The Messenger
A different kind of Christmas Story
The world rippled as he touched it.
Everything appeared to change as he lifted his cold finger from the water, causing fluid concentric circles to distort the reflection of the surrounding forest and evening winter sky. He smiled as the reflection of his sister's face began to elongate, and for a brief moment, made her appear as an old woman with a wrinkly smile and a slightly longer nose.
"You look like our grandmother, remember her? Look in the water!"
RustlingLeaves was not amused at her brother's teasing. Though, after a quick glance at her reflection, she secretly agreed with him. She also noticed that this was the first time she saw her brother smile since they began their journey, which made her happy inside. But of course, she didn't show it at the moment.
It had been a few hours since the sun went down over the Sleeping Bear Mountains. RustlingLeaves and her brother walked for two days on The Eastern Path, which was narrow because very few travelers attempted to reach its destination. The Path's long, winding course was filled with fierce animals, and the dense forest made The Path difficult and dangerous to travel at night. However, their mission was critical, and every second did count, so they walked silently on through the night.
The Eastern Path lead toward the ocean, through the heart of a very sacred valley. Unique plants grew in this fertile valley, plants and roots that could restore health. It was the dire need for one of these plants that brought RustlingLeaves and her brother to the sacred valley. They walked in single file with her brother close behind, not only because The Path was narrow, but it was customary to walk in single file when traveling in a strange land, to hide their party's numbers, just in case.
It was the evening of the second night of their three-day journey when RustlingLeaves noticed that she could no longer feel her brother's warm breath on the back of her cold neck as they hiked. Though she could never actually hear her brother's footsteps behind her, because he was walking with his "hunting feet", she could feel him breathing. She, and many other people of the tribe, was amazed and a bit envious of her brother's ability to walk silently through the woods. Even the older chiefs marveled at her brother's ability to master his "hunting feet" at such a young age.
When he was twelve years old, on a bravery dare from some of the younger aspiring braves, he walked up to a sleeping grizzly and her cubs and pulled a piece of the thick brownish-red fur from behind the bear's neck. In the history of the tribe, no brave his age had been able to accomplish this. The bear would always awaken after hearing the faint snap of a twig or rustle of the leaves as the small intruder approached. The closer one got, the more dangerous it was. Some who got close enough would turn away in awe and fear. ScrappingClaw was a young brave who did not turn away, nor was he very silent. He received his very fitting name shortly after his bravery dare as well. But unlike ScrappingClaw, RustlingLeave's brother could be totally silent in the woods. Not just quiet, silent. He walked right up to the sleeping bear and retrieved a piece of her fur. And after he had brought this coveted token of bravery to the tribe, he was given the name Brave Eagle.
Sitting in the ceremonial tent of the elder's council, the Chief honored Brave Eagle.
"Walking quietly in the forest is a great skill." proclaimed Chief GreyWolf "But, actually pulling the fur from a sleeping momma bear, was an act of courage…. so from this day forth, you shall be named Brave Eagle."
Brave Eagle beamed with pride and turned to leave the ceremonial tent of the elder Chiefs when he heard the wise old voice break the silence once more.
"Learn from this day, Brave Eagle. The Great Spirit bestows gifts on each one of us. Your ability is a special gift from the Great Spirit. How you use it, is your gift to him. Remember this."
As RustlingLeaves turned around to see where her brother went, she smiled as she remembered the day her brother was named by the Elder Council. Pausing, she quickly surveyed the area and spotted her brother running down towards the very ancient, deep stream that followed the Eastern Path. She heard the excitement in her brother's voice as he reached the stream.
"RustlingLeaves, come quick, there is…something…in the water, something wonderful!"
As she approached the stream, she gazed into the still dark waters until her gaze rested on the curious object.
"What is it?" She whispered in amazement. The brilliant, warmly glowing orb appeared to be deep under the water.
"It looks like a fire under the water." BraveEagle responded. He put his finger in the water, breaking the smooth surface as he tried to touch the object. But wait, he thought, something is strange. It is not in the water, he realized, it must be a reflection. He looked at RustlingLeaves in disbelief and noticed that she did not return his gaze. She was already looking skyward with an expression of wonder.
BraveEagle looked upward and saw it too. It was a star…. a brilliant, shining star. Standing out among the thousands of stars in the clear winter sky. A star that compared to the North Star like the sun would compare to the moon.
