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THE STORY TELLER May 6, 2008 Spirit Hawk ^i^ |
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An old man sits beneath the shade of a tree deep
in thought.
The years have taken their toll on his body, his face is heavily wrinkled and his skin is like dried leather. He knows his time on Mother Earth is growing short and he is thinking about how things once were with his people, and about now what has become of them. He sees the past and the present through eyes that now grow dim, but behind which is stored much wisdom. He is not afraid to take the long walk into another realm, but what weighs heavy on his mind is that he feels that his people are lost, that they have forgotten " The Way". The reason this disturbs the old man so is not just his love of his people, but because the old man is a Story Teller. Few these days know what that really means. Yes there are many who repeat the stories of his people, and yes there are even many who listen, but there are few indeed who truly understand or even care about the meanings the stories hold. To most they are just entertainment, a pleasant way to pass a short period of their valuable time and mainly just for children. The old man smiles a bit at the thought that those who understand the stories the most are the children. He knows why this is so too. It is because they listen with open minds and hearts, not yet hardened and darkened by the world that has become so foreign to his peoples true nature. The smile slowly fades though because he knows that with time, as the children grow older, they too will become hardened to the White Man's world. Then they too will forget the true meanings of the stories. A tear slowly runs down the old man's face and softly lands at his feet to be absorbed by the land he holds so dear. You see, as I have said, the old man is a Story Teller. He is not just a teller of tales. In being a Story Teller he is the keeper of his people's customs, their history, their religion and a guide to the true path the Creator gave them to walk. Yes, there are those who repeat the ancient stories, but to them that's all they are, just stories, mere words. The people no longer care about the lessons the stories hold, and in throwing their meanings away, little do they realize that they throw away their very own heritage as well. Yes the old man is saddened knowing this, for once he is gone.....who will take his place? Who will be the true Story Teller? Who will take the time, to not just tell the stories, but to teach their meanings as well. And who, he wonders, will not just listen....but will take the stories to heart and understand that they are more than just words.....they are a way of life. The life of his PEOPLE! The old man's heart is breaking..... So says, Adanvdo Towodi....Spirit Hawk ^i^ |
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or suggestions - Email:
spirithawks@hotmail.com
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