Spirit

FIRST CHAPTER
SPIRIT OF THE WOLF
COPYRIGHT 2009

                                                     FOREWORD

   I was born in Stigler Oklahoma but I grew up in the desert country in the Casa Grande
Valley in Arizona. I roamed the desert and learned about the wildlife and how to find
water and food in a land that appears to be barren. The desert is alive with plants and
animals that have adapted to the hot and dry environment. It is also home to several
tribes of Indians from whom I also learned a great deal.
   The desert is a quiet place where a boy can learn to contemplate the more serious
aspects of life. It is a spiritual land that is inspiring to the soul. The desert can be an
unforgiving, deadly place but it can be a place of uplifting inspiration if one will take the
time to seriously study it.
   There is a place just out of Stigler Oklahoma called Mudlark. It is bottomland with
rolling hills the folks there call mountains. Thirty miles east of Mudlark across the
Canadian River is Ft. Smith Arkansas. When this country was just a territory called the
Indian Nations Judge Parker would send his marshals into Oklahoma to hunt down
outlaws. All the outlaws when running from the law would cross the river and come
through the Mudlark bottoms. Some of the more well know were the James brothers,
Jessie and Frank, as well at Bell Star and the Daltons. There were plenty of others that
were not so well publicized but were meaner.
   There are thick woods and creeks with plenty of natural cover for wildlife. The farmers
and ranchers who live there like the peace and quite of a country atmosphere. In the
past you could find them sitting on their porch with their feet dangling while resting up
from their labors in the fields. There were usually a few old coonhounds laying around in
the yard or under the house in the shade. The old timers who are still around can tell you
some hair-raising stories of things that they have seen and done in this country.
   This is a country that grew men who were all man with the bark still on and a yard wide.
They didn’t have much to say to any city slicker who happened to pass by. It was
advisable for any city slicker who happened to stop to walk softly and speak politely. Old
John Wier raised a few good crops of corn on his old home place in these bottoms but
after harvest he generally sold his crops in the liquid form. This is the country where the
McCasslin twins, Buster and Leman, the Hays boys, Doc and Preacher Harrell, and Earl
Ritch grew up. There was no backup in any of those boys. If anyone tried to push them it
would be skull busting, tooth and claw, and the devil take the hindermost.
   There were impromptu dances at different folk’s homes in those days. There would be
fiddles, banjos, and open box guitars to play some foot stomping, leg slapping, get down
music while everyone would be doing some foot stomping, clogging jigs and swinging the
ladies. There was usually a jug or two of moonshine to take a pull on out in the
shadows.
   One of my grandfathers was a full blood Choctaw Indian and he was a town marshal for
several small towns in South-Eastern Oklahoma at one time or another. The last
lawman's job he had was in a small town named McCurtain. The towns people I talked to
there all said that he was an excellent lawman and did a good job of keeping the peace.
Some of the fellows who hung out in the pool hall did say that he was reputed to have a
penchant for wild women and good whisky. I can’t seem to fault him for that though as I
have been accused of that a few times myself when I was younger.
   The bottoms and hill country there is still a wild and wooly country and there are a few
wolves and panthers that still call it home. There are deer, opossums, raccoons,
armadillos, terrapins, and skunks, as well as some wild Indians and wild Okies. This is
truly Gods Country that is inspiring and uplifting to your soul. It is a place of serene
beauty that appeals to one’s spiritual nature.
   There are becoming less and less places where one can go to see the natural beauty
of country that is still unsullied by unthinking man. There is a need in this world today for
people to seek out a quiet setting in which to soothe their soul and relax and commune
with The Spirit Father of us all. A few such places still exist but you sometimes have to
search diligently to find them.
   This story is the second book in the Johnny SkyHawk series and is set around Stigler
Oklahoma and the Mudlark bottom country as well as the Oklahoma Panhandle and is a
fast paced story as was my book “Where Eagles Soar.” So sit back folks and get ready
for a ripsnorter of a tale.

CHAPTER 1

                        “When your spirit cries out for rest and
                           the world seems too fast and harried
                        to cope with, then seek out a quiet place
                           in which to commune with The Great
                           Spirit and regenerate your energies--
                           your heart, your mind, and your soul.”

