Sunday, May 9, 2010

Chapter 9 cont's

     So it was they sat in the deep forest in the dark shade of the ancient trees as the sounds of Nature filtered through the woods. Charles stared over at the old man, his red skin weathered by too much sun, wind and pain, though he seemed to rest easy in his own being, secure in his own personality, full of wisdom and secrets, ready to translate deeper meanings with the force of lightning, but at the same time he seemed child-like, and humble knowing the Great Mystery, whose message he knew and understood. Charles and Leah watched him sitting quietly smiling surrounded by Nature and then he spoke, softly, slowly imparting ancient wisdom.
     "In order to do what is best, to make ourselves worthy we should study the animals, learning its innocent ways; understand their sounds and motions. Think of the deer; which can endure thirst a long, long time, the hawk the surest bird of prey. the gallant elk, the watchful frog, the owl learned in night wisdom and gentle ways, the ferocious bear, the little foxes active and wily, the crow direct and swift in flight, and the hardy wolf who hunts its prey in the dead of winter in the deep, cold, snows. So all of Nature seeks to survive and the Great Spirit provides for all he has created; and we too struggle to survive in the worlds that we have created in which we are forced to live." John Coldcreek paused a moment allowing his knowledge to pour out over the buds of their minds then continued. "If the animals have existed for thousands of generations then why is our struggle so difficult? Our Nations have provided the best in education, medicine, agriculture, and technology, but still we have all become so tired in our lives we can no longer hear the animals, so much so that we bring ourselves to a stop."
      After a long pause he continued "For everything as it moves, now and then, here and there, makes stops. The birds as they fly stop in one place to make their nests, and in another space to rest in flight. A man goes forth and stops when he wills. So it was that the Great Spirit has stopped. The sun, which is so bright and beautiful, is one place he has stopped. The moon, the stars, the winds he has been there with them all. The trees, the animals, are all where he has stopped, and so we must think of these places and send our prayers there to reach the place where God has stopped to win his help and blessing."
     The three sat there for a moment as the sun rose higher in the morning sky sending dappled streams of light down on their faces. All was calm, the woods, their pulse, the beating of their troubled hearts, their minds were clear and focused as they breathed in the sweet, clean, mountain air. Then old John rose to his feet the well used walking stick helping to support his age worn body as he beckoned for Leah and Charles to follow him down the trail. They did so at a slow rate of pace and then in a low tone the old Kiowa man sang an ancient tribal song "O our Mother the Earth, O our Father the Sky. Your children are we with our tired backs we bring you gifts of love and prayers. Then weave for us a garment of brightness. May the warp be the white light of morning, may the weft be the red of evening. May the fringes be the falling rain, may the border be the standing rainbow. Thus weave for us a garment of brightness, that we may walk fittingly where birds sing. That we may walk fittingly where grass is green. O our Mother the Earth, O our Father the Sky." as he finished his song; which nearly brought Leah to tears, they walked down the path together until they came out of the cold deep woods to a small cabin by a huge lake that was perfectly still reflecting the mountains and sky.

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funny, interesting, cool