FACING SUNRIZE
The Adventures of Peaciwawala & Sittingjing-gongala
Chapter 5, page 5
"You are huh?!" answered Gongi. "Hmmm, well, there's still corn to husk and grind...but we can do all that tomorrow. Tonight, I want to talk with you about how you were bitten by a snake and...the other part, you know, about seeing your Mother." So Lali sat with Gongi and Tumby in the dancing shadows of the little fire Gongi kept going. Into the night they talked and laughed and cried together. Gongi hugged Lali closely as tears streaked down her face. She still didn't believe a word of it, but it was nice to have her baby grand daughter home again in her arms, safe in the warmth of the lodge. Tumby put her head on Lali's lap. She too was happy that Lali was home again and all life was safe again.
Just as they were going off to sleep that night, Lali listened closely, for outside she heard the flapping of wings. Then she heard the familiar call..."whoot! whoot!". She knew her Shining Brother was keeping watch over her and the whole village. In her head, the Empress' voice was clear, singing the special song to her. It soothed and relaxed Lali, as she closed her eyes to dream. She would not ever forget her experiences with the Empress...and the Shining Brother. She realized now that there are guidelines for civilized grown up human behavior. We're not just dumb animals. We are mystical, artistic and musical beings too. She would keep her promise to her Grandmother and be a good girl, because now she knew she had a special destiny to fulfill. The Empress had told her so. Lali knew the Shining Beings wanted her to be strong in character, and to be worthy of her calling, when her hour of greatness came. Now she would watch how she dreamed, and dream nice things; she wanted to dream of harmony and of letting all things work together for the good of all. She wanted to live a long and beautiful life. And she wanted to contribute to a world like that. A world with no war, or waste or abandonment.
Lali nestled closer to her grandmother."Will you tell me a story now Grandma" she whispered, but Grandmother was already asleep. She was dreaming of Leula and the Empress of the Birds for although she thought Lali was making it all up...at least it was a good story!
The embers on the hearth grew cold, and in the darkness of the Lodge, beneath the great grizzly bearskin, Lali lay beside her Grandmother, quietly reflecting.
She was silently humming the hooting chant in her mind while she dreamed of being the beautiful Empress, Queen Muri and even before that, the Archangel Enu. She dreamed of her Shining Brother and hoped to see him again too. Perhaps he would help her carry the heavy jugs of water up from the stream. She hoped she would see Hokami again so she could thank him for being there and saving her life.
Soon she fell fast asleep, hugging Sittingjing-gongala closely, not realizing just how little time left they would have together. Not realizing that Time would move her quickly toward her inevitable destiny...a destiny that would unlock the mystery of her individual through Time and Space; would unravel to reveal all the centuries of existence on this planet, upon and through which her individual had imprinted it's consciousness, lived, died and experienced being Human...being silly, being immature and fallible; being jealous and vain, vindictively seeking revenge and power. It had been an eventful journey and was such fun being Human.
But now there would be accountability. One knew now that there were consequences for one's behavior even far into the future...She had been so careless with her Grandmother's feelings. Gongi was getting old. It wasn't fair of Lali to be so difficult. Her Grandmother was overweight and her knees hurt too much when she tried to walk about. Gongi was almost completely blind and needed Lali more than ever to be her eyes. To continue to grow beautifully, Lali would have to modify and reconcile her attitude and behavior. She would have to try to be more helpful to her family...even when she didn't want to be.
She wanted to become the Empress in the future. Didn't the Empress tell her that she was Lali herself...who she could be if only she reached for and grew into the goodness and beautiful person within herself that she was meant to be...that she could be....someday?! She knew now, deep inside, who she really was, had been and was meant to be. There is redemption after all. She couldn't really fathom it all yet.... consciously. But fleeting glimpses, hunches...dreams...was all she had for now to console her aching...waiting for tomorrow to come.
Please click link to go to: Chapter 6, p1