Remember the Woman

There is a spiritual numbness in my soul these days.
Fed, perhaps by loneliness or resentment.
There is this restlessness.
I went to the water Monday. They call it a lake here in New Mexico, but I grew up on the shore of the "Great" Lake Ontario. This lake was very quiet, small and quiet. I wanted to hear the heart beat of the waves. Perhaps, I'll go to the river today. But it's not my river. I don't want to intrude. I could walk to the bridge, the one underwhich live the trolls. I need to go to the store and the post office. It's a nice day for a walk. But from the bridge I could not hear the river.
And the trolls under the bridge make me nervous.
It is a beautiful morning here in New Mexico. It rained yesterday. It snowed in the mountains.
The birds are in full chorus. I sat on my porch, in the warmth of the newly risen sun, and read Matthew 25 and 26, up to the garden scene. Worship. Fasting. Matthew 25 compared to Isaiah 58 and what Jesus really wants from His followers. There are three sections of Scripture I really like to teach. Three lessons in which I lead my students in a comparive study. Compare Matt. 25 with Isaiah 58. Compare Ezekial 34 with John 10. Compare I Cor. 13 with Galiations 5. I havent' taught a Sunday School class in a long time.
Then I read Matt. 26:8 -13
Thus the title of this rambling...Remember the Woman.
A simple act of Worship. A woman, bold enough to push through a group of men, bold enough to approach a rabbi. The most important events of all time were unfolding, and some nameless woman approached Him. She annointed his head with expensive ointment from an alabaster jar.
The disciples rebuked her, the waste of it. Jesus said when ever the Gospel was preached, she would be remembered and honored. The same story is in Mark 14. And the same words. "She has done an excellent thing for me." I couldn't find her in Luke or John. And I haven't heard many sermons preached about her. Her part isn't in the Passion Play we've done for so many years. Yet, Jesus said she was to be remembered.
I suppose Mary was the first woman to annoint Jesus. I carry a little bottle of annointing oil that smells like Frankincense and I've told Sunday School kids that that is how Baby Jesus smelled.
That his mother would annoint him with the Frankincense the Magi brought, after his baths.
I also like to tell them that Fig Newtons were his favorite cookie.
Grey Owl is doing some posts on Predestination. I found the first one very distrubing. His computer ate his second one. (a predestined act?). I like Grey Owl and will continue to read his pieces as he posts them. So far most of his commentors seem to be coming from the Free Will camp. I brought this up because one of the things that has been feeding my spritual numbness is the realization, that if God is the God that Grey Owl's friend from "Bible College" said he was, and if God is the God of Election and Predestination, I'd feel really bad teaching kids about that God. I'd feel as if I was giving them some sort of false hope. To look into those sweet faces and know that some of them were destined for the fires of hell, and nothing I could say or do would make the least bit of difference. That God had a perfect plan for each of their lives, and that for some of them that perfect plan of a Perfect God was that they would spend eternity in hell.
But then, when I start getting that "What does it matter what I do" mind set, Jesus speaks gently to my heart and says "Remember the Cross". The cross does matter. The cross is what it's really all about. It is the deciding factor. Jesus died on the cross. And His ressurection is the exclaimation point (!) that changed the whole world. Nothing else really matters. Jesus.
but we shouldn't forget that woman.

The Cross

From “Jesus Christ, Superstar!”
“What about your death?
Was that a mistake? Or
did you know your messy death
would be a record breaker?”
Back in the day, when I was much younger and barely still a Roman Catholic I had a conversation with a young Jew, about the Messiah.
I was Biblically literate enough at that time to bring up Isaiah 53.
3 He was despised, and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and as one from whom men hide their face he was despised; and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
His response to these verses was that I couldn’t use quotes from the New Testament to prove my point. Our argument continued.
“So you admit that these verses are talking about Jesus and His crucifixion?”
“Yes, of course, but Jews don’t believe the New Testament is scripture, that’s the whole point.”
“The point is, these verses are from the book of Isaiah, a Jewish prophet I believe.”
Our conversation concluded with his decision to go home and read the book of Isaiah in his “Bible”. I don’t know where he went from there.
A few years later, when I was about as far away from being a Christian as one could get, someone tried to explain to me that the Bible had been written cover to cover sometime in the early 1100’s. The reason why prophecies seemed to have come true is that they were written by one author, in an attempt to deceive and control. This of course is nonsense, easily disproved. But it did make me wonder about the Old Testament and New Testament. I mean, how old were our oldest manuscripts? How could we know when these things were actually written. Before or after the fact?
But oh, the wonderful book of Isaiah, and the Dead Sea Scrolls.
We have scientific proof that Isaiah 53, all of Isaiah, the Christmas prophecy, the Crucifixion prophecy, was written at least 400 years before the birth of Jesus. Biblical scholars date is much earlier, but the copy we have, the Dead Sea Scrolls, is at least that old.

