Rhythm of the Drums
by Weeping Skye, 10-8-7

My children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchild, gather round this bed.  I am old and time is quickly passing.  The light of my eyes fades and they will soon close on this side of life and reopen on the next.  My children remember, I pray, the stories of old, the stories of our past.  My precious daughter take your place beside me.  My sons, place your hand upon my heart, feel it beat, feel the rhythm, it is the rhythm of life, it is the rhythm of drums.  It is the heart beat of the forest, of the mountains, the wind and breeze are its breath, and the rivers and streams are the life blood of the earth.  The Creator has made it this way, and the Great Spirit watches over His creation.  Now close your eyes, feel the rhythm of my heart, let your minds eye carry you back to a distant time.  To a time before the white man, to a time before the missionaries, and their stories, to a time when we longed to worship the Creator in our own way.

My sons, and children, are you there? Do you hear the drums beating? Can you feel their rhythm in your heart? Beating, in time with the beat of your heart.  Deep in the forest I hear the elders singing, they are calling for us to come.  Come, let us make our way to the drums.

My sons, take your places in the ring of life that encircles the drum.  The drum, like your very heart is the center of worship, its every beat is for the Creator.  Listen … listen to the stories of the elders as they tell of the goodness of the Creator.  They tell of how He has provided food and shelter, and given us many sons and daughters.  How He has protected us from our enemies and given us allies in other tribes.  They tell of how He has pulled us from the jaws of bear and mountain lion, and pulled us to safety when river swallowed us up.  They tell how He provided night, and stars and moon, so we can gather together as a people with Him in the cool of the evening and thank Him for His goodness.

My sons, and children, take your hand from my heart and hear me.  That time is no more.  Our people have forgotten how to worship.  Pow wow drums beat, but not in rhythm with the Creators heart.  They worship the dance and dancer more than He who created them to dance.  I weep, even as I tell you, but it not our problem only.  The drums in many white churches I have visited do not beat in rhythm with the Creator … God.  God is not pleased with only drums and music.  With singing and stories of goodness from the preacher.  God wants our heart.  He wants our heart to beat in rhythm with His.  He want to live again in the hearts of our people so we can come together once more to worship Him.

My children, I, and many of you have come to know the Creator.  His name is Jesus.  His Great Spirit lives in each of us.  I have called you together for one last time of worship, together, on this side of life.  I will be joining soon a great host of worshipers in the wonderful presence of the Father.  Do not forget, I pray, what you have been told, for it is now up to you to bring together our people to true worship.  Do not weep and cry for me, for you will see me again one day.  Weep for our people, weep for all people.

I go now, I see my angel host enter the room.  Funny…he has a feather in his hair.