Chief Tecumseh was a Native American Chief who was born into a world of warfare around the time of the revolutionary war. He wanted to see Native Americans succeed in saving their homeland from the white man. He was a man that stood in the face of a much larger enemy and went out fighting for what he loved. He was also a writer and a poet, as many warriors are. In this blog I'm going to cover one of his writings. It was used in the movie Act of Valor not too long ago as a letter from a man killed in action to his infant son. Here it is.
So live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart.
Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view, and
demand that they respect yours. Love your life, perfect your life,
beautify all things in your life. Seek to make your life long and its purpose in the service of your people. Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide.
Always give a word or a sign of salute when meeting or passing a
friend, even a stranger, when in a lonely place. Show respect to all
people and grovel to none.
When you arise in the morning give thanks for the food and for the joy
of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies only
in yourself. Abuse no one and no thing, for abuse turns the wise ones
to fools and robs the spirit of its vision.
When it comes your time to die, be not like those whose hearts are
filled with the fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep
and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way.
Sing your death song and die like a hero going home.
---Chief Tecumseh
Over the next few months I'm going to cover this in detailed blogs. I'll go into history, battles both physical and spiritual, and scriptures. I'm excited and looking forward to it. I hope you are as well.
DL