   Johnny opened his eyes as he awakened and looked at the clock on the bedside
stand. Even though he had not set the alarm he had awakened at his usual time of five o’
clock in the morning. He looked over at Lena as she lay with her hair spread over the
pillow while still sleeping the sleep of the innocent. He got out of the bed gently so he
would not awaken her. He put on his trousers and walked outside to stand on the porch
and listen to the early morning sounds.
   The construction project he had been working on for several months had ended the
day before and he was now free to do what ever he wanted to do for the next month. He
had given it much thought and had talked to Lena about taking a trip to Oklahoma to visit
the hills and woods of the country where he had grown up. She had agreed that it would
be a nice vacation and they planned to start their trip today.
   As usual when a job was completed Johnny was tired and drained from the every day
stress that is common on a job that is sometimes dangerous and from the problems that
occur from trying to complete it on schedule. The house they were staying in while here
in California was nice enough and it was located in a quiet setting but now that the job
was done he would be going on to the next project which was in another state. As he
stood there on the porch admiring the beautiful countryside as the morning sun rose to
enhance the beautiful mountain in the near distance he was glad that the job was over.
  California was just too crowded for one who liked the quiet life and Johnny wanted to
get away for a while. Granted the house they were staying in was in a quiet setting and
the view was magnificent it still didn’t compare to the rugged hills where he grown up and
gained so much knowledge from his Grandfather. He silently gave thanks to The Great
Spirit for giving them this fine day on which to start the journey to his homeland.
   Johnny SkyHawk was a Choctaw Indian and his wife Lena SweetWater was of the White
Mountain Apache Tribe in Northern Arizona. They had met in a small town in Arizona
when Johnny was working on a three-year construction project. They didn’t really get to
know each other very well until he had left that town to go to Sedona Arizona to rest and
regenerate his mind and soul after a stressful three years on a job without a break. As it
turned out a madman had kidnapped Lena and brought her to the same mountainside
that Johnny had chosen for a campsite.
   He had been the one to rescue her and then had helped the Sheriff there capture a
rogue mountain lion. They had recognized each other as soul mates and had been
married in a special ceremony by the Shaman of her people. It had been a soul inspiring
time and they had gained much spiritual growth in the beautiful White Mountain country
while they were there.
   Now he had finished his latest project and it was time to rest and regenerate once
more. His Grandfather had left him the section of land in the mountains and bottomland
of his youth. There was a nice rock house that he had spent a lot of time in when his
Grandfather was alive. He had kept the taxes paid so the state or county couldn’t claim it
and had hired a neighbor to watch the place for him. This was where Johnny planned to
take Lena to enjoy the solitude and beauty of nature.
   Johnny thought, “it seems that no matter where one travels the land of their birth
always pulls them home. It is the same with The Great Spirit, when once you start on the
path of Truth, Beauty, and goodness his love will constantly pull you toward him.”
   He had always loved his Grandfathers home and now it was his. He wanted to spend
more time there so he could relax and enjoy the natural surroundings of the mountains
and woods. His job kept him on the move a lot to different parts of the country so he didn’
t have a lot of free time but he generally managed a month or so between jobs so he
could try to relax and unwind. It was nice to have a place to call home and now that he
and Lena were married it was especially nice. He knew that she would love the place as
much as he did because she was just as much of a nature’s child as he was.
   The small mountains with the oak forests were quite different than the mountains and
tall pine trees of her native land but he knew she would be happy with it. Like him, she
had a spirit like the wolves of the forest -- free, wild, family orientated, fierce yet gentle,
proud and untamed.
   He remembered his Grandfather had taken him across the mountain one day to a
small meadow that extended up to the edge of a thick stand of oak trees. Cautioning him
to be extra quiet he led him through the trees to the base of the mountain and pointed
upward. On the side of the mountain where he was pointing was a small cave and
Johnny saw two wolves sitting in the mouth of it. As he was looking two pups came
toddling out. They looked like they were not much more than a month old.
   His Grandfather had said, “you can learn a lot by observing this wolf family. Most
people think that wolves are mean and vicious and are a danger to man and his animals.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Wolves feed a lot on mice and rats as well as
rabbits and small game. They hunt deer but they choose the old or sick or very young. It
is in this way the strongest deer survive and it keeps the deer population healthy.
Wolves rarely bother mans cattle or other livestock. They know that man is dangerous to
them and they tend to avoid any contact with man. Wolves are extremely family
orientated and are loving parents. They are free spirits and loyal to their mates in a way
that is touchingly tender and admirable. There has never been even one instance in
recorded history of an unprovoked wolf attacking a human, yet man regards them as
vicious killers.”
   They had been running his Grandfathers trap line and had caught a nice rabbit in one
of the snares. Johnny had wondered why they didn’t head back to the house when they
had reached the end of the traps but the old man had not said anything and Johnny had
known that the old man would tell him in his own sweet time. Remembering back caused
Johnny to smile at the things about the old man that most people thought was strange.
He had gathered his food from the woods and mountains. He had always grown a garden
and he knew where every fruit and nut tree was located in the country. About the only
thing the old man bought from the store was salt. He had told Johnny that most people
would starve to death in the woods and hills with food all around them.
   After watching the wolves for a few minutes the old man had said, “watch closely now
and you will learn something. Don’t talk and don’t make any sudden moves. Just stay by
my side and observe.”
   The old man had stepped into the open then and stood still and Johnny stepped out
and stood beside him. The two wolves stood up and looked straight at them with an
unwavering gaze while the two pups still played with each other. The old man waited a
minute and then slowly walked toward the wolves and they just stood still and watched the
man and boy approaching.
   The old man stopped about ten feet away from the wolves and said, “hello big silver
and little gray. I have brought my grandson to visit so you will know him and he will know
you. I have brought you a rabbit so you can feed your pups.”
   The old man had then tossed the rabbit about half way to where the wolves were
standing. The big male walked gingerly forward and sniffed the rabbit and then he had
picked it up in his mouth and walked back to where the female was standing. By now the
pups had noticed the man and boy and they had retreated behind their mother. The big
male dropped the rabbit on the ground in front of the two pups and they timidly sniffed it
and then they started biting and pulling on it. It appeared to Johnny as if they were
having a tug of war. The female laid down and the male sat down but both still kept their
eyes on the old man and the boy.
   Finally the old man had told Johnny it was time to go and he turned and walked back
the way they had come. On the way back to the house the old man informed Johnny that
he had known these wolves for a few years and they considered him as a friend. He then
told Johnny something that he never forgotten.
   “My boy,” the old man had said, “wolves are the spirits of the forest. They are the
guardians of the way. Not much escapes their notice in their territory. They are like
silent ghosts as they move silently through the woods. You must develop a spirit like the
wolves and become like a ghost as you move through the woods. You must become
aware of every creature in the woods and learn their habits and ways. You must be
aware of anything that occurs in your territory. The woods and mountains must become
a home to you so you will feel at home no matter where you may find yourself in your
travels. Always live with the land and protect the land and give thanks to The Great Spirit
for the abundance of love, beauty, and bountiful goodness he has provided.”
   This was the land that Johnny was soon to see again. He wanted to take Lena for long
walks in the woods and hills and let her see the beauty and spiritual essence that shined
there like an aura of goodness laid down by The Great Spirit.
   He was somewhat anxious to get started but he knew that there was no need in rushing
because it would be a two day drive, or maybe three if they took their time and stopped to
see some of the country they would be passing through.
   He stretched his arms backward and got the kinks out of his neck and then walked
back inside. He went to the coffeepot and poured himself a cup of coffee and after
reflection he poured another cup. Johnny liked his coffee just strong enough to have a
good coffee taste but not so strong as to be bitter or have a strong aftertaste. He always
drank it black but Lena liked hers with French vanilla creamer and a heaping spoonful of
sugar. She was not really a coffee drinker but she did like to drink a cup with Johnny of a
morning.
   After mixing her coffee like she liked it he carried it into the bedroom and sat down on
the bed next to Lena. She stirred and moaned softly but didn’t wake up. He sat there for
a moment watching her as she slept. She was a vision of innocent beauty and loveliness
with her hair spread over the pillow. She was a spiritual woman with a soul full of love,
compassion, altruism, harmony, and peace. She truly walked the path of truth, beauty,
and goodness.
