February 23 Daily Feast, Elder’s Meditation, THINK on THESE THING

February 23 - Daily Feast

A winner carries with him the quiet knowledge that he has heard every argument, faced every opposition, felt every criticism, but there is no turning back and no accepting defeat. Rejection is one of the oldest forms of torture. If a dozen people approve of us and one does not, our thought is riveted on the one and what his reason is for not liking us. But time and circumstances change so swiftly. Nothing stays the same. What was real and possible is suddenly out of reach or we find amazing success where we have failed a dozen times. If we give up, we forfeit everything. Look beyond rejection, see beyond limits, think around the bend in the road. It may be that we have been trying to settle for less than the best - and we have been doing it for a long time.

~ The path of glory is rough and many gloomy hours obscure it. May the Great Spirit shed light on yours. ~

BLACK HAWK, 1833

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

Elder's Meditation of the Day - February 23

"We've got to learn what's going on today in the world, and we've got to get an education so we can survive."

Jimmy Jackson, OJIBWA

Indian people have the ability to adapt. In these modern times, we Native people must walk two roads. We must get educated so our people don't lose. We need lawyers, doctors, nurses, foresters, scientists, educators, carpenters, welders. These skills are needed to help the people. While we are learning we need to remember to keep our culture, learn our dances, sing our songs, learn to speak our own language and maintain our culture for future generations.

Great Spirit, let my education never lack the meaning and value of Indian spirituality.

'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 to 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.