A mother - one we all know

[The Straight Story]

When you were void and without form - she created life.

When you were hungry she gave you a wealth of food from her bosom.

When you thirsty she gave you water.

When it was dark, she brought you a light in the night.

When the tears of your sorrow hit the ground, she brought forth flowers.

When you were lonely she gave you a family.

At night, when I see the fireflies dancing I think of you.

I think about all you gave your children.

And all that we have done to your gift.

And I cry.

Mother Earth gave us a garden of Eden and as we grew up we trashed it, thinking we know best.

The land, the womb from which we sprang - whether you see it from the book of Genesis or something else - cries out like a mother to us, trying to guide us to do the right thing.

But kids being kids we rebel.

I watch a bird as I type this, a robin. Gathering from the ground that which it needs and nothing more. It is building a nest in the Maple tree out front here. It does not pollute, does not complain, it seems happy with that which you have given us.

You gave humankind your greatest gift, a beautiful world filled with beauty and love. Brutal at times, a cycle of life where we all take part - where we each have a part to play. Yet we fight not against death from predators but more so to have more and more. To take more and more of your gifts to fill some empty space, all the while missing the most wonderful thing of all.

Nature. Being a part of something larger and having a peace of mind within it all.

May I treat you better in the days ahead and not sit someday regretting the time we did not spend together.

May I heed your calls.

Many before have tried to tell us, from shamans to others in tune with you.

When I see the fireflies again on a dark night I will remember your gift, and those who have come before me that talked about the light and love.

And I hope my Christian friends I know will take a few moments to think about what Jesus said "Be in the world, not of it" - as well as others:

"From Wakan-Tanka, the Great Mystery, comes all power. It is from Wakan-Tanka that the holy man has wisdom and the power to heal and make holy charms. Man knows that all healing plants are given by Wakan-Tanka, therefore they are holy. So too is the buffalo holy, because it is the gift of Wakan-Tanka."

"We must protect the forests for our children, grandchildren and children yet to be born. We must protect the forests for those who can't speak for themselves such as the birds, animals, fish and trees."

"....I am poor and naked, but I am the chief of the nation. We do not want riches but we do want to train our children right. Riches would do us no good. We could not take them with us to the other world. We do not want riches. We want peace and love."

"You ask me to plow the ground. Shall I take a knife and tear my mother's bosom? Then when I die she will not take me to her bosom to rest.

"You ask me to dig for stones! Shall I dig under her skin for bones? Then when I die I cannot enter her body to be born again.

"You ask me to cut grass and make hay and sell it and be rich like white men, but how dare I cut my mother's hair?

"I want my people to stay with me here. All the dead men will come to life again. Their spirits will come to their bodies again. We must wait here in the homes of our fathers and be ready to meet them in the bosom of our mother."

Quotes above but a sample from here:
http://www.ilhawaii.net/~stony/quotes.html