THE GREAT SPIRIT PRAYER
Great Spirit,
whose voice in the wind I hear, and whose breath
gives life to all the world. Hear me!
Small and weak I am. Your strength and wisdom I need.
Make me to walk
in beauty and in a sacred manner.
Make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunsets.
Make my hands and heart respect all that you have made.
Make my ears
sharp to hear your voice or receive spiritual guidance,
when I sincerely ask for a sign, a vision, a dream or a prayer answered.
Make me wise, so
that I may understand the things you have
already taught my people.
Let me learn the lessons you have hidden in every rock, leaf and herb.
I seek your
strength, not to be greater than my brother and sister,
but to fight my greatest enemy, myself.
Make me always
ready to live my life with your eyes smiling upon me,
when my deeds or thoughts are examined by me or you.
Make me always
ready to treat my brothers, sisters and
Mother Nature’s creations as I want to be treated: with love,
justice, honour, dignity, integrity and respect.
When life fades
like the fading sunset, let my eyes be clear,
my hands and heart free of bloodshed, destruction,
hatred or disrespect for Mother Earth, so that
my spirit may come to you without shame.
(Native American origins – author unknown. With cortesy to Sunbear)
THE TEACHING OF TECUMSEH
Live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart.
Trouble no one about his religion.
Respect others in their views and demand that they respect yours.
Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life.
Seek to make your life long and of service to your people.
Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide.
Always give a
word or sign of salute when meeting or
passing a friend, or even a stranger, if in a lonely place.
Show respect to all people, but grovel to none.
When you rise in
the morning, give thanks for the light,
for your life, for your strength.
Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living.
If you see no reason to give thanks, the fault lies in yourself.
Touch not the
poisonous firewater that makes wise ones turn to fools
and robs the spirit of its vision.
When your time
comes to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled
with fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray
for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way.
Sing your death
song, and die like a hero going home.
(Original authorship attributed to Tecumseh. With cortesy to Sunbear.)