   Johnny always enjoyed watching her as she slept. He gave a silent thanks to The
Great Spirit for bringing her into his life. He had always been a loner before meeting her
but now that they were together he couldn’t imagine life without her. The sweetness and
beauty she projected as she lay sleeping brought to mind something that his grandfather
had said to him one day when he was just a boy.
   He had said, “as you walk your path in life the most important thing you can learn is
that there is beauty in everything you see. You may be in a large city and see piles of
rubbish in an alley. It might seem unseemly and ugly but if you can only look past the
surface you will see the alley when it was new and was crisp and clean.
   When you view things like this you should think about what might have caused the
people to unthinkingly discard their trash in this manner. What could have happened in
their lives to have beaten them down to the point where they have lost their pride in
cleanliness or consideration for others?
   Some cities are old and much tragedy has occurred to cause people to become
indifferent. The trash in an alley and the beautiful works of art you will find in an art
gallery were both created by people. One was created with pride and the other was
created from lack of pride. There is much to learn from such scenes in a city as well as
things to learn in the beauty of a forest.
   The thing you should remember is to always walk in beauty. Hold beauty in your mind,
compassion in your heart, and love in your soul and you will gain a truer perspective of
life and the purpose of living. Look for the beauty in everything you see and your life will
have greater meaning.”
   Johnny had never forgotten that lesson and his life had indeed been more pleasant.
Through looking for the beauty in everything he had gained a greater understanding of
things and people and had learned the real value of truth, beauty, and goodness. He
realized that everyone has a choice between the positive and the negative and that
somewhere in between there is a balance. He had always tried to seek a balance in his
mind whereby he had avoided the ups and downs, the highs and lows, and the moods of
depression that most people experience from time to time.
   Johnny reached out and traced his fingertips down Lena’s cheek and said, “wake up
Sweetheart, it is time to start getting ready for our trip. I have a cup of coffee here for
you. Wake up Darling and drink it while it is hot.”
   Lena opened her eyes and smiled up at him. “Thank you Sweetheart. I appreciate
you bringing me coffee in bed but I think you are going to spoil me if you are not careful.”
   “I don’t think that is possible but I would delight in spoiling you if I could. I do think you
should get up soon though because the leasing agent will be here in about thirty minutes
to pick up the key to the house. I enjoy watching you padding around here in the
garment that The Great Spirit gave you with your birth but it might shock the leasing
agent if you are not dressed when he arrives.”
   Lena chuckled, “so you like to see me in my birthday suit do you? You are so typical
of a man -- you like to look but you don’t want anyone else to see.”
   “Oh no,” he replied, “it’s not that I wouldn’t want anyone else to see you, it is just that
you are such a vision of divine beauty that it would most likely blind anyone else but me
to see such loveliness. The leasing agent has been a good man to deal with and I would
hate to see him blinded.”
   “Are you sure you don’t have a little Irish blood running in your veins? That sounds
like blarney to me. Or maybe there is possibly a lot of Okie in you and what you just said
is simply a lot of plain old bull shit.” Still giggling Lena arose gracefully from the bed and
glided into the bathroom to take her morning shower.
   Johnny watched her as she walked into the bathroom and marveled at her beauty. He
thought, “I have to be the luckiest man in all of Giles County. In fact I am the luckiest man
in the whole world.”   He then went into the kitchen and got out the griddle to start the
bacon frying. He decided he would make some bacon and eggs and some pancakes for
breakfast.
   They still had a few things to pack and it might be a busy morning and lunchtime might
be a little late so even though the breakfast he was making was a little heavy it would
sustain them for a while.
   After they had eaten breakfast and packed the remainder of the few things they would
take with them the leasing agent showed up. They gave him the key to the house and he
expressed his thanks for them being such good tenants.
   As they drove away from the house they had called home for several months they felt
somewhat sad because it was a lovely house set in the side of a mountain with a beautiful
view across a wide valley. They had experienced some extremely happy moments in the
peaceful and quiet setting. They were happy to be on their way though because they
were going to Oklahoma to their real home. Lena had never seen it and all she knew
about it was what Johnny had told her. She knew she would love it though because she
knew the old house would be filled with vibrations of love. Johnny had told her about all
the good times he had experienced there with his Grandfather and she could hardly wait
to see the old home place.
