The Way of Hozho's ©
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| Mati Dyara |
Several different creatures shared the bounty supplied by the forest. There was Grantangi and Libi and their offspring, Kisikaw and Pisim and their children, and Yepi and Ahehee as well as their descendants.
Grantangi and Libi and their family were four legged, furry creatures who dwelled on the forest floors. They enjoyed eating tubers and mushroom and berries, and their long wrinkly snouts were perfect for burrowing for food.
The smooth-skinned creatures Kisikaw, Pisim and their children, lived mostly in the trees. With their many legs they were able to easily grasp onto the branches. They ate leaves and twigs, and one could often find them higher up in the trees, seeking out the sun and basking in its warmth.
Possessing feathered wings and two long legs, Yepi and Ahehee and their offspring loved to fly. They enjoyed flitting between the branches, and the myriad forest flowers provided nourishing nectar for their food and drink.
Each evening, Evo’neto came to walk in the garden with them. The creatures in turn presented Him with gifts of their love. Grantangi and Libi’s family gave Him leaves filled with the best of the tubers, berries and mushrooms the forest could provide. Kisikaw, Pisim and their children sang songs about the beauty and wonder of Evo’neto’s creation. Yepi and Ahehee and their offspring performed complex, graceful dances in the air to show their appreciation for His love.
They lived in the Way of Hozho’s and Evo’neto saw that everything was good, and He was pleased.
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One day, a new creature came to share the forest with them. He was not like Grantangi, Libi, Kisikaw, Pisim or Yepi and Ahehee. He liked to stay in the shadows and the cool of the trees. He slithered and crept about on four legs. His skin glowed in brilliant hues of every colour, and the forest creatures gasped at his beauty. His name was Nonