“She-Who-Sits-Alone”
There is a story told among the Comanche tribes about a great drought that was killing both the land and the people. The people implored the Great Spirit to help. They prayed, they danced, they waited, but the rain did not come. The elders of the tribe traveled to the top of the holy mountain to plead with the Great Spirit.
The Great Spirit spoke to the elders and the people: “For many generations you have taken from the earth whatever you wanted or needed, but you have
given nothing back to the earth. Now the earth is in distress, so you must make a sacrifice. Bring to the fire of sacrifice your most treasured possessions. Then scatter the ashes to the four winds as a sign of your respect and repentance. The rains will come, and the earth will live again.”
The elders and people gave thanks and went to their tepees and lodges to search out their most treasured possessions. But the archer said, “Surely the Great Spirit does not want my bow which provides food for the village.” The mother said, “The Great Spirit could not possibly desire my treasured blanket that warms my children.” The medicine man said, “I know the Great Spirit could not be asking for my herbs that heal the sick.” And so, it went. Everyone had reason not to give the Great Spirit their greatest treasure.
There was a little girl named She-Who-Sits-Alone. A quiet child, She-Who-Sits-Alone lost her family in the great drought. Alone in the world, her constant companion was her beloved doll. The little girl was never without her doll, made for her by her late mother. The doll was dressed in warrior clothing and beaded
leggings, with a crown of blue-jay feathers on its head. When she heard the words of the Great Spirit, She-Who-Sits-Alone held her doll tightly and whispered,
“You are my greatest treasure. I know what I must do.” So that night, while everyone slept, She-Who-Sits-Alone crept out of the village and climbed the holy
mountain.
“Great Spirit,” she prayed, “here is my doll, the gift of my mother and father before they died. It is my most treasured possession. Please accept it.”
The little girl lit a small fire from a lighted stick she brought. As she kindled the fire, she remembered her parents and grandparents and friends who had died of hunger. Then, with tears in her eyes, she thrust her doll into the fire. When the fire died down, She-Who-Sits-Alone gathered the ashes of her doll and tossed them into the air, where the four winds carried them to the dwelling place of the Great Spirit. The exhausted little girl then fell asleep. When she awoke in the early hours of the morning, laying on the ground in front of her was a blue-jay feather. She picked it up — and the rain began to fall. When her people learned of what she had done, She-Who-Sits-Alone was given a new name: One-Who-Loved-Her-People.
In the Gospel of Mark [9: 30-37] we read, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” Taking a child, he placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it, he said to them, “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.” [Connections, September 2021]
Jesus challenges us to find His path, the path He has planned for us and to follow it, no matter what the cost, today spend some time and "sit-alone", better yet sit with God.
St. Joseph, pray for us.
St. Andre Bessette, intercede for us.
St. Francis de Sales, pray for us.
“Tune my spirit to the music of heaven.” [St. Brendan the Navigator]
May God Be Praised your day be Blessed.
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