WITH CLEAN HANDS

(Native American)

"THIS VERSE MEANT A LOT TO ME WHEN I FIRST READ IT."

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

Let me walk in beauty, and make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset.

Make my hands respect the things you have made, and my ears sharp to your voice.

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.

A Personal Story

I was loaned a book called Native American Verse in early 2000. At that time I had been separated from my then wife and children, for only a couple of months (a lifetime really). As I read the book nothing in it 'said' anything to me. That was until I reached the last page and saw the words above.You see I 'knew' that when I finally meet my Maker and look into His eyes, I could show Him that my hands were clean and that my heart is pure, something I feared was not so until I read and understood those words. It brought great comfort to me.
You see I finally realised that I had done no wrong, except to love someone with all I had. Unfortunately when feeling unloved and alone I looked within to love myself, there was no love left for me.

Keith