June 27, 28 & 29 Daily Feast, Elder’s Meditation, THINK on THESE THING

June 27, 28 & 29 Daily Feast, Elder’s Meditation, THINK on THESE THING

June 27Daily Feast, Elder’s Meditation, THINK on THESE THING

June
Dehaluyi

Thursday
Ugineiga

2013

June 27 - Daily Feast

Gentleness has amazing strength. Where some would dominate, others are sweet and compassionate and this gives us hope. A gentle person is cool, clear water on a hot day - a refreshing change from hostile attitudes. How many times we have met someone we wanted to admire but couldn't. They would not trust us to see beyond their protective walls. Caring and friendship was sorely needed but bitterly ignored. To understand these things makes us gentle. It gives us the touch we need with every age. Young and old yearn to hear a voice that tells them they are so important, so loved, that nothing could make us turn from them. A gentle word is warm sunshine to every heart, a touch that is never forgotten.

~ Truly, it is a pleasant sky above our heads this day. There is not a cloud to darken it. I hear nothing but pleasant words. ~

MONGAZID

'A Cherokee Feast of Days', by Joyce Sequichie Hifler

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Elder's Meditation of the Day June 27

"What could be greater than to be Wakan-Tanka's mind, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, arms, hands, legs, and feet here on earth?"

Fools Crow, LAKOTA

In order for the Creator to do His work on this earth, He needs the human being to do it. How He guides us is through our eyes, ears, hands, nose, mouth, arms legs and feet. We are instruments of the Creator. We are His keepers of the earth. We are the keepers of our brothers. We are to teach His children. We are to respect the things He has made. We are to take care of ourselves and treat our bodies and our minds with respect. We are to do respectful things. We are to walk the Sacred Path. We should have good thoughts. We should do only things that we think the Creator would have us do. What an honor to be a human being. What an honor that He would talk to us and guide us to perform His wonders.

Oh Great Spirit, let me appreciate the role you have given me. Let my sense be sharp to hear Your voice. Keep my mind clean so I can do the things You would have me do.

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'THINK on THESE THINGS'
By Joyce Sequichie Hifler

When there's thinking to be done a person does well to have a little private retreat....a place where there's no worry that any minute someone will interrupt. And the very ease of knowing that here is a little time to do nothing but just think.

Except that I must carefully direct those thoughts so never to let them roam to things that serve only to disturb. But where does one find a place these days that affords a time alone?

It doesn't take much room to think. Some have little special places hidden from a view....a hillside maybe....a sunny spot along a path....a closet not so large....a park bench....or they may even take a drive.

But that place that is always available to us is that place within our own selves. This is the secret place within the heart where desires are stored. And no matter what we do, where we go, thoughts are productive.

Here is where thankfulness is stored....here is where love is born....here is where the very life of life is built and rebuilt. This is our retreat when there's thinking to be done.

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June 28 Daily Feast, Elder’s Meditation, THINK on THESE THING

June
Dehaluyi

Friday
Tsunagilosti

2013

June 28 - Daily Feast

Music is the universal language - a link between people who have no other form of communication. It even helps us to understand ourselves when it brings out an emotion that was too deeply buried. Music was meant to be an integral part of our lives. A familiar tune can sweep us back to another time or another place that we thought was lost. It is the harmony that helps us blend the old with the new and dilutes a bitter memory. Few important events are without music. Bands have rallied us to patriotism, hymns have helped us to be reverent, and the sweet song of a small child can cause a tenderness to come on the hardest heart. The Cherokee calls it, di ka no gi dv, the music of the spirit - in the turtledove, in the mockingbird, in the gurgling stream.

~ I take you be the hand with all my heart because you have spoken words of comfort to us. ~

LITTLE BEAVER'S WIFE

'A Cherokee Feast of Days', by Joyce Sequichie Hifler

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Elder's Meditation of the Day June 28

"Whenever you take anything from the earth, remember to leave an offering."

