GRANDFATHER, GREAT SPIRIT

Grandfather, Great Spirit,
you are older than all need. . .
you are older than all prayer . . .
you are the life of things.

 

A NATIVE AMERICAN PRAYER

O Great Spirit,
whose voice I hear in the winds
and whose breath gives life to all the world,
Hear me!

I am small and weak.
I need your strength and wisdom.
Let me walk in beauty
and make my eyes ever behold the sunset.
Make my hands respect the things you have made
and my ears sharp to hear your voice

Make me wise so that I may understand
the things you have taught my people.
Let me learn the lessons
you have hidden in every leaf and rock.

I seek strength,
not to be greater than my brother,
but to fight my greatest enemy - myself.

Make me always ready to come to you
with clean hands and straight eyes.
So when life fades, as the fading sunset,
my spirit may come to you without shame.