Far Away In The Near Distance

Far away in the near distance.
Stands a dream with no signs of resistance.
This dream exists in each and every one of us.
Yet we look back and forth.
Truly trying to understand.
Who is this weird man.
Talking of dreams and man.
I speak of happiness and peace.
If we all could understand.
We kill one another.
Then ask the question why we struggle.
If life is given.
Why not give it a chance.
Love and forgiveness a dream we all can agree.
Is something you and me can see.
Far away in the near distance.

by Edward Morales

Hope

Hoping for peace on Earth;
Wishing upon shooting stars;
Taking chances to make things right;
Helping others, and listening well;
Making problems disappear;
Giving heart in all we do;
To give love, and never take;
Will give us hope; and one day peace.

by Abegail Samson

Our Deepest Fear

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness
That most frightens us.

We ask ourselves
Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.

Your playing small
Does not serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking
So that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine,
As children do.
We were born to make manifest
The glory of God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us;
It's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine,
We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we're liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.


By Marianne Williamson

The Invitation

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living.
I want to know what you ache for,
And if you dare to dream of meeting
Your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are.
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool
For love, for your dream,
For the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon.
I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow,
If you have been opened by life's betrayals,
Or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain,
Mine or your own,
Without moving
To hide it or fade it or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy,
Mine or your own,
If you can dance with wildness
and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes
Without cautioning us to be careful, be realistic,
or to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true.
I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself,
If you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul.
I want to know if you can be faithless and therefore be trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see beauty
Even when it is not pretty every day,
And if you can source your life
From its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure,
Yours and mine,
And still stand on the edge of a lake and shout to the silver of the full moon,
"Yes!"

It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up after the night of grief and despair,
Weary and bruised to the bone,
And do what needs to be done for the children.

It doesn't interest me who you are, how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand
In the center of the fire with me
And not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you
From the inside
When all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone
With yourself,
And if you truly like the company you keep
In the empty moments.


By Oriah Mountain Dreamer

We Dream The Future

Please create more love and sponsor
less fear, arm your souls with faith,
then shed your final tears. It'll rid
the world of hate, let's all hold Earth
dear. Imagine we're all doves flying the
breeze of peace, circling a globe of love
wrapped in the Golden Fleece. It'll heal
the world with hugs, let's put the Earth
at ease. Dreams are times together where
humanity's all one, the real world's just
a tether, the next level's where creation's
strung. It'll be a world named forever so
let's give the Earth some fun. We dream
the future, natured on the past, now raise
the mast of hope and let it light your path.


by Don Omni

The Native American Code of Ethics

1. Rise with the sun to pray. Pray alone. Pray often. The Great Spirit will listen, if you only speak.

2. Be tolerant of those who are lost on their path. Ignorance, conceit, anger, jealousy and greed stem from a lost soul. Pray that they will find guidance.

3. Search for yourself, by yourself. Do not allow others to make your path for you. It is your road, and yours alone. Others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you.

4. Treat the guests in your home with much consideration. Serve them the best food, give them the best bed and treat them with respect and honor.

5. Do not take what is not yours whether from a person, a community, the wilderness or from a culture. It was not earned nor given. It is not yours.

6. Respect all things that are placed upon this earth - whether it be people or plant.

7. Honor other people's thoughts, wishes and words. Never interrupt another or mock or rudely mimic them. Allow each person the right to personal expression.

8. Never speak of others in a bad way. The negative energy that you put out into the universe will multiply when it returns to you.

9. All persons make mistakes. And all mistakes can be forgiven.

10. Bad thoughts cause illness of the mind, body and spirit. Practice optimism.

11. Nature is not FOR us, it is a PART of us. They are part of your worldly family.

12. Children are the seeds of our future. Plant love in their hearts and water them with wisdom and life's lessons. When they are grown, give them space to grow.

13. Avoid hurting the hearts of others. The poison of your pain will return to you.

14. Be truthful at all times. Honesty is the test of ones will within this universe.

15. Keep yourself balanced. Your Mental self, Spiritual self, Emotional self, and Physical self - all need to be strong, pure and healthy. Work out the body to strengthen the mind. Grow rich in spirit to cure emotional ails.

