The Promise of Tomorrow
Jamie Sams "Earth Medicine"
The promise Creator gives us Comes with every new day,
The gift of breath, the gift of life, Opportunities in a vast array.
How do we count our blessings, Through the choices life can bring?
Is it through joyful lessons? Or the fears to which we cling?
Are we learning to show gratitude, For the victories over human pain?
By honoring the feeling choices, We grasp the will we've regained.
Can we change our focus, With no need to defend?
Acknowledging joy and sorrow, Without judging foe or friend?
Tomorrow promises the fullness Of every human way to know:
How we master each challenge Determines our balance - reflecting how we grow.
Look to The Earth
Kenneth Meadows
Look to the Earth And to the Skies The Sun, the Moon, and to the Stars You who would be wise.
For they contain the full measure of man The height, the breadth, the depth, the span
Of his entirety.
Look to the Earth And to the Skies And watch them turn Like pages of a holy book
But one untouched by human hand You who would be wise.
Look to the Earth And to the Skies For in that which can be seen Without Can true knowledge come
Of unseen mysteries that lie Within To you who would be wise.
Look to the Earth And to the Skies In Spring and Summer, Winter and in the Fall.
Watch life begin, unfold, then fade and die To rise anew Time and again for Time Untold
You who would be wise.
Look to the Earth And to the Skies And in your looking, learn this mystery:
That you who look to the Earth And to the Skies
Shall be given eyes to see Shall be given eyes
To make you wise Eternally.
Prayer before the U.S. Senate - 1975
Frank Fools Crow, Lakota Ceremonial Chief and Medicine Man
In the presence of this house, Grandfather, Wakan-Tanka, and from the directions where the sun sets, and from the direction of cleansing power, and from the direction of the rising sun, and from the direction of the middle of the day. Grandfather, Wakan-Tanka, Grandmother, the Earth who hears everything, Grandmother, because you are woman, for this reason you are kind, I come to you this day. To tell you to love the red men, and watch over them, and give these young men the understanding because, Grandmother, from you comes the good things, good things that are beyond our eyes to see have been blessed in our midst for this reason I make my supplication known to you again.
Give us a blessing so that our words and actions be one in unity, and that we be able to listen to each other, in so doing, we shall with good heart walk hand in hand to face the future.
In the presence of the outside, we are thankful for many blessings. I make my prayer for all people, the children, the women and the men. I pray that no harm will come to them, and that on the great island, there be no war, that there be no ill feelings among us. From this day on may we walk hand in hand - So be it.