God Asked Us To Participate

Have you ever seen those old black and white photos of the Native Americans? The ones in which the native people have depth in their eyes and an almost mystical wisdom in their sun-drenched faces? In case you have never seen photos like this, Google photographer Edward S. Curtis. There are other photographers who have captured the majesty of the world’s native cultures, but Curtis is a good place to start.
I often wonder why these old photos show such power in the faces of the native peoples and I rarely see this kind of power in people today. Where has that soul gone? Have we lost it in MacDonalds? Have we killed too many buffalo? Make-up can’t create that kind of authenticity. Well, I have strived to discover this depth within myself, and I feel that I have found a gold mine as far as opportunities to rekindle this power within. Sure, I have a long way to go and I do not call myself an expert, but I have learned. I have realized that my hard work and otherworldly experiences have contributed the truth to my words. I am worth listening to. I do know of which I speak and when I don’t know the answer, I have no problem saying so. I will not hide my intentions and I show my respect for you by presenting clear, unmistakable honesty. I don’t ever want someone to have to strain and “guess” at my meaning underneath garbled language.
I have come across so many people who want the depth and the wisdom present in the ancient faces of the beautiful native people, yet I rarely find someone who is willing to do what it takes to get it. How did we get so lazy? Many today seem to want the quick fix answers and the instant gratification. “Show me what I need to know so that I can teach it to others and look good in their eyes!” Or, “Just tell me what I need to know so I can write a book about it and make millions.” But, what we see and admire in those ancient faces is a life time commitment to God (Great Spirit), to courage, to a thriving community and to respecting all of life. We see substance. There is thousands generations of knowledge and wisdom passed down about true medicine, power, birth, integrity and harmony with nature. And it’s being forgotten!
The Native people lived their spirituality. They didn’t just set is aside for when it’s convenient. They knew, without a doubt, the power of their soul because they were willing to go the distance. They listened to God instead of talking too much. They pushed their bodies out of fat and laziness and learned what the body is truly capable of. And, most importantly, they didn’t learn this from reading books, they got it from living life! What are the priorities in your life? Does your soul make the decisions? Are you living your purpose and your vision? If the answer is No, then why not? Or do you follow the voice in your head that claims to be your soul, but it really your ego in disguise? I bet people are wondering, “What’s the difference?” Well, the answer is out there. I know the answer. But it takes a life-time commitment to understanding this answer and it’s not going to happen on the couch and it won’t come out of the TV (not even the Oprah show) and it won’t get into the core of your being from reading Ekhart Tolle’s A New Earth. The answer only comes from within. How do you reach within for the answers? Get out of your head, get out of your comfort zone and live your life. There is more going on out there than you realize, and God has asked us to participate.