   They decided to go by the most direct route so they took the road that would lead them
to Interstate 40. Johnny didn’t drive fast but he kept up a steady pace while still allowing
them to see the beautiful countryside as they passed by. By noon they had crossed the
border into Arizona and the stark appearance of the country was quite a change from
where they had been living. The landscape changed though as they approached
Flagstaff and it became tall mountains and pine trees. The day was cool here and they
stopped and found a nice place to picnic.
   As they sat enjoying the scenery while they ate the fried chicken and potato salad
Lena had prepared Johnny told her something that his Grandfather had pointed out to
him when he was a child.
   The old man had said, “My boy always take the time to enjoy the world you live in.
Never be in such a rush that you fail to see the beauty that The Great Spirit has put here
for you. Any time it is possible you should eat your meals in a setting that provides a
beautiful view. You will find that your food tastes better and your body will digest it more
easily if you are in a contented mood when you eat.
   And my boy, always take time for love. Love is the final reality and is the most
important value that you can learn while you are here. You will find that the beauty of
nature is conducive to filling your mind and soul with love.”
   Johnny had remembered what his Grandfather had told him and he always tried to find
a peaceful setting in which to eat his meals. It was sometimes hard to do when he was on
a construction site but he would always at least find a spot where he would be by himself
and relax his mind while he ate.
   They enjoyed a leisurely lunch and then drove on towards Winslow and Holbrook,
taking their time to view the lake as they passed by. The change in scenery was quite a
contrast as they crossed into New Mexico. It seemed to change into the type of
vegetation that is found in the high desert country. Even though it was not like the tall
pine country they had just passed through it had a beauty all it’s own.
    When they reached Gallup they stopped for a while and looked in a few of the shops
and saw the Indian blankets and silver jewelry that the local Indians had hand crafted.
They continued driving after they had walked around to stretch their legs and wake up so
they would be alert while driving.
   As evening came they found a small motel just after dark and stopped to spend the
night. The desert country here was pretty barren and offered little in the way of
interesting scenery so they didn’t plan to stop again until they reached the panhandle of
Texas. Even though the motel was old and the rooms were small the bed was
comfortable and the place was spotlessly clean. They arose early the next morning and
after a tasty breakfast in a mom and pop cafe they continued on their way.
   It was a pleasant morning and Johnny and Lena enjoyed the time driving by discussing
their plans for a month or so vacation at the old home place his grandfather had left him.
He told her of the woods and creeks and mountains where he had spent so much time
with his grandfather.
   Lena wished that she would have been able to have met the old man because she was
sure he had been a very spiritual person. The fact that Johnny was such a good man
was proof to her that his grandfather had been an extremely good influence on him. The
old man had taught him many things and had given him a set of values that had stood
him in good stead in meeting all the challenges that life had to offer.
   It was late in the afternoon when they pulled into the driveway that led to the old stone
house that they could now call home. “Johnny didn’t exaggerate any in his description of
this home site,” she thought. “In fact he didn’t say enough about how beautiful it was.
There is something very spiritual about the essence of this place with the ivy climbing the
rocks of the house and the rugged mountain and woods surrounding it.”   Had she have
known about the events that were soon to come it would have dampened her spirits
some.
   They got out of the pickup and stretched their arms and legs and she told Johnny that
the place was beautiful. They were still standing there when an old beat up truck passed
slowly by. There was an Indian from the next farm down the road driving it and he took a
long look at them as he passed.
   The truck was so old and dilapidated with bald tires and pieces tied on with baling wire
that it was a miracle it was still running. It didn’t have an inspection sticker on it but there
was little chance that any local cop would stop it because of that. Contrary to what the
general opinion of Okie’s that the rest of the country had, Okie’s in general were fairly
above average in intelligence. Granted that a lot of them were somewhat illiterate they
had good common sense.
   The local cops knew that if they stopped an Indian for driving a car that had no chance
in hell of passing a safety inspection that the driver would not have the money to pay the
fine and would have to lay out the jail time. That in turn meant that the county or city
would have to feed the man for thirty to ninety days. Not only that but it would be a
hassle to fill out the paperwork and they would have to make a court appearance
themselves.
