naming the lies we've inherited about competition, hierarchy, individualism and seeking new/old ways to live in the right relationship.Practical steps to reconnect with land and place
Whether you're in a dense city or on rural land, Randy offers starting points for listening to Indigenous wisdom, healing relationships, and practicing reciprocity with the earth.
Watch the Preview Below 👇
“Shalom is not a feeling. It’s a way of organizing society so that no one is left behind.”
Take the Next Step
This isn’t just a conversation. It’s an invitation.
Begin by asking: What myths have I inherited that keep me from living in harmony with others, with creation, and with God? What might it look like to begin unlearning them, and to plant something new?
Start small. Be curious. Let the land and your neighbors teach you.
