Can You Hear the Thunder?: It Comes from the Heart

My writing is the expression of my heart; therefore, it is my peace, significance, and purpose. All who know and live true Self in expression of the fellowship of the heart experience the same peace and fulfillment. Of course, that does not mean that we do the same things in life. When we seek self, we will discover ourself through our hearts; it will be Self stripped of preconceptions of all others as filtered and applied by our egos. This will yield our unique and richly varied life purposes expressed in our occupations—beautiful lives.


As varied as our life expressions are, though, our hearts seem to have some shared essence that creates a unity of experience. Some inconceivable, paradoxical union exists of something that cannot be quantified yet can be sensed as unified Spirit of each heart. I suppose it’s the spiritual equivalent of we each have a body, flesh and blood, that is used differently by each of us. I believe that our hearts plug into eternal Spirit and thereby share a common bond—hence, created equal, certain inalienable rights, unity.


That breaks down, though, because far too many do not value, reject, or remain ignorant to their true nature. Know how I know? History, current events, social ills and issues, politics and politicians, and… . None always listen to their hearts. The essence, though, is knowing and living Self. If that is the case, even in our imperfection, we have connection with the eternal, great Spirit. 


To me, the only truly unforgivable is not following the heart. Now, many people who commit heinous acts clearly demonstrate that they have followed ego and not heart, but that is also true of those living in utter personal, abject misery. I judge none in those terms, because too many dynamics compose humanity. I do know that hearts don’t initiate destruction and death. Hearts treat all with respect—humans, animals, and earth. Hearts aren’t unreasonable, rash. Hearts have a powerful presence.


Meditating and reading this morning with these things in my heart, I attracted this from a topic about which I care deeply: the history and course of Native Americans. Some of them, as some from other races, would probably say they don’t need me to refer to them or sympathize with them or write about them. Those would be ones who don’t know their hearts, and I say this because of these words of In-mut-too-yah-lat-lat, Thunder Traveling over the Mountain, known by most as Chief Joseph of the Nez Percé tribe. In 1879, he spoke these words (taken from Great Speeches by Native Americans, Bob Blaisdell, editor. The power of the whole speech does, indeed, thunder through the hearer):
“My friends, I have been asked to show you my heart. I am glad to have a chance to do so. Some of you think that an Indian is like a wild animal. This is a great mistake. I will tell you…,then you can judge whether an Indian is a man or not. I believe much trouble and blood would be saved if we opened our hearts more. …What I have to say will come from my heart, and I will speak with a straight tongue. …The Great Spirit is looking at me and will hear me.”


I hope any who read this hear with the heart these words of a man who spoke from his heart, because along with Thunder Traveling over the Mountain, I believe with all my heart that “much trouble and blood would be saved if we opened our hearts more.” Don’t you?

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