May 6, 2016 Daily Feast Of Wisdom (Tsugitsvnvda Danalisdayvhvsgv Agadohvsdi ) (ᏧᎩᏨᏅᏓ ᏓᎾᎵᏍᏓᏴᎲᏍᎬ ᎠᎦᏙᎲᏍᏗ)

2016

May
Anasgvti
ᎠᎾᏍᎬᏘ

Friday
Tsunagilosti
ᏧᎾᎩᎶᏍᏘ

May 6 - Daily Feast

The small things that make up our lives are pleasant and filled with sweet silences that soothe the soul. But even more commonplace, a lunch, a walk, the companionship of a sweet friend, our dog. So many little things we take for granted and yet when we pay attention they all become new. The garden path, the sound of thunder, and the splat of rain on our hat brim. It is good medicine for a jaded attitude, good feeling to help us shed the chaos of the day.

~ The old Lakota was wise. He knew that man's heart away from nature becomes hard. ~

LUTHER STANDING BEAR - LAKOTA CHIEF, 1898

"A Cherokee Feast of Days, Volume II" by Joyce Sequichie Hifler

Elder's Meditation of the Day - May 6

"We must remember that the heart of our religion is alive and that each person has the ability within to awaken and walk in a sacred manner."

Thomas Yellowtail, CROW

The Native Spirituality is full of life. When we seek it we become alive. Even if we have gone astray and have conducted ourselves in a bad way, we can look within and have a new awakening to life. Maybe we have drunk too much alcohol; maybe we have cheated on our spouse; maybe we have done things that make us feel guilty and ashamed. If we look outside ourselves, we will not find life; if we look inside, we will find life. Anytime we choose to change our lives, we only need to look inside. How do we do this? Take some sage and light it, close your eyes and say to the Great Spirit, I'm tired, I need your help. Please help me change.

Great Spirit, I know you exist inside of myself. Let me awaken to your teachings.

'THINK on THESE THINGS'
By Joyce Sequichie Hifler

There may be many reasons why man wants to conquer the world, but there is something youthful and soul-stirring to be able to do it for somebody. Living within oneself is barren and shallow, lacking in warmth and without understanding. But when we can be outgoing and giving, the importance of others becomes doubly strong.

It is impossible to even be selfish without the help of others. Who would we take from, blame troubles on, resent, and criticize? But more important, who would care when we're ill, who would be happy where we're blessed, and who would love us when we least deserve it?

The world may be deluged with problems and solutions, laws to live by, formulas, fear, faith, and the everlasting struggle to survive in the face of others, but it is just as necessary to share laughter in happiness, to know God in a sunset, and to feel joy in a sunrise, all more beautiful because of others.

Victor Hugo wrote that the greatest happiness in life is in knowing that others love us, for ourselves, or rather, they love us in spite of ourselves.