   The local cops were no dummies and while they were mostly honest men they all
looked the other way when they saw a truck like that coming. They would rather wait on a
nice car or truck to come by so they would at least have a chance of stopping someone
whom could pay a hefty fine. After all it was the money that was the bottom line.
   Johnny knew that by the next day the whole Indian community would know he was back
home. It didn’t matter that much though because they wouldn’t bother him unless they
had something important to ask of him. Johnny’s grandfather had been a recognized
spiritual leader and medicine man in the Indian community and they all knew that he was
giving Johnny all his knowledge in hopes that Johnny would follow in his footsteps.
   He turned to Lena and said, “welcome to your new home Darling. This is your home
now and I hope you like it as much as I do. Let’s get our stuff out of the truck and I will
show you around the place.”
   “Oh, it is beautiful,” she said as they entered the house. “I love the way it looks with
the hand made rugs and wall hangings.”
   Johnny’s grandfather had been alone for the last few years of his life and he had
decorated his home to suit his idea of harmony, peace, and ascetic beauty. It was not
what one would expect in a home and most women would have wanted to add little frills to
make it look more like a woman lived there. But Lena was different than other women in
that she looked at the depth of things as well as the surface.
   What she saw pleased her eye for balance and asymmetric harmony. It was simple
and yet the longer one looked at it the more complicated it seemed. The old man had put
a lot of thought and love into decorating the home.
   One instantly felt the harmony and contentment that exuded from the place. Ascetic
beauty was a passion of the old man and he had passed along to Johnny the love for
simple things in nature. The old man being of a strong spiritual mindset had incorporated
into his decorations all the elements of wind, water, fire, and earth. In studying the home
you could begin to understand the true nature of the old man. Although the decorations
were simple the subtle depth of the man’s mind was fascinating.
   Johnny had told Lena that the old man had once told him that you have to look past
the surface of anything to really understand it and that was certainly true of this home
that was now her home.
   After they had unpacked their things Johnny said, “I would like to show you something
if you would like to go for a walk. We will take a piece of that roast beef we stopped at the
store in town and bought. I hope my old friends are still living in the hills and are home.”
   He didn’t offer to explain who his old friends were and she didn’t ask. She figured that
he would tell her sooner or later when he decided that it was time. One thing that made
her so different and unique in Johnny’s eyes was the fact that she was so patient and
never rushed him about anything. He was glad that she didn’t ask him anything because
he wanted to see the expression on her face when she saw what he wanted to show her.
Johnny was holding Lena’s hand as they came to a meadow of lush grass and clover with
woods of oak trees surrounding it.
   “This is a special place,” he said. “Early of a morning and late in the evening you will
find deer and rabbits feeding here. Be very quiet now as we walk around the meadow
and through the trees. If they are home I will introduce you to some friends.”
   Lena didn’t quite know what to expect but she was especially careful not to make a
sound as they silently glided through the woods and up to the foot of the mountain.
Johnny stopped at the edge of the tree line and put his finger to his lips in the universal
signal to be quiet. He stood there for a few moments while searching the mountainside.
Finally he pointed to a spot a few yards up on the side of the mountain. Lena looked to
where he was pointing and saw a small cave and in the mouth of the cave stood a big
silver haired wolf.
   The wolf was standing fully alert and was gazing with his eyes fixed on where they were
standing. Johnny motioned for Lena to stay where she was and he slowly walked out of
the woods and stopped in the open and stood still for a moment. Then he took a few
steps closer to the mountain and stopped again. All the while the eyes of the wolf was
fixed unwaveringly on him.
   “So old Silver,” Johnny said, “I see that you are still alive and well. Where is your
mate? Come old fellow, look at what I have brought you.” As he said this he lifted up the
piece of roast beef he had in his hand. The eyes of the wolf shifted to the meat and he
visibly relaxed somewhat.
   “There is someone I want you to meet so you will know her as a friend just as I am your
friend. She is my mate and we walk the path of life together.”
   Johnny motioned for Lena to come to where he was standing and she walked over to
him. The eyes of the wolf shifted to her and he studied her for a few minutes as she
stood still by Johnny.