16. Make conscious decisions as to who you will be and how you will react. Be responsible for your own actions.

17. Respect the privacy and personal space of others. Do not touch the personal property of others - especially sacred and religious objects. This is forbidden.

18. Be true to yourself first. You cannot nurture and help others if you cannot nurture and help yourself first.

19. Respect others religious beliefs. Do not force your belief on others.

20. Share your good fortune with others. Participate in charity.
 

This originally appeared in the "Inter-Tribal Times," October, 1994

All Is Finished - Tribute to Russell Means

I wanted to give something of my past to my grandson.
I told him that I would sing the sacred wolf song over him.
In my song, I appealed to the wolf to come and preside over us, while I would perform the wolf ceremony.
So that the bondage between my grandson and the wolf would be life long.
I sang.
In my voice was the hope that clings to every heartbeat.
I sang.
In my words were the powers I inherited from my forefathers.
I sang.
In my cupped hands lay a spruce seed, the link to creation.
I sang.
In my eyes, sparkled love.
And the song floated on the sun's rays from tree to tree.
When I had ended, it was as if the whole world listened with us to hear the wolf's reply.
We waited a long time but none came.
Again I sang, humbly but as invitingly as I could, until my throat ached and my voice gave out.
All of a sudden I realized why no wolves had heard my sacred song.
There were none left!
My heart filled with tears.
I could no longer give my grandson faith in the past, our past.
I wept in silence.
All is finished!
...Chief Dan George Salish (1899-1981)

John F. Kennedy

They stood five men at the catafalque
Motionless and mute and still
Erect, alert, aware of the grief
Of the people on the hill;
But most of all the gallant heart
That's stilled, is lying there
Under the draped flag of old glory
In the coffin that is in their care.

The measured tread of the changing guard
The click of the leader's heel
And five others take the place
Of the watchers over the steel,
For what was once the spirit brave
An idealist heart so proud,
Lies now in the rotunda of the hall
javascript:; Passed by a grieving crowd.

They gave their farewells to a brave spirit
A leader of freedoms call
Cut down in his prime, victim
He has paid his all.

by Bernice Brigham

When You Are Old

When you are old and gray and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;

How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true;
But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face.

And bending down beside the glowing bars
Murmur, a little sadly, how love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead
And his his face amid a crowd of stars.

W. B. Yeats (1865-1939)

A Personal Note On Love From ne033x

I do believe in God. And I can understand completely why so many don't. God doesn't cause wars, He doesn't judge you - it is man who does this. Everything in this life is up to us as free-thinking individuals to interpret as we will. I feel that the biggest problem we have is forgetting that from birth to the day of our death here - we must never cease to learn.

We are all on our own individual paths with our own burdens and challenges to carry with us. I sincerely feel that the saddest thing is to meet someone along the way who doesn't believe in a higher power or a life beyond what we have here. It explains a lot of the ills in this world, if you believe that this is all that there is. And, i know this sense of hopelessness very well because I once lived it too.

There are countless reasons to believe that there is no God. Especially a God that loves and cares for us. How can he allow so much tragedy to fall on His children? I can absolutely understand this reasoning. You have no idea.

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I have seen my fair share of hardships. I will never compare my struggles with anyone else, except to say that this has been no easy path to walk. The very hardest for me was to be blessed in meeting my soulmate - my greatest love - best friend, only to have her taken from  me in a car wreck just weeks before we were to be married. I was going to add more, and beleive me, I could literally go on and on. I just want you to know that I can absolutely understand death, loneliness, dispair, utter disappointment, and those just aren't words. I've argued with God, said some pretty bad things, and have been to that point of surrender more than once.

A friend once came to me, asking if I had the time to talk. Her name was Marcy, and she was such a beautiful loving spirit. I was very busy at the time and told her I'd love to talk tomorrow, but just couldn't do it right then. She went home and hung herself with a belt in her closet. Yeah, I know about surrender. After the few years it took me to understand that her death was not my fault, I vowed never to turn anyone away who needed me. And, I also made a promise to myself to do what I could to make my world a better place.

So, maybe you wonder what religeon I follow? By what name do I call my God?

