Finding Peace in the Indian Culture

I find it interesting that certain movies like Dances with Wolves and A Man Called Horse focus on white men who have found peace by becoming Indians. In both of these movies what is revealed is men trying to find themselves, men looking for peace and their place in this world. History shows it was not uncommon for white men to want to become Indian. In their heart of hearts, white men who were caught up in a world of dog-eat-dog competition and meaningless existences felt they were lost. For so many people in western society there is a sense of aimless floating from one cause to another. There is an endless hunt for meaning and purpose. No matter how much land they own, how many possessions they have, or how much power they wield there is still an emptiness.

The reality is that Native Americans were living many of the Biblical principles long before the white man got here. This is clearly shown by the life style of "being in the world but not part of the world". We are just passing through and it is our responsibility to not own the earth but to be the stewards of it during our pilgrimage here. Treat others the way you would want to be treated was built into the protocol of honor for all living things. In our world today as we watch life move at lightening speed; more and more people are lost and thus the suicide rates keep climbing. For many there is an aching for simplicity, relationships, friends, and community. I believe that it was God's intention for Europeans to come to this land to learn how to slow down when things were moving so fast. Today more than ever there is a need to unplug from the matrix and find what is really important in life. The fact is our Native American hosts have known these truths for thousands of years. Yes God gave us The Book of Heaven and this gift was intended to be shared with our First Nation brothers and sisters, NOT our religion. Religion, they knew intuitively, is what separates us from God, breeds prejudice, and stops God from being free to lead us deeper into a relationship with Him and others.

Over the many years I have lived in the world system, I find that it engulfs us; it is sucking the life out of us all. The fact is we work to live. From cradle to grave many live numbed lives of existence and at the end die unfulfilled, knowing all the years were wasted for the job’s sake. It is not that we should all quit our jobs today, however our Native brothers and sisters and our Native ancestors who knew the Jesus Way hold more keys than we have the current comprehension to grasp. Yes we need science, industry and inventions, however the fact is, when all is said and done, we need to face what in our own lives is dross. What in our lives is simply wood, hay, and stubble? What have you laid up for yourselves in the treasure house of heaven? It has been said, "We will not be judged by how much we did but how much we loved". There is a story in the Book of Heaven, The Bible, of a man who worked his whole life and at the end sat back and said to his soul, "Soul, take your ease. The barns are full, your bank account is filled to the top.” It was at this point the Lord said, "Today your soul is required of you". I believe by walking the Sacred  Red Road we will find our way back to the Creator and His intention for us individually and as a nation. What we are looking for is what the Blackfoot Indians call "Sk Na" - - Peace !