As I decided to meditate on and write on the Cross of Jesus, I started at
Isaiah 52:13 Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted.
John 12:32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself."
I read on to Isaiah 55:6
“Seek the Lord while He may be found”
And I paused.
And now I am thinking of other things. How diligently I was seeking for
enlightenment back in the 70’s, only to discover that Jesus, the same Jesus
I prayed to as a child, was the Way, the Truth, and the LIGHT! I’m thinking
of how messed up some peoples’ theologies seem to be, and how
complicated. And how good some of it sounds - good but not necessarily
true.
This makes sense.
That doesn’t make sense.
I can see what you mean, but…
I see where you’re going, but…
But, what about the cross? See, it’s all about the Cross. That is the record
breaker, the tie breaker, the deciding factor.
Jesus died on the cross.
And what is love?
I will end this session with this from Philippians.
Phi 2:1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,
Phi 2:2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
Phi 2:3 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Phi 2:4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Phi 2:5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
Phi 2:6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
Phi 2:7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
Phi 2:8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

1 Peter 4:8

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

also see Proverbs 10:12

love = charity?

Just a few short notes...

I expected "Something to think about" to be much shorter, but I was writing it while my students were taking a long computer test, and i started to ramble...

I am so glad that it is Friday, and that Spring is here, that Spring break is here, but I already wrote about that today...

I've been entertaining some rather unsettling thoughts lately, due to some of my "reading material". I've been doing a lot of sighing and shaking my head. But the LORD keeps saying the same thing, "look to the Cross" "remember the Cross" meditate on the Cross. It is that time of year after all.

We say, "God is LOVE"
Jesus said the greatest commandments were to LOVE
Some ask "How could a loving God allow...."
Some people say, God's love is different than ours, thus allowing for what appears to be cruelty and darkness on His part.
But I think the Bible is very clear on what God means by LOVE...
just look at the cross. And that is what I will be writing about next...
Oh the Wonderous Cross!

Something to Think About

although not so seriously,
the following statement was made on the sci-fi show "Stargate"
"the only choice anyone really ever has is to be good (do good) or evil."
Christians believe no one can be good without the presense of Jesus/Holy Spirit in their lives, and even then, they can not be good enough. Yet people are capable of doing good. People instinctively know the difference between good and evil. I'm not saying they don't have a sin nature. I'm not saying they are ever "good enough" to get into heaven with out the saving grace that comes from faith in Jesus. Everyone sins, unsaved and saved alike. Everyone falls short. But there are people in the world who choose to do good, who choose to be kind, upstanding, responsible citizens.
Mormons for example. Some of the nicest people I know, helpful and friendly, are Mormon. And there have been great humanitarians, Like Mother Teresa, who many Christians would say wasn't really saved because she was a Roman Catholic, yet she did much good in her life.
And there are many born again Christians who really aren't that "good". Many who commit sins of ommission, knowing the "good" they should do and not doing it.
If we are living in a depraved world, a world where greed and lust has polluted and defiled, a world where there is prevailing darkness, and where people have a sin nature and a free will, then those who choose to be good have a lot going against them. And it's a day by day, circumstance just some random thoughts, it's time for lunch...I'll be back.

TGIF

like most people, I usually breath a sign of relief when Friday rolls around.
i am especially greatful for this Friday.
every Friday at Tse Bi' Ai school starts with the students saying the Pledge of Allegiance in Navajo, followed by singing the national anthem in the same difficult language. and i thought it was hard to sing in English.
this Friday is payday, the day before spring break begins, school is providing lunch for the staff, and tonight will be the first time my hubby and i will be able to visit the 2006 cast and crew of Passion Play of the Four Corners. And when we get home i'll be able to watch my new favorite TV show, Dr. Who?
It couldn't get much better !

My Agenda

I am currently waiting for my men to finish getting ready for Church.
After Church I am going to cook cheese omlets, go to the laundry matt where I will wash clothes and correct papers.
Then I will come home and visit all the people on my "Links" list and a few that I Link to off their links...ahhh the great "Link"...isn't that a Star Trek concept?
My weekly guide to devotions - just one of the spring boards I sometimes use when I want to dive into the Word - is about "Seeking God".
Pastor Art will probably be watching "Fiddler on the Roof" - "TRADITION!"

My Very First Post, Nearly a Year ago...

posted on March 24, 2005
This blog is almost one year old...

Full Moon Setting
A time to mourn...a time to weep
Up before dawn again, and the moon which is nearly full
is setting behind my friend the mountain.
Created by YHWH to give light to the night and to mark the seasons...
And everything on Earth has its special season (Ecc.3:1 New Century Version)
The seasons are preordained, but are the events?
Was the shooting in Minn. preordained or was it preventable?
His young face haunts me now. And in it I see the eyes of my
troubled students, my angry students, it is too late for him and so
my prayers for them grow stronger... more urgent.
In our country...21st century America,
Land of the Free and Home of the Brave
A woman is publically being starved to death, and people say that is her right.
A community is beating drums to mourn the death of their children.
Churches who don't even believe that Jesus was divine, or that he actually rose from the dead, are planning big Easter Productions because they know that is one of the two days annually that people will bother to attend church, and they want their cut...LORD have mercy on us all

Brother, Where art thou?

I have 5 brothers. Actually they are “half-brothers”, one having the same mother as me and the other 4 having the same father. I almost never, ever communicate with them. I was not raised with them. I am their “big” sister although they all tower over me. I am thinking of them this week.

“He who loves his brother abides in the light and there is no cause for stumbling in him.” I John 2:10

I know that refers to ones’ Christian brothers, not the flesh and blood kind.

But it is one of many “brother verses” in my Guideposts daily planner this week. And brothers are on my mind.
I have two sons. Brothers to each other.
And they haven’t talked to each other, except for a casual “hi there” for over three years. And the youngest one hasn’t talked to me in nearly 5 months. There is resentment there I think. It makes me very sad. I think brothers should get along. I don’t think it’s good to just ignore each other.

But it’s easy to do.
I don’t mean to ignore my brothers. But 4 of them live in Florida and the other lives in New York. We don’t have that much in common.
Not even a lot of shared memories.

“Thus says the Lord of hosts: Execute true Justice, show mercy, and compassion everyone to his brother.” Zechariah 7:9

I wonder, do I really even love my brothers? I pray for them often.

Back to the old, brother and sister in the Lord bit.

Over the past few months my “church family” has shrunk. There is no one to blame, but it’s been kind of lonely. Proverbs says “A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, and contentions are like the bars of a castle. (18:19) Yeah, there are some offences that need to be dealt with I think, but I’m not sure about the when’s and how’s. Like I said, I don’t think it’s good to just ignore the situation, but it is easy to do.

"We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the LORD, and I pray that all unity will one day be restored."
I just recently commented somewhere about the need to agree to disagree. I don’t really like that cliché, Only a toe is very much different than an eyeball, but both can be part of the same body. Different is not always bad. Different is not always wrong. Anyway, I’m supposed to be doing my paperwork so I gotta bring this to a close. I had a lot to say about Hebrews 2, but I was too busy thinking about and praying for my brothers (and sisters) and lost focus. It is Monday. There is snow in the mountains. The sun is setting.

One last verse: “If someone says, “I love God” and hates his brother, he is a liar. For he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen…” 1 John 4:20 – Jeremiah, call your brother!

Sunday

This morning, Sunday Morning, with a frigid wind howling and dark clouds covering the mountains, I had a thought about priests and ministers of the Gospel. Three in particular.
Warnings are going out about false teachers, and I suppose that is both expectable and acceptable in view of Scripture. We are told to beware of wolves in sheep clothing, of those who would simply tickle the ears with words that were easy to hear. I am cautious of the criteria used by some of these judges and critics.
Some, but to be fair, not all of those who seem to glory in finding fault, would find the three pastors/priests for whom I found myself praying this morning, to be false and unacceptable. One stands behind a plexiglass pulpit, long hair - tattoos (ok, they aren’t usually visible when he preaches) - and delivers a strong Biblical teaching after about an hour of loud, rocky, praise and worship to which dancers dance and banners wave. From what I’ve read, it doesn’t really matter to many critics what the words of the songs are saying…if they don’t approve of loud music with a beat, it’s the volume and beat they condemn. The second does most of his preaching sitting in an arm chair. His congregation sits on couches or pillows on the floor with Open Bibles. He too has long hair, and a bushy beard to match. He wears earrings. Shame on him! Well, everyone knows that ex-hippies and Native Americans can be pastors as long as they don’t look like Hippies or Native Americans anymore. Then there is the priest. He wears a clerical collar and vestments when he preaches. Before he reads the Gospel he raises the Book about his head and walks up and down the aisle - much like I saw done at a Synagogue
once with the Torah. Maybe it’s not the men themselves, maybe it is the churches that would come under criticism, maybe it’s the churches, with their plexiglass pulpits and power point, or the casual setting, or the statues, crucifixes and icons that would merit putting these three on the hit list. But all three are minister’s of the gospel, teachers of the WORD, and their churches are vital parts of the catholic and apostolic church, the Body of Christ. And as I drive through the cold, snowy landscape of the Four Corners, on the way to church, I will be praying for them and their ministries.

