Joe
wasn't sure what to think of my new image. He had gotten somewhat
use to his unusual "new" wife, but he too had come to trust that I
was honestly following the directions that I thought God was leading
me. He had personally witnessed the writing of Embrace, and had watched
what he said "was a miracle happen right before his eyes." Too many
miracles had happened in our lives for him to question them now. It
wasn't always easy for him to understand or to accept all of it, but
he knew it wasn't easy for me either. Joe is an unusual man, having
blind faith in a God and in an experience that never happened to him.
The first time I wore my dress was in New York. When I walked out
on stage I felt great feelings of pride for my Native heritage. I
was filled with respect and honor for my people and what they represented.
I began to "know" more about their awakening and what they shall become
as they awaken. I noticed when I entered the room for the presentation,
there was a hush, a silence. I could sense respect and love coming
to me from the audience. I knew at once that the dress captured their
hearts and then I understood a part of the protection. I knew that
their spirits could remember things it had forgotten; their connection
to the Creator and the presence of the dress reminded them of spiritual
respect that was once before and that we should have again for each
other.
A deliberate flaw is left in everything that the Native Americans
make. They leave them there as reminders that nothing created by man
can be perfect, because only the Creator is perfect. On my dress is
a little hand-stitched patch; every now and then, when I start feeling
a little too perfect, I slide my hand down the side of the dress and
find the stitches that remind me that I am nothing without God.
(from The
Awakening Heart pp. 140-145)
 |
|
With Chief Arvol Looking
Horse
Anchorage Alaska, September 2001 |