It's pretty simple really - I believe in the religeon of love! I need to stress that I very rarely talk about my spiritual beliefs because I just feel that every one of us shares a very personal relationship with God, and I love that. I have learned so much through every religeon I have had the honor to come into contact with. It's my personal opinion that God has shown Himself to all the major religeons, and if anyone has taken the time to study them , you'd see love as a foundation in them all. I used to use the example of the different religeons being individual children God sent out in the world in different directions. And, I will tell you that wise and loving people exist in these different religeons who consider all of us their brothers and sisters.

Anyways, I'm not writing this to tell you my way is right and I have all the answers because that's what I feel has been our biggest problem. No. I just want to share some Heavenly love and tell anyone that is facing a struggle or hardship in their lives, that no matter how unfair, nonsensical or confusing it may seem right now, it WILL make sense to you eventually. If you've experienced a loss through death, they're not dead - they've gone onto a much better place, and you will see them again! If you're experiencing a heartbreak for whatever reason, this will soon pass, and you will rise from the emotional hole that you're in with a greater understanding of love!

So many of us forget that love truly surrounds us all. You are lonely only by your own choice. If you doubt what I am telling you, it's just a matter of bringing some food to a homeless person on the street, asking them if you can sit down and share a meal with them. I have witnessed on more than one occasion tears flow from their eyes because I took the time to care. I'm offering just one way to help you, because no matter where you are, I promise you there is someone in need of your love - your caring. That is this power of love that I am talking about. On my back is a weeping angel with the words, 'Amor Vincit Omnia'. Because, love does conquer all!

Every single one of us is fighting our own individual struggle and no matter how bad you think you may have it right now, there is somebody who is having it worse than you! It may be hard, but try to notice the things that you can be thankful for. Understand that much that we experience may seem to make no sense, but I can tell you right now - with conviction - that these troubles we encounter make us better people -  wiser, stronger, and with a greater understanding of this world we live in. If obstacles in your way seem impossible to cross, never lose hope that you WILL eventually conquer them!

In all of my personal struggles, the greatest reward I have earned is to not only know a God exists, but to share a close relationship with Him. I am far from perfect - definately not a role model by any means, but the most important thing is that I tried my best. Through every single loss and the numerous tears shed along the way, I thank God every day for showing me the true power of love. And, no matter the situation, I am happy and content in my heart. and, the beautiful thing is I am learning more every day.

I know this was probably very boring, and I apologize. But, I am hoping just one person got something positive from it. Because, even though you may have heard it said without meaning, I do honestly love and care for you as a brother or sister on this long and winding road!

Danny Watson aka ne033x

Thousands of Feet Below You

Thousands of feet
Below you
There is a small
Boy
Running from
Your bombs.

If he were
To show up
At your mother's
House
On a green
Sea island
Off the coast
Of Georgia

He'd be invited in
For dinner.

Now, driven,
You have shattered
His bones.

He lies steaming
In the desert
In fifty or sixy
Or maybe one hundred
Oily, slimy
Bits.

If you survive
& return
To your island
Home
& your mother's
Gracious
Table
Where the cup
of lovingkindness
Overflows
The brim
(&
From which
No one
In memory
Was ever
Turned)

Gather yourself.

Set a place
for him.


by Alice Walker

Native Commandments

Treat the Earth and all that dwell thereon with respect.
Remain close to the Great Spirit.
Show great respect for your fellow beings.
Work together for the benefit of all Mankind.
Give assistance and kindness wherever needed.
Do what you know to be right.
Look after the well being of mind and body.
Dedicate a share of your efforts to the greater good.
Be truthful and honest at all times.
Take full responsibility for your actions.
Let us greet the dawn of a new day
when all can live as one with nature
and peace reigns everywhere.
Oh Great Spirit, bring to our brothers
the wisdom of Nature and the knowledge
that if her laws are obeyed
this land will again flourish
and grasses and trees will grow as before.
Guide those that through their councils
seek to spread the wisdom of their leaders to all people.
Heal the raw wounds of the earth
and restore to our soul the richness
which strengthens men's bodies
and makes them wise in their councils.
Bring to all the knowledge that great cities
live only through the bounty
of the good earth beyond their paved streets
and towers of stone and steel.


by  Jasper Saunkeah, Cherokee

Entertain Angels Unaware

I lie awake cold and alone,
No place to call my home,

Upon the night,
Darkness is my light,

Everywhere I roam,
To find a place to sleep,

With no shoes upon my feet,
No material things do I keep,

The ground is cold,
My stomach is empty,
As I see people who have plenty.