Snowy Saturday

Hebrews
Who wrote it? After careful study of the on going debate concerning it’s un-named author, I’d vote for Barnabus - the encourager.
When I was teaching at a Christian School in Colorado I had my 4th and 5th graders memorize Hebrews 11 - The Faith Chapter…one of my favorite sections of Scripture:
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
So I will start with Hebrews.
The first chapter is declaring the divinity of Jesus. The other spirits (angels) pale in the presence of Jesus. Jesus was, is, will always be unique! The SON of God!
From the Bible Study I like to visit,
“The point was that God's people now must look only to Jesus, whose atoning death, resurrection and ascension have opened the way into the true, heavenly sanctuary of God's presence”
I remember the night when I realized that Jesus was the Enlightenment I had been searching for. After many months of going down many different spiritual paths, from
Buddhism (Zen) to Wicca, I was amazed to discover that the Truth was not some mystic occult secret, but rather a Person, The Person…Jesus. How could it be so simple? The Bible? So readily available to so many. Maybe the hard part is not really accepting the Truth of Jesus, but choosing to live the Life that this acceptance leads to. I think of James, Jesus’ own brother, who wrote:
Jam 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Jam 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
But that’s another book, and that’s another story

Hebrews vs Romans

So, the Bible Study I like to visit is studying the book of Hebrews. Who do YOU think wrote it? I can go with the flow over there. One chapter or one concept at a time. But I’ll probably read ahead.

And one of my blog mates got me back into the book of Romans, by once again touching on the topic I love to hate – the foreknowledge of our Sovereign God. He mentioned Romans 9:17, but I hate just looking at one verse, so I read the whole chapter, but even that is out of context, so I read Chapter 8 too, and now I realize I need to reread the whole book.

Pastor Art translated Romans when he was in college. If my old memory serves me right, his professor was a Messianic Jewish Free Methodist.

The thing is, that with a professor of that description, and looking deeply into the original language (ancient Greek), Pastor Art got a different perspective on the book. He also got one of his few A’s in that class. So when I get stuck in Romans, I usually ask him.

But I don’t want to get lost in the “What does this say?” vs “What does this mean?” mire. I like to use Bible Gateway because I can look as so many different versions. I can even use it at school, when I get a break. I confess that I approach this particular topic with the thought “it doesn’t mean what everyone thinks it means…what does it really mean.”

Anyway, I have something to keep me busy the next few days at least.

Nothing Really

Just that I am feeling really old, really tired, really lonely, and really out of touch.

Please Pray

It is Tuesday, 3:23 MST
tonight a medicine man will be performing a "Blessing Ceremony" at our school because of the tragedies...
This is not a good thing.

