Passing Through

From Mr. Google: "The Abenaki, also known as Wamponoag, are a Native American tribe with a rich history in what is now northeastern United States and Canada. Their name meaning "People of the Dawnland" reflects their location and cultural identity. They were nomadic hunter gatherers, relying on hunting, fishing and foraging for sustenance. Over time they also cultivated corn, beans, and squash."

What fascinates me the most is the way they passed through the land. Living in semi-nomadic communities with an intricate cultural structure based on their interaction with the natural world. They literally lived "passing through." They moved with the seasons and the territory to take advantage of different resources. Honoring each stage of life, they left little waste and packed light.

History clearly tells us how conflicts came up during the colonial period. European settlers brought feelings of land ownership and diseases, neither of which the Abenaki were prepared to handle. Although there are remnants of Abenaki still residing in the Northeast, their original way of life has passed.

As I walk through my days, I am often reminded that we, too, are passing through. Although we may come from a culture that has feelings of land ownership, in fact ownership in general, we are here temporarily.

Many of us run through our busy lives without the recognition that our time is short. That the paths we walk today may turn to the highways of tomorrow and the flowers blooming today will be wilted in a week. Each moment will be different from the moment before and unless we mindfully recognize our passing through, it will all pass by.

So today, I will take a lesson from People of the Dawnland. I vow to honor each stage of life (and pack light) with the recognition that we are joining many who have passed through before us.

Join me in mindfully passing through.

Enjoy spring bursting out, Christina