Joe Coyhis, STOCKBRIDGE-MUNSEE

We need to look at nature and its inhabitants as our brothers and sisters. Whenever we pick plants or herbs, we should leave an offering of tobacco. We should talk to the plants and ask their permission to use them. The plants will feel honored to be of service for each of them knows they are here to serve. Each of them knows they carry a special medicine and this medicine is about continuing the cycle of life. We need always to be grateful to our brothers and sisters.

Creator, I thank you for the opportunity of life.

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'THINK on THESE THINGS'
By Joyce Sequichie Hifler

When winter presses a cold, gray hand against every living thing and temporarily puts to sleep all outward growth and activity of other seasons, there is within a quiet, invisible, but very active preparation for a lighter, warmer time.

There are times when the winters of life press hard upon us, seeming to keep from us any hope for good. But as the coldest winter does not prevent a tulip from developing a blaze of color within the bulb, there is nothing to prevent our own inner growth.

We quite naturally want the things that will make us happy and we want them now. But there is still a time of preparation, the development of our abilities to recognize the good and the beautiful when we see it. Otherwise, we are apt to look past them, still searching.

The tulip has a plan drawn by God's hand, and more beautiful than anything we can make. We have a way of moving from one time to another, waiting for life to come it us instead of having a plan. But during those waiting periods we need to make a little effort to determine the course and to be ready when the right time comes.

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June 29 Daily Feast, Elder’s Meditation, THINK on THESE THING

June
Dehaluyi

Saturday
Dodaquidena

2013

June 29 - Daily Feast

Doing wrong to someone is like throwing a rubber ball against a wall - it comes back with equal force. There is no telling where it will return to, so we have to keep a constant vigil not to be caught off guard. It is easier to wish someone well. It doesn't mean we are weak or defenseless but that is we kick at the mud we get on us. And there are some muddy situations we should never try to contend with or understand. Whatever happens to one of us has an effect on all of us. We can't afford the luxury of wishing anyone anything but the best of life. The Cherokee calls this the best of all - wi at tse tiv I.

~ For years I have been on other people's ground and trouble has always come of it. ~

TOOKLANNI

'A Cherokee Feast of Days', by Joyce Sequichie Hifler

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Elder's Meditation of the Day June 29

"We forget so we consider ourselves superior. But we are, after all, a mere part of the creation and we must consider to understand where we are and we stand somewhere between the mountain and the Ant. Somewhere and only there is a part and parcel of the creation."

Chief Oren Lyons, ONONDAGA

Every human being gathers information from the center of a circle. If we are not careful, we soon think we are the center of all things. Therefore, it is easy to become self centered. Once we become self centered we start to think we are above all things and therefore superior. But we are really only one part of a great whole. The universe is all connected. Each part is here to do something special and according to its design. We are here to honor and respect the job of each part. We are neither above nor below anything. We need not be ruler over anything, we need only to live in honor and harmony with the system.

My Creator, help me to view and conduct myself in a manner of respect, dignity and honor to all creation. Let me see You in all things.

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'THINK on THESE THINGS'
By Joyce Sequichie Hifler

It is said that pearls worn by a happy person have a warm and more lustrous glow.

Pearls are like gentle moments strung together for the happy person - they cannot help but glow.

Gentle moments, like pearls, seem to be so few. Yet, how rich and warm and beautiful they make our lives.

It takes only a few moments to enjoy a talk with someone about good things instead of the bad; it takes only a few moments to drop a line to a shut-in when attention means so much. It takes only a few moments to see a sunset, or read a Scripture, or listen to a child talk.

It takes only a few moments to open the door to happiness. And if happiness seems only a few moments long, so long will trouble if we open the door and let it out instead of harboring it.

Life is made up of a few moments all strung together like pearls. Each moments is a pearl, and it is up to us to pick the ones with the highest luster. If we do not have time to do great things, take a few gentle moments and do small things in a great way.

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Donvdagahv'i
David White Hawk
Tawodi Unega

"Be good, be kind, help each other."
"Respect the ground, respect the drum, respect each other."

May The Creator walk with you.