No one cares for me,
For I am homeless you see,

I have had a hard life,
It started the day I lost my wife,

I don't want sorrow or pity,
Just some love and care,

Maybe some shampoo to wash my hair.
People pass me by,

Without a tear in their eye,
Never giving a hand,

What If I was an angel?
Sent from God above.

To test man of,
His brotherly love?

You will never know,
If you never give true brotherly love,

For we entertain angels unaware,
Never knowing the true spirit hidden there,

This poem is given,
To you as a lesson,

Whenever passing someone in need,
Let go of the greed,

Stop and heed to your heart,
To the call your heart has be given,

Help those in need,
While you are living,

And you will entertain angels unaware!


 by Millette Addison

Masterpiece

We are born into the World

Like a blank canvas

And each person that crosses our path

Takes up the brush

And makes his mark

Upon our surface



So it is that we develop



But we must realize there comes a day

That we must take up the brush

And finish the work

For only we can determine

If we are to be

Just another painting

Or a Masterpiece



-Javan

The Love of Mother Theresa

People are often unreasonable, illogical,

and self-centered...

Forgive them anyway.



If you are kind,

people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives...

Be kind anyway.



If you are successful,

you will win some false friends and some true enemies...

Succeed anyway.



If you are honest and frank,

people may cheat you...

Be honest and frank anyway.



What you spend years building,

some could destroy overnight...

Build anyway.



If you find serenity and happiness,

there may be jealousy...

Be happy anyway.



The good you do today,

people will often forget tomorrow...

Do good anyway.



Give the world the best you have,

and it may never be enough...

Give the world the best you've got anyway.



You see, in the final analysis,

it's between you and God,

It was never between you and them anyway.



~~~ Mother Theresa ~~~

The Gift

The Great Spirit said, “I am going to give you a tremendous gift.”

“I hope I am worthy of this gift,” I replied.

The Great Spirit said he would inflict me with a disease.
“Disease as a gift?” I asked. I could not fathom illness as a gift.



“What you do with this gift depends on you,” he said.

“You can treat it as a curse, or accept it for what it is.

You can lament or make the best of it. It is up to you.
What you do and how you act will prove if you are a Warrior.”



He struck me with Polio and paralyzed my legs.

Doctor’s said I will never walk again.

But I did. I learned to walk and run.

I thank the Great Spirit every day.
He taught me that those without legs are worthy.



He struck me with Graves’ disease.

Life was pure hell for a few years.

Loss of memory, pain, and tremors,
But I got better.



I learned that by helping others with Graves’

I could help to heal myself.

I learned that helping others is a worthy cause.

I learned I had the strength to keep going

Even when I had no strength left.

I learned that as bad off as I felt there was another
Who was worse off than I who I could help.



I learned that instead of reaching for a helping hand

I had become the hand that was reached for.

Instead of being in the abyss I was on the edge
Helping others out of the void.



The Great Spirit said, “I will take your vision.”

My eyes bulged and pained.

Vision started to dim and colors were lost.

My eyes went askew and looked in different directions,
But I got better



Sixteen eye surgeries,

Much pain and discomfort,

Orbital Radiation on my eyes left me with cataracts,
But I got better.



I learned that even with no sight I was worthy.

I saw with my mind what my eyes could no longer.

I learned that by helping other’s with eye problems.
I helped myself.



I am a Warrior. I no longer look at a person the same.

I see what is inside them not the shell of the body.

Instead of seeing a person in a wheelchair
I see a person who was given a gift.



I see the Great Spirit gave them a gift too.

I admire their strength.

I admire their courage.
I admire their will.



I pay homage to a fellow Warrior as we pass by.

I thank the Great Spirit for these gifts.
Fore they made me the man I have become.





The Mystical Indian