It is normal and right to protect those things dear to your heart... your family, your culture, your way of reaching out to Creator. It is also, however, important that we all remember that just because some of us look different, were not lucky enough to be taught the ways of OUR ancestors from birth, or choose as living, loving human beings to respectfully search for truth, that we are somehow not as good as another person. Sitting in judgment of others is not our responsibility. Sitting in judgment of our own path is our responsibility. If we are seeking to return to balance as a people, one of the things we need to do is seek truth. Being ready to speak against a group of people we've never met and assuming we know the way of their heart, the way the reach out to community, the way they care for the Elders, is unwise. Before we can speak the truth for ourselves, we have to look inside ourselves for the prejudice and pain we all carry within us, like a cold stone in our hearts. Only when we seek to understand and teach, rather than threaten and judge, can we really be worthy of speech at all. All warriors know about the power of silence.
"There is a river flowing now very fast. It is so great and swift, that there are those who will be afraid. They will try to hold on to the shore. They will feel they are being torn apart and will suffer greatly. Know the river has its destination. The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of the river, keep our eyes open, and our heads above the water. And I say, see who is in there with you and celebrate. At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally, least of all, ourselves. For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt. The time of the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves! Banish the word struggle from your attitude and your vocabulary. All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration. We are the ones we've been waiting for!
- Oraibi, Arizona - Hopi Nation