   Finally the wolf shifted his eyes back to the piece of meat and then he turned his head
and looked back into the cave. A female wolf came out of the cave then and shortly she
was followed by two half-grown young wolves. Johnny and Lena kept standing still while
the wolves all looked at them.
   After a few minutes Johnny walked towards the wolves until he was only about fifteen
feet from them and he tossed down the meat. The eyes of the old male shifted to where
the meat was lying on the ground and then he looked back at Johnny. After a minute he
slowly started walking towards Johnny and when he reached the meat he picked it up in
his mouth and looked at Johnny for a moment and then turned and went back to where
the other wolves were standing. Johnny and Lena then turned and started back the way
they had come.

                                 VARIATION ON A THEME

   When Johnny was just about eleven years old his grandfather decided that he should
try to teach him everything he could about the different herbs that grew all over the home
property. The old man was feeling the cold of winter ice in his bones and the ache in his
joints was progressively getting worse and he knew that one day in the not too distant
future he would have to put an end to his allotted time here. It would soon become time
to ascend to the Mansion Worlds to begin his Universe career and he wanted his
grandson Johnny to be able to follow in his footsteps as the spiritual adviser and
medicine man for their people. He knew that the boy would have to study hard and
spend a lot of time in the woods, meadows, and mountains at different times of the year
to learn what the herbs looked like at different stages of their growth.
   The old man was standing on the front porch of his home to greet the morning sun as
it arose. He thanked the Great Spirit for being with him and for watching over the people
and the animals in the forest. He reflected for a few moments about how the people in
the world were destroying the natural habitat of the animals by building unsightly
buildings, malls, housing developments, and industrial complexes. He asked the Great
Spirit to protect the animals and to provide them with new homes and an abundant supply
of food. He also asked him to help people to realize the damage they were doing to the
Earth and to find another way to live without destroying what little natural surrounding that
there were left. Finally he asked the Great Spirit to help him to teach his grandson
everything he could teach him in the amount of time left to him. He stood there in silence
then and just tried to attune his mind, body, and soul to the vibrations of love the Great
Spirit was pouring out to him.
   At last the old man turned and went back into the house and on into the kitchen. He
poured a cup of coffee and sat down at the table to think about the things he wanted to
show the boy that day. He was undecided as to take the boy up onto bear mountain or
whether he should take him down the valley to the huge meadow where a couple of large
ponds were situated. He sat there thinking about it as he drank his coffee.
   Finally he finished his coffee and arose to start putting together a small backpack that
he would carry along with them. He put in a small pot that he could hang over a small fire
so he could show the boy how to make a stew out of things that they would find. He also
took a small ball of hundred pound test cord. He then loaded up the salt shaker and a
small amount of coffee. Finally he had his pack loaded with all the things that he felt was
essential for an all day journey and he was even thinking about making it an overnight
trip.
   He sat aside the backpack and walked into the bedroom where Johnny was sleeping.
He stood by the bed looking down at his grandson and listened to the boys deep, even
breathing. He was tempted to just let the little fellow sleep a while longer but he knew he
would not be doing the boy any favor in the long run if he did. He knew his time on Earth
was winding down and he wanted to teach Johnny every thing he could before he would
have to leave for the Mansion Worlds.
   “Get up son,” he said. “It is time for us to get this day started. We have a lot to
accomplish and the day is not getting any younger.”
   Johnny groaned and opened his eyes and then closed them again. The old man
couldn’t keep from smiling and he was glad that the boy had his eyes shut and couldn’t
see him. Finally he composed his face and tried to get a stern look in his eye. It was
hard for him to be stern with the boy because he loved him so much. It hurt him to see
the boy suffer and struggle with some of the lessons he was trying to teach him and
wished that he could be easier on him. Yet he realized that if he didn’t keep a tight rein
on his emotions he would not be able to teach the boy anything. He knew that it was for
the boy’s ultimate good though so he just steeled himself and spoke gruffly.
   “Get up I say--it keeps getting later and later and we have a lot to do today. Now get
up and get dressed,” he said in a stern and commanding voice.
