Signposts for Life

When I take a road trip, especially when it leads across the vast spaces of America, I often wonder what it would have been like to have travelled across this land as a Native American. No roads. No signs. No GPS. No maps. What was it that guided them in the direction they wanted to go? How did they end up at the place they wanted to be? Or did they just want to be wherever it was they ended up?

I know I do not have the skills to find my way for long distances without signposts to help me.

And the same is true for walking the path of life. There too, I need signposts---certain values and truths to guide me in living a good and wise life. Our collection of short readings today from the Native American Wisdom tradition provide just such signposts for us.

Those who sat on the ground in their tipis,

meditating on life and its meaning,

accepting the kinship of all creatures, and

acknowledging unity with the universe of things

were infusing into their beings the true essence of civilization.

(Luther Standing Bear, Oglala Sioux)

Our ancestors gave us many laws,

which they learned from their ancestors before them.

These laws were good.

They told us to treat all others as they treated us,

that we should never be the first to break a bargain,

that it was a disgrace to tell a lie,

that we should only speak the truth.

(Chief Joseph, Nez Perce)

What are we without the animals?

If all of them were gone, we would die from great loneliness of spirit.

Whatever happens to animals also happens to humans.

All things are connected.

Whatever befalls the earth also befalls the children of earth.

(Chief Seattle, Duwamish Suquamish)

Every struggle, whether won or lost,

strengthens us for the next to come.

It is not good for people to have an easy life.

They become weak and inefficient when they cease to struggle.

Some need a series of defeats before developing the strength and courage

to win a victory.

(Victoria, Mimbres Apache)

My response:

These readings reveal a lot about the way of life of Native Americans--one lived close to nature, one that allowed time for musing and pondering on life, one that was closely connected to the land and its creatures.

It was also a life filled with struggle, most especially when the Europeans came and began attacking and taking away the land and way of life that had been theirs for centuries.

Today, our way of life is very different from that of the original inhabitants of our country. Yet we too need to reflect on our lives and our deep connection with the earth and the animals and other creatures that share it with us. We too have struggles, although I know many people, and I am sometimes among them, who would prefer not to have to struggle.

I pray that when struggles do come my way, I don't run away from them, but face them with the strength and courage of the Native Americans. And I pray we will all struggle to live, as the Native Americans did, in harmony and balance with the earth and animals and all the creatures that share our spaces, even if that means we have to make some sacrifices and live more simply.

I pray that I may always be truthful and keep my word.

I pray that I may treat others justly, and care for the well being of all the creatures of this marvelous earth.