Walking the the Rain

Well, almost. The sky was real grey, lots of clouds to the east, and I did feel a drop or two.
I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed walking and talking...walking and praying.
I used to walk to school a few years back. Early morning, before the sun rose, and I could talk and talk with no one around to think I was crazy. It doesn't much bother me if passer bys see me talking to myself here in Shiprock. Most natives think white people are crazy anyway.
I'm thinking about the future. I'm not happy thinking that perhaps the LORD is calling us away from this place. Inspite of the violence ( a kid brought a pellet gun to school today) and tragedy, I get such a sense of shalom, of the LORD's presence and purpose when I walk through the doors of my school. I believe that the LORD sent us to this place, and gave us a heart for it, but we may not be able to stay. There are possible ministry opportunities in Colorado and South Dakota, and Pastor Art's ministry comes first. It just doesn't seem that a ministry opportunity will open up here. We couldn't be leadership at our last church. They really didn't need another white guy in leadership, and in order to serve in a position of leadership there Pastor Art would have had to given up his license with Open Bible Standard. There were times when we wanted to speak up, teach, or at least give instruction, but it just didn't feel like it was our place. They really had enough good leaders. We aren't going to become Episcopalian, although that's where we've been worshiping lately. We don't really want to start another church, this area doesn't need another church, it just needs the churches it has too revive and push ahead, to shine.
That's part of what I've been praying about on my walks.
And the phrases - "that's such a sin" "that's such a shame"
Brand new homes that were left unfinished and have now been trashed and tagged by angry and restless teens.
Trash on the side of the road, trash left by careless natives who doen't really value Mother Earth the way the movies used to show, at least not anymore.
Depressed and Dejected men - the invisible people, many of whom once tried the "Jesus way" at
a Tent Meeting or Revival or VBS, but it didn't take. It didn't work for them. They cried at the alter, but it wasn't enough to bring light into the dark and depraved lives they are trapped in.
The Bridge over the San Juan (St. John), where the gangs hang out, the trolls under the bridge.
Flow river flow...bringing water to a dry and dreary land. Flow river flow, polluted by trashed people, trashed lives.
It's a Sin, It's a shame!
But this is a land of promise. A people of promise. I believe that.
And what of the "great commission" ?
this is how The Message puts it
"Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: God out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, daya after day after day, right up to the end of the age."
this isn't "notches on the belt" evangelism. . . it is discipleship . . . it is the body of Christ learning to care for the widows and orphans. . . I think it is what the emergents are referring to as missional. And so my walk continues!

A Matter of Faith

Jesus
born of the Blessed Virgin
fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets
Cruicified for our sins
risen from the dead
coming again!
Amen

No Comment Allowed...

I just attempted to post a comment on "Slice of Laodicia". Reading that cite usually gets my dander up, but I often visit it anyway. And I confess, I've been know to write some rather sarcastic comments there and lately my comments haven't been posted.
I just didn't want this particular comment to be lost in cyberspace if the author of the cite found it unacceptable, so I cut and past it here:

I am blessed to say that the last three churches I attended held the Word of God in the highest regard. The Word was sung and read and preached on in great depth.(Hebrews 4:12).Please allow me to make two comments concerning two comments here. Renee indicated that we should be asking, not "what does this say to me" but rather "what does this mean - period". I agree. But I think we should be careful with the word "mean". Not so much, what does this mean, but what does this say?" It always means what it says - right? Yet so often you hear people arguing about what it means, not what it says. And Chris, if we do not need to take into consideration it's historical and cultural context or the depth of meaning in the original languages which is often lost in the limitations of the English language...can we truly understand what it "means"...what was being said by the people who originally said it? I don't think approaching Scripture in this way is in anyway a tactic to rid the church of sola scriptura...and when you speak of the "literal word" what language is that "literal word" written in?

TGIF

what a week! death sorrow and standardized testing - what could be worse?

I know,

It doesn’t really matter what I think or what I have to say.

But there is something there, on the edge of my mind, a new insight.

New to me at least. I just don’t know what to do with it.

I cock my head and listen. I close my eyes and try to lay hold of it.

It is elusive. Like a hummingbird fluttering, I can see it out of the corner of my eye. What is it LORD?

I think of Philippians 2:14-16

Do everything without finding fault or arguing. Then you will be pure and without blame. You will be children of God without fault in a sinful and evil world. Among the people of the world you shine like stars in the heavens. You shine as you hold out to them the word of life.

More and more it is brought to my attention just how sinful and evil, dark and depraved is this world we live in.

More and more I realize how important it is that the LIGHT of JESUS shines through us into this dark world.

More and more I realize that it is my responsibility, as a Christian to hold out to this world the Word of Life.

Life! Kingdom Living! In a world where there is so much pain and death.

Where are the Christians? Where is the body of Christ?

Philippians

What a powerful little book.

Chapter 1:21-23

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better;

Did Paul really have a choice there? I believe in Free Choice, but one cannot just choose to die. My friend Melodie did. She was a believer. And she just had all too much going on in her life, and for some reason I’ll never understand, she chose to depart – and be with Christ? I don’t know what she was thinking. I can understand the feeling though. And sitting at her funeral service, I got a real sense of her resting in her LORD’s embrace, or walking with Him in the Garden. I know lots of Christians believe Suicide is a “hell” sentence. I don’t know. I believe in the sanctity of life. I feel bad for her daughter, for her mother. But they are clinging to the hope that they will see her again in glory. I surely wouldn’t take that hope away from them.

