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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: FEATHER (08/20/20)
Little Eagle stretched his walking stick toward the peak of the sacred valley and traced the flight of the Sky King circling on the winds above. The messenger of the Creator’s wings held the feathers which would initiate him into warriorhood. The prized feathers provided the link between the people and their Creator and he had been tasked to gather the treasures on behalf of the elders.

“O Mighty One of claw and beak and wing. You who fly with the cloud people. Grant my quest so my people may know the One who gives life to all.”

The distinct tread of a white man scuffing on the granite rock behind him froze him in place. Turning slowly, he watched the hunter on the trail still several hundred steps below. The man, dressed in deerskin breeches, huffed with the ferocity of a buffalo.

“O’siyo Oginalii” (hello, my friend), the hunter called. “Do hi tsu?” (how are you?).

The man knew Cherokee. Little Eagle waited. “Do hi quu” (I am well), he responded.

The newcomer bent over, catching his breath, before nodding and continuing in the tribal tongue. “I come on behalf of the Creator of all peoples to share the wisdom of the eagle.”

Little Eagle scanned the heavens. The circling Sky King had gone. “What knowledge could you know that our grandfathers do not already share?”

The newcomer smiled. “You honor the eagle as the symbol of unconditional love. You understand that such a majestic bird has a special relationship with the Creator since he alone is strong enough to fly higher than any other. You see the love, protection and guidance they share as they teach and carry their young.” He pointed toward the rocky crags far above. “You believe the eagle’s feather represents the Creator’s love for us and our need for a greater understanding of ourselves and each other. You hold this feather close to your heart and consider its reception to be the greatest of gifts.”

Little Eagle nodded. “It is so,” he said. “This is the season of the summer solstice when the sacred feathers will be distributed to the worthy who request this strongest of spiritual powers. Our traditions depend on the success of my quest.”

The man unfastened his leather pack and removed a book. Sitting on a rock he held it up. “The Creator has given feathers even greater than the Sky King’s. On these feathers he has told us the story of his unlimited love for his peoples.”

“How do I know these feathers share the truth?” He reached into his pouch and retrieved a piece of pemmican. Holding it out, he said, “My grandmother told me that one day a messenger will come with the truth that the Turtle has known from the beginning of time but my uncle said that I need to be wary of those who would show up with painted turkey feathers only made to look like the eagles.”

The hunter accepted the dried meat and chewed it for a few moments. “The Creator himself has walked in our moccasins and known the quests which fill our hearts. The feathers he left us are real feathers with truth even older than the Turtle knows.”

“I seek the feathers of the young golden eagle. The white ones with the black tips. They are rare and our sun dancers and medicine men crave them for their ceremonies.”

The hunter reached into his bag and drew out a headdress made with whitetail deer and porcupine fur with two eagle feathers attached. “Is this what you desire?”

Little Eagle eyed the trophy. “It is the special roach of the Cree. How did you get such a treasure?”

“It was a gift from an elder to me but I can give it to you. What would it mean for you to gain this gift without having to climb this mountain to find another?”

“Such a gift would be life.” He stepped closer and ran his fingers over the headdress. “These are not painted turkey feathers.”

The hunter handed over the roach. “The Creator has given us life as a gift and he has given us his feathers of truth to tell us how to live life. You cannot earn it or deserve it. To accept this gift of life is to become his warrior.”

“How do I explain this to the elders?”

“Come, walk with me and I will share the truth of the Creator’s feathers.”
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This article has been read 471 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Leola Ogle
08/27/20
What a marvelous story. Well written and so much truth. God bless.
Stephen Kimball
08/27/20
I’m not sure where you got this idea but I once heard Steve Saint, missionary to the Waodani tribes in Equador, explain how he used similar creative ways to communicate the gospel to those native people who have no point of reference when it comes to the Bible. I remember how he said he struggled with that in his early days. Interesting. Good job writing this.
Barbara Culler 
08/28/20
Great story! I hope this places high!
C D Swanson 
08/29/20
Interesting read and well done. You nailed the topic beautifully.

Blessings~
C D Swanson 
09/05/20
Congrats!
Blessings~