Before their journey, the Council Chief warned them that the heavens looked very different this season. The arrangement of the stars had never been seen as they were this season, and the elders believed that very great things were to come. Though they were aware of this special time, the two young braves were still not prepared for such an amazing sign. After silently gazing in awe at the star together for what seems like hours, BraveEagle broke the silence and said, "We must continue, I do not know what this star is, but its light will illuminate the Eastern Path so we can make better time. "
They both pressed on through the cold, damp forest. The path seemed to glow from the light of this mysterious star. Hours passed, and it was just before morning when they broke through the eastern edge of the forest. At that moment came a terrible realization…the sacred valley was not there. Their spirits sunk as they stood facing another mountain range, which separated them from the sacred valley, and the healing plant that they so desperately sought.
RustlingLeaves collapsed with exhaustion on a nearby rock, and BraveEagle turned towards her, with a heavy heart said "Our journey will take two more days, and we will not get back with the medicine in time to help our father."
A tear began to form, slowly tumbling down the cold cheek of his sister's face, indicating that she too understood what this meant. BraveEagle sat down next to her and put his arm around her to keep her warm.
It was at that moment that they noticed him. How could they not have noticed before? Ten feet away, stood the most amazing and beautiful person they have ever seen. He was standing directly in front of them, bathed in bright starlight from the mysterious star in the heavens above. He was clothed in thick long buffalo hides that seemed to come alive as he moved closer. The feathers that adorned his ceremonial headdress were unfamiliar to BraveEagle, and the colors were brilliant with a shimmering translucence. The stranger smiled down at the brother and sister and spoke.
"Be not afraid. I have come with a message for you and your people" The messenger spoke without moving his lips. BraveEagle and his sister heard the words, but felt them even more, like a vibration from within themselves that reverberated through their cold body, making them warm again.
"On this night, in a land far off to the east, something wonderful is happening." The messenger pointed to the star and continued. "The Great Spirit, the creator of heaven and earth, is coming to the earth as a man. He is being born on this very night, and will walk among us."
BraveEagle and his sister were full of joy and overcome with awe, but the young boy finally mustered up the courage to speak to the messenger. "May we go see him?"
The messenger replied. "The journey is far too long for you, and the land is foreign to you and your people."
It was RustlingLeaves who then spoke. "Why did he not come to our land, so that we may see him and learn from him too?"
The messenger smiled at the young girl. "The Great Spirit loves all people, and he is being born today as a man in a land that needs him most. RustlingLeaves…BraveEagle, you are right to ask this question, your tribe and the tribes in this land need the Great Spirit as well, but you already believe in His earthly presence. There are many people in that land that don't believe that the Great Spirit is with us, and they must see him as a man to believe. You already believe."
The messenger turned towards BraveEagle and said. You and your sister are on a quest that now seems impossible. The purpose of this quest is to ease the suffering of your father. Tonight the Great Spirit sends his Son on a journey of healing as well.
Brave Eagle turned towards the Messenger and exclaimed in sadness "I have not been able to find the medicine plant that I need to make my father well."
The Messenger smiled as he looked down at the children and said,
"Pick up the plant, there, next to the root of the tree".
Brave Eagle plucked the plant from the wet earth and examined it. "This is not the root I seek. This will not cure him."
"You are correct, my young brave, that is not the root you seek, and that plant will not cure him. But your love will." the Messenger smiled "Though you may not realize it, your pilgrimage is a prayer of praise to the Creator, you have used your gift that the Great Spirits has given you, for selfless reasons. You, like your sister, use your gifts for the good of another. This IS love, this is the highest form of praise that you give the Great Spirit. And THIS is what will cure your father."
The Messenger continued, "It is because of your love that you are on this quest, and because of your love you suffer. The Great Spirit has come to earth this night so that people may understand that through him, your suffering need not cause greater suffering, it can be transformed to love. Your journey with your sister is a journey of love. Be at peace."
Before the Messenger departed, he turned toward them both and said. Tell your people what is happening this night. Tell them to remember this news and pray on it's meaning:
The Great Spirit has become flesh
And made his dwelling among you
And you have seen his glory
The glory of an only Son, coming from the Father
Filled with enduring Love.
And the world rippled as he touched it.