   Johnny opened his eyes and saw that his grandfather had a stern look on his face and
knew that the old man would not tolerate any hesitating on his part. He groaned again
but climbed out of bed and started reaching for his clothing. The old man turned around
to go back to the kitchen and when he was sure that boy couldn’t see his face he just
couldn’t keep from grinning. He knew that the boy was up now and would not take long in
coming to the kitchen. He decided that it would be faster to make pancakes than to make
biscuits and since he had told Johnny that they needed to hurry he didn’t want to make
the boy think he was not serious. He quickly made some pancake batter and started
frying pancakes on the griddle and he started some eggs to frying in his big skillet. He
had made some bacon the night before and had a good half a pound left over and he put
it on the stove to warm up.
   When Johnny came into the kitchen he sat down at the table and his grandfather
dished him up some eggs, bacon, and pancakes. The old man set a plate of the same
fixings on the table and sat down to eat also. They didn’t talk while they were eating
because they both believed that eating the first meal of the day was a solemn endeavor
and they both took it seriously.
   After they had eaten a goodly portion of everything and were feeling satisfied they
arose from the table and the old man glanced at the shoes the boy had chosen. He
nodded in acceptance and was pleased that the boy had learned a lesson he had taught
him a short time before. Johnny had chosen a pair of well made brogans that would
stand up to some hard walking. The old man picked up his backpack and went outside
and Johnny followed him.
   When they were standing on the porch the old man looked down at Johnny and said,
“come with me now and pay attention to the things I will show you. It is most important
that you learn these things because they will be things that you will need to be able to
heal peoples ailments as well as some things to eat. Then he started walking out across
the broad meadow that started out from his front porch and went quite a ways down the
valley.
   Johnny was all excited by going with his grandfather but he didn’t say anything
because he had already learned that his grandfather would tell him the things he wanted
him to know in his own time and couldn’t be rushed. He was encouraged to ask his
grandfather anything he wanted to know at anytime yet he knew better than to try to rush
his grandfather in a situation where learning was involved.
   As they walked in the meadow down the valley the old man would stop for a minute to
point out different plants and have Johnny study them very closely. He would explain the
properties of the herbs and what they were to be used for. He then further explained
what the plant would look like in the different stages of it’s growth and at different times of
the year. He would then have Johnny repeat back to him the things he had told him.
When he was satisfied that the boy had stored the information in his mind they would
continue walking.
   In mid-morning they came to a small creek that meandered across the meadow. There
was a grassy bank in the shade of a large oak tree and they sat down to rest for a few
minutes. After sitting silently for a couple of minutes the old man started talking to Johnny
about the balance of nature and the need to try to maintain the harmony and balance of
the environment.
   “My boy,” he said, “this Earth has existed for several billion years and it was designed
to provide everything we need to sustain life. If one will live with nature and protect the
land and animals then future generations will be able to enjoy a comfortable existence. If
we allow our natural environment to be destroyed we will be destroying ourselves along
with it.
   It is sad to see the world as it is changing today for the worse. The cities are growing
larger and more and more natural habitat is being destroyed to build more shopping
centers. It is the obligation of all who are concerned with the health of our planet to do
everything we can to help save it.
   Some day you will become an Impeccable Warrior and you will be able to do much
good. That is why it is important now that you learn everything I can teach you. When
you have matured and grown wise after I have left this Earth you will be given even more
important knowledge by the Great Spirit. It will be your obligation to become the spiritual
advisor to our people and to be able to help them when they are ill in body.
   The most important thing that you can learn is that love is the greatest potion in all of
creation when it comes to a way to heal and to prepare a medicine. You must always
prepare your herbs with love in mind and continually petition the Great Spirit to help you
to be able to prepare your medicine to be filled with his love to be effective in the cure for
the illness it is to be used for.
   Always remember, what ever you do in life do it with love. Each chore you work at in
life hold love in mind and do the chore as if you are doing it for the Great Spirit. By
holding love in mind, heart, and soul, you are in fact returning the love the Great Spirit is
pouring out to you every second of your entire existence.”
   These things and many more were being stored in the mind of the boy this day and he
would never forget them. He would live his entire life walking the path of truth, beauty,
and goodness, always following the leading of the indwelling presence of the Great Spirit
in his mind.