OriahMountain Dreamer (Native American Elder)
 

Contributed by Pine Whispers November 2004--I thought it was very good and it provoked me to think a lot about myself.........

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache
for and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk
looking like a fool for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if
you have touched the center of the sorrow....if you have been opened by life's
betrayals or have become shriveled and closed from fear or further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain....mine or your own....without moving
to hide it ..or fade it...or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy....mine or your own....if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning you to be careful, be realistic or to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true. I want to know
if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself....if you can bear the
accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul.

I want to know if you can be faithful and therefore be trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see beauty even when it is not pretty every day and
if you can source your life from God's presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure....yours and mine....and still
stand on the edge of a lake and shout to the silver of the full moon....Yes!

It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I
want to know if you can get up after the night of great despair, weary and
bruised to the bone and do what needs to be done for the children.

It doesn't interest me who you are....how you came here. I want to know if
you'll stand in the center of the fire with me and not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to
know what sustains you from the inside when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the
company you keep....in the empty moments....

Below are Links to Writings by Other Guests Writers-

Below are Links to the Main Pages which are also on the Slide Out Menu
[ Home ] [ Contents of SnowwOwl's Website ] [ Flash News!-NA Current Issues ] [ Music Options ] [ NA Information Contents Page ] [ Native American People/Tribes-Contents ]
[ Native American History-Contents ] [ Powwow Information Contents Page ]
[ Native American Life Living Art-Contents ] [ Native American-Leaders ]
[ Hear the Voices of the People-Native American Testimony ] [ The Natural World ]
[Native American-Recipes ] [ SnowwOwl's Writings-Contents ] [ The Outraged Owl ]
[ Spotted Wolf's Corner ] [ Hill & Holler Column ] [ Wotanging Ikche ]
[ So Says, Spirit Hawk ^i^ ] [ Student Projects ] [ Guest Contributions Contents ]
[ Dedicated People Contents ] [ SnowwOwl-A Few SnowwOwl Feathers ]
[ Featured Websites Contents ] [ Featured Artists Contents Page ] [ Credits and Links ]
[ Guest Log Archives Contents Page ] [ Email Information ]
[ Snowwowl's Website Awards ]