Making Life Choices

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A Culture Lesson:
The Four Directions are Sacred to my People the Onondaga:
North: Widsom: the representative color White
East: Reflection: the representative color Yellow
South: Innocence: the representative color Green
West: Introspection: the representative color Black
A note here: each Native American Culture has their interpretation of the meanings and colors of the Four Sacred Directions.

The Story, the Teaching

A Young Man went to a place where the Grandfather would pass each Season on his Journey in the Four Directions. The Young Man thought that if he just sat in the center where the Paths crossed, the Grandfather would tell him which Direction to take. This would make it much easier for him, and it would help him avoid errors and consequences.

On a Spring Day, the Grandfather came upon the Young Man. "What are you doing, Young Man?" he asked. The Young Man told the Grandfather of his plan to get advice from the Grandfather for his chosen Path to follow in Life. The Grandfather thought, then replied, "You must follow your own Path." The Young Man said, "Well, you just came from the Direction of the North. What did you Learn about North?" The Grandfather told of his adventure in the North and the Lessons to be Learned. But the Grandfather said, "You may have a different experience than I did, so you must find it out for yourself."

Another Season went by, and the Young Man continued to sit in the Crossroads of Life waiting for the Grandfather to tell him which Path to follow. It was Summer, the leaves were on the Trees and the Blooms of Flowers. Here came the Grandfather. The Young Man asked, "Tell me, Grandfather, what Path do you think I should follow?" The Grandfather gave him the same reply as before. The Young Man asked about the Grandfather's experiences in the East. The Grandfather told him of his wonderful experiences. In awe, the Young Man wondered if that might be the Direction he should follow. But instead of following that Path, the Young Man just sat and waited until the next Season. The Summer was long and hot.

The Young Man saw the Grandfather coming toward him as the Leaves began to change. The Young Man was changing as well. He was excited to hear what the Grandfather had Learned on his adventure in the West.

The Grandfather once again reminded the Young Man that it was his Choice to follow his own Path. The Grandfather also shared with the Young Man the wonderful experiences and what he had Learned. The Young Man was excited, and he thought surely this was the Direction for him to follow. But he was a little tired, and he decided to stay for yet another Season.

The Fall of this Life had ceased, and Winter was near at hand. The Man, no longer a Young Man, felt the Cold Winds and thought that he would freeze to death, with little food and no shelter. Still, he survived another Season, waiting for the Grandfather to come yet again. This time he would really decide which Direction would be his Path of Life.

This time the Grandfather did not return to the Crossroads, and the Man realized that he had gone through the Four Seasons of Life. Aged and all alone, he relized that he was no longer a Young Man with a Decision to make about his Path of Life. Life had passed him by while he went through the Winter Season of his Life. He relized that Choice was not someting to waste because of a Fear of Consequences, or while waiting for someone else to make One's Choices.

White Crow May 1949

Thoughts:
Should you, as the Young Man at the beginning of the Lesson, set and wait for another to tell you what YOUR Life Journey SHOULD BE, Life will trully PASS YOU BY. His or your Fear of ERRORS along the Life Path are put there as Lessons to learn and grow. All of the Choices you may have, being that Choice was a Gift at Birth, I suggest USE IT. Do not live another's Life, trully you will NOT have a Life of your own. CHOOSE, and move forth on YOUR LIFE PATH.

White Crow July 1955