The beginning...

A little over two months ago, a great passion awoke in me, began to dominate my thoughts, and has since taken me by the hand to walk a path of learning and enlightenment.  When these things happen in one’s life, there is a choice to be made; to follow or not to follow.  In today’s modern age, too often the choice is to ignore the simpler things, those things without perhaps, material benefit.  Why then do something if there is no material benefit?  Sometimes the journey itself is the benefit.  For me, I don’t need to benefit in a material way, a spiritual connection to understanding and the growth of this alone, is to me, a benefit.  I have chosen to follow this passion and to experience whatever lies ahead.

As with an actual literal road, I expect there will be smooth comfortable parts, bumpy and rough stretches and some neigh impassable areas.  Some of these may prove to be completely impassable, while others may eventually be overcome with the assistance of a guide.  My only plan is to enjoy all facets of this journey.  Even when the going gets tough, as I am quite sure it will, there is something good in it for me to learn; of that I am confident. 

One would have the right to ask what course it is that I am charting.  Just as a prospector will probably not reveal his final destination, so too shall certain things about my endeavor be mentioned without great detail.  However, general knowledge tells us that a prospector searches for treasure and he may well at least divulge what sort of treasure.  So too, shall I divulge the two pronged nature of the journey I undertake.

The first prong:  It is my intention to write down a story; a story that developed during a long drive home from vacation; a story that was sparked by a conversation between a friend and me.  The story is centered deep in the heart of the lands stolen from the Native American peoples.  At its heart is a way of life that was maligned by the presses of the time, erroneously portrayed by Hollywood and nearly completely misunderstood by most non-Native Americans; myself included. 

My story grew and developed in my mind from the fertile seed planted that one day in August 2011.  With time I came to realize that I wanted this story to be able to stand strong and proud; just as the Native American people did, do and should continue to do.  I wanted this story to be one that would not make the head of a Native American who read it shake in disappointment, but perhaps instead, smile as the events, the plots and the storylines that weave the story’s tapestry, weave it in truth.

This meant a second prong to my journey.  A prong of learning, researching and digging deep to understand as best I can, the true realities of Native American life before the twentieth century.  This is a massive commitment that I do not believe I had full grasp of as I began researching the internet, reading books and watching PBS documentaries told from a Native American perspective.  However, I am slowly beginning to see how little I understood and how much more I still have to understand.  Though it already gives me great pleasure to know my thinking and understanding have been adjusted in many ways already; it is also an honor and privilege to be able to set straight the misconceptions of some people around me.  In saying that, I do not by any stretch of the imagination think that peoples as wise, strong and proud as the Native American peoples are, need little old me to defend them.  However I will present for consideration the following: if you have a dear friend that is maligned and slandered or even just had a negative comment made about them, would you not out of loyalty and human love want to speak up?  This is all I endeavor.  I am not so presumptuous as to think it is needed, and perhaps in some cases, not even wanted.

And so, I’ve started my journey already.  When not attending to work, home or spiritual obligations, my free time is mostly spent learning and writing.   And now, I decided to document the experiences and discoveries along the way in this blog.  And perhaps, just perhaps, my musings here will inspire you to follow a simple passion that awakes inside you.