Ghostdancer Shadley

Warriors, sometimes the way before us grows so dark that sorrow falls like fog. Darkness slips over our path and evil slinks through the forest. We can smell its foul odor and hear padding feet. Then doubt fills the hollow places in our souls. In these times, Creator Yahweh seems far away, but he is not.

In these times it is important to cry out to him, even if all you can muster is a sigh. Direct your sigh at him, he will hear. For he is the One the Sacred Writings speak of when they say, “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.

Many of us who continue to walk the Sorrow Way are poor in spirit and in great need of this good news. The news that Creator Yahweh has come to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for prisoners. Often we are such prisoners of darkness that we fail to see when the fog begins to lift. But lift it will, warriors, if you wait upon Creator Yahweh. He will bind your broken heart and renew your strength. You need do no more than this, simply wait, simply sigh. Yahweh. Yahweh. Yahweh.

Eagle People … Today’s reading is Isaiah 61:1-3. Pleya gi “Go with Blessings.” Use different verses

(Photo by Sandy Cathcart at Restoration Celebration Powwow Chiloquin, Oregon, 2014)

Yesterday, I mentioned that sometimes Creator Yahweh’s help comes in the strangest forms. My first help came in a way I least expected. Creator Yahweh tells a story of this kind of help where a man was robbed and left to die along the side of the road. All the people you would expect to help passed him by, but the last person in the world you would have thought would help, not only stopped, but lifted the broken man to his own donkey and walked him to a safe place. There he paid for his lodging and meals until the broken man was able to get on his feet again.

My first help came when I was ready to end it all, through a stepfather I had hated with everything in me. He not only got in his truck and drove many long miles to get me, but he did so with one leg, since he had been very recently released from the hospital.

Don’t be surprised, warriors, if your help comes from such an unexpected place. Bask in the peace that only Creator Yahweh can give. Receive the healing that reaches past skin and bones!

Eagle People … Today’s reading is Luke 10:25-35. Pleya gi “Go with Blessings.”

(Photo by Sandy Cathcart at Restoration Celebration Powwow Chiloquin, Oregon, 2014)

In today’s Eagle People reading, Cretaor Yahweh tells us about a man who had two sons. One stayed home and was obedient and faithful to his father while the youngest took his share of his father’s estate and went off and squandered it. But, one day, he came to his senses. Have you experienced a day like that in your life? Where you came to your senses? Where you realized that you were wallowing with the pigs?

I know this life. I once walked the way of deep sorrow. Then I came to my senses and began calling out to Creator Yahweh. Day after day, I called out to Creator Yahweh and never gave up. I walked the land and holy ground below the Sacred Mountain and called his name. I cried. I pleaded. And finally, he heard my cry and I began to crawl down the way of faithfulness, a broken, battered Vietnam vet, but moving forward in the love of my Great Chief and Captain.

Walk on, warriors. Crawl on! Slowly though it may be. Creator Yahweh does not stay up on the Sacred Mountain. He is very near. He hears your cry for mercy.

Eagle People…Today’s reading is Luke 15:11-32. Pleya gi “Go with Blessings.”

(Photo by Sandy Cathcart of Aaron Gentry praying at Holy Ghost Native American Conference, Sacramento, 2013)

Warriors, sometimes the path seems long, too long, as we make our way toward the Sacred Mountain, and we may grow weary and give up if it weren’t for the fact that Creator Yahweh is the One who leads us, and Creator Yahweh is our Father who loves us more than anyone else ever can. That is an eternal truth that the oldest and youngest believer, alike, may grasp, and once we do, then we can rest, even while crossing through the churning waters, in the faith that He will lead us safely to the goal.

Arthur Christopher Bacon says it well, “I still believe that a day of understanding will come for each of us, however far away it may be. We will understand as we see the tragedies that today darken and dampen the presence of heaven for us take their proper place in God’s great plan—a plan so overwhelming, magnificent, and joyful, we will laugh with wonder and delight.”

Let us purpose to find wonder and delight in the unexpected moments of each day.

Eagle People … Today’s reading is Matthew 6:25-34. Pleya gi “Go with Blessings.” Change scripture

(Photo by Sandy Cathcart of Elissa Peacock while filming promo for Shaman’s Fire, 2015)

If one lives long enough they will see the shifting shadows that darken Creator Yahweh’s smile. Often we put those shadows there by not taking our Great Chief and Captain at his word. We keep asking for life’s difficulties to be taken away when he has promised us enough grace to keep moving forward. Like the Israelites of ancient days, we get distracted and run in circles waiting for the barriers to be removed.

It is in these times that we must keep moving forward as if there are no obstacles at all. For it is when we step into the rushing waters that he cuts off the flow and makes a way for us to cross on dry ground. Yes. If one lives long enough they will see the shifting shadows that darken Creator Yahweh’s smile, but they will also see the light of life that sprouts out of those dark places.

Eagle People … Today’s reading is 1 Peter 4:1-11. Pleya gi “Go with Blessings.”

(Photo by Sandy Cathcart at the Restoration Powwow, Chiloquin, Oregon, 2014)