Beyond the Laws of Nature?
by Bobby Lake-Thom
There is an old story our Elders teach us about a Water Snake who lived in a
pond up high at the base of a sacred mountain. He was a very healthy, wealthy,
strong, and handsome man. He was on top of the world, you might say. He had the
whole pond to himself and he had everything a person could ask for in life:
plenty of natural resources, open space, lots of food, good weather, ample
shelter, protection, a number of wives whenever he needed a woman, and a lot of
free time to reflect on the meaning of life. Yes, the Great Creator had been
very good to him.
But for some strange reason it just wasn't enough for him. He didn't know
what to do with all that free time. Instead of using it for prayer, ritual,
ceremony, and spirituality, he began to use it for mischief. Instead of using
the free time to give thanks for his prosperity and as a way to help and share
with others in his community, he began to use it in trying to impress others
with how important he was. In his search for meaning in life, he forgot how to
make life more meaningful. After all, he reasoned, he already had everything a
person could ask for but it still just wasn't enough.
One day he began to notice that he was starting to age. He wasn't as strong
and fast as he used to be. He had gotten too fat from overeating and from being
lazy, and he had eaten all the food within his immediate range without
practicing some form of conservation. So on this one morning he got up, surveyed
his surroundings, and tried to figure out a way to find some food. There was no
food in sight and he started to panic. "Now what am I going to do?" he
said to himself.
He crawled from his house into the water and started a search. At first he
looked close by, and then with a weaving pattern he went back and forth until he
found that he was farther out, almost into the middle of the pond. He felt his
strength leaving and got scared, so he headed straight back to shore, just
barely making it before landing. For four days he tried this, all the time
getting weaker from lack of food, age, and fear. Sometimes during the day he
would cry and holler out to his neighbors for help but nobody would come. He had
not been good to his neighbors all these years. He had not cared about them, so
now the circle was going back; they did not care for him.
On the fifth day he devised a plan. He would find somebody stupid enough to
help him. After all, he thought to himself, I am a very wise and important man
here. He noticed a small group of Frogs sitting out on a large lily pad in the
very middle of the pond. He knew they were probably the last of their bunch but
he didn't care; he was awful hungry. Thus, with the last bit of his strength he
silently swam out to them.
Just as he was about to sneak up and grab one, the village headman of the
Frog people saw the Snake and started to send out a warning, but the Water Snake
had power; he managed to charm the Frog. Then he said, "My brother, the
Great Creator has sent me to help you. But in helping you I will also be helping
myself."
"No!" the Frog reacted, "I don't trust you. Nobody can trust
you. You lie too much and you are a very greedy person. Just look at what you
have done to this sacred pond. There is nothing left anymore."
The Water Snake pleaded with the Frog. "Look at me, brother, I am an old
man now. I am weak and tired. I have nothing left. I must redeem myself. That is
why I have come out here to help you. I realize that I have been eating your
people all my life and I never gave anything back. I realize now, after all
these years that I have been greedy and I did wrong. So I had a vision. The
Great Creator told me that in order to make my record straight I would have to
come out here and use the last of my wisdom and strength to help you, to give
something back."
The Frog was just about ready to leap into the water and run off but he saw
the tears in the old Snake's eyes and hesitated. The Snake said, "I know
where the biggest and best bugs are. There are still some left on the other side
of the pond, hidden in a secret place. So if you and your family will hop onto
my back I will carry you all there with the last of my strength."
The Frog people had a big discussion and argument. Some wanted to go but
others were apprehensive. They didn't trust their enemy. But finally it was
decided. The older and bigger Frog said, "Look at that pitiful old Snake.
He can't really hurt anyone anymore. Besides, we need food to live and survive
and to continue our work here in the water for the pond and the rest of the
community."
So reluctantly they all climbed on the Snake's long back. One by one they
filed on in a row. They were so heavy that they caused the Snake to sink
somewhat into the water, which in turn made it look like he was indeed weak.
Then toward the other side of the pond they went. Slowly the Water Snake went,
weaving in and out of the tules and marsh reeds. Slowly he sang his song,
telling the Frogs that it was his death song. But as his long body weaved
through the reeds he would sneak his head around to the back, and one by one he
would snatch up and eat another Frog. Finally there was only one left, the large
village headman Frog who had been so busy eating all kinds of the new bugs that
he hadn't really noticed what was happening to his family. Then before he knew
it, the Snake opened up his large mouth and grabbed the last Frog, all the while
laughing to himself.
But the Frog fought back. Around they thrashed, causing the currents to move
them farther away from shore. They made such a ruckus that the Wind came up, and
it too pushed against the water, moving them both farther from shore. In time
the Snake had devoured the very last Frog in the pond, and feeling proud of
himself decided to swim back home. Laughing and bragging to himself he swam, but
slower and slower he swam, and then he noticed that he was beginning to sink.
His strength was running out. He had gotten too fat from eating too many Frogs,
and panic overcame him. He cried, begged, and pleaded with someone to help him.
He cried and pleaded with the Great Creator to help him. He didn't want to die
this way, by drowning. After all, he was a Water Snake, and drowning would not
be an honorable way to die. He told the Great Creator he would do anything to
redeem himself, he made all kinds of promises, pleading for his life. He could
hardly keep his nose above water while the rest of his body was sinking and
beginning to pull him down.
It seemed as though it took forever for him to reach the other side of the
pond. He was constantly fighting fear and impending death. With his last bit of
breath and strength he finally made it, barely pulling himself up out of the
water onto the mud and plants. "Whew, I did it, I actually did it!" he
hollered and bragged to himself. "I knew I really had more power than
anyone. I don't have to follow the spiritual laws. Those laws are archaic. I can
live by my own laws. See, I really didn't need the Great Creator or anyone
because I am so powerful and wise that I can do anything. Now I will just lie
here for a while, eat my herbs, rest, and renew myself."
Just when he thought he was safe, lying there in the warm sun, gloating,
thinking that he could live a long time not needing anyone, or anything, and
that he was even beyond the laws of Nature, he heard the most terrifying scream.
His body froze in fear as the shadow of wings crossed over him. He knew what it
was and wanted to hide as fast as he could but it was too late. He was just too
stuffed, too tired, too weak, and too old, and before he knew it the Hawk
swooped down and carried him off to his death, into her nest and into the mouths
of newborn babes.
Nobody can escape the Natural Laws of the Universe, no matter how important
they think they are.
 This
article is excerpted from the book "Call of the Great Spirit",
?2001, by Bobby Lake-Thom. Reprinted with permission of Bear & Co., an
imprint of Inner Traditions Intl. http://www.innertraditions.com
Info/Order
this book.
About the Author
Bobby Lake-Thom (Medicine Grizzly Bear) is a traditional Native healer and
spiritual teacher of Karuk, Seneca, Cherokee, and Caucasian descent. He
lectures, conducts workshops, and has doctored hundreds of different people from
all walks of life. He has also served as Professor for Native American Studies
at Humboldt State University and as an Indian affairs specialist for numerous
Indian tribes, organizations and academic institutions in the United States. He
lives in Northern California.
| Comments () >> |
 |
 |