But this isn’t really where I meant to go with this piece. And I have to walk home today because Art is working. That’s ok. It feels like spring outside, and I can use the exercise, and the prayer time. I will be listening. There is something important for me to hear.

Wednesday, March 1

Living In Navajo Land

I am a white woman living in Shiprock, New Mexico. It is a small town on the Navajo Reservation. Walking from my home, a double wide trailer in a very nice little treed area where all the neighbors are sisters or aunties or grandmas…except us “Anglos” that is, walking from home to the grocery store I pass 4 churches, 2 video stores, 4 gas stations and a flea market where you can buy chunks of coal or fresh melons – depending on the season, hay, used videos, pirated CDs, jewelry, pottery, fry bread and mutton stew.

I see lots of semi trucks, and new pickups crossing the San Juan River. I pass MacDonalds, Burger King, Taco Bell, KFC, Subway, and a little Chinese Restaurant. There are a lot of stray dogs and a few stray people.

It’s a 2 ½ mile walk from home to City Market, and just a little farther to the Post Office. I don’t have to pay for my post office box, because it’s the only way you can get your mail. No mail delivery and no pizza delivery in Shiprock.

No street names or street addresses either. My school is about 1 mile more.

It is a middle school, with 450 students and about 1/3 of the teachers are Native American. 97% of the students are Native.

Sometimes I see a teepee in the neighborhood. That is not a good thing. A teepee means a Medicine Man is in the area doing ceremonies. One of the teachers in our school, an Anglo, committed suicide last weekend. Her service is tomorrow. Our vice principal will not be going to the service. He is “traditional” and is not allowed to attend a white person’s funeral. If he did he would have to go to a medicine man for a ceremony. Medicine Men charge quite a lot for their services, sometimes as much as $500 and two sheep.

In January the mutilated body of a young student was found in a field. He had been missing for about a week, and it looked like dogs had gotten hold of his body. Did I mention the stray dogs? Anyway, the people who worked in the building next to the field where he was found had to have a ceremony done for them because they saw the dead body.

When I walk at night I whistle. Just to make my Navajo friends nervous. If you whistle at night you will attract a Skinwalker. A Skinwalker is the Navajo equivalent to a Werewolf and many people hear swear that they really exist.

I’ve never seen one.

The nearest non-reservation town is Farmington, New Mexico. It’s really trying to be a nice American Town. Rents are pretty high and many new houses are going up. Very nice new houses! They have a beautiful new library.

When you go in the door, look up. You will see an eagle’s feather hanging from the ceiling. There is also one in the new Best Buy store. Those feathers are indications that a Medicine Man came and did a dedication ceremony. Did I mention that medicine men charge quite a lot for their services?

During my second year of teaching here in the Four Corners Region, I was in Farmington, one of my students was complaining of an ear ache. He was a beautiful child, long braid down his back, sparkling eyes. I told him to tell his mom. I could tell he was in a lot of pain. I said go tell your mom to take you to the clinic. They can give you some medicine. The Navajo get free medical care at the Shiprock Hospital, which is a nice – modern facility. But my student told me, “Oh don’t worry Mrs. Brokop. My father is taking me to a medicine man on Saturday.”

My students wear jeans and Slipknot tee shirts. A few of the boys have long hair but not many. They watch DVDs and have Ipods and Cell Phones, and most of the boys skate board. It’s the modern version of the “pony” I think.

The boys play football before school and the girls giggle a lot.

But a number of my students live in homes without electricity or running water. They know how to butcher sheep; water trucks deliver water and propane trucks deliver gas. Some have to walk 3 miles to the bus stop.

Christian Missionaries have been doing work here for 200+ years. There are quite a few missions still operating. Many churches of all denominations. A strong Mormon influence. Some Muslims are moving in. Less than 10% of the Native American Population identifies itself as Christian. Many still see Jesus as the white man’s God, although he probably looked more like them than most white men.

Someone asked if there was a curse on the land, in view of all the tragedies and violence we’ve experienced this school year. I’d have to say, yes, a curse and a promise.

I love it here. I love the way it looks and smells, although we could use some rain. I love these beautiful people. And I believe that God has put this love for them in my heart for a purpose. We might have to move on from here soon, and that makes me very sad. I can’t imagine not teaching a native population. I can’t imagine not seeing these bright eyes and hearing these hearty laughs. I will go where the LORD leads, when He leads, but for now, I will relish each day I spend living in Navajo Land, and prayer without ceasing for my students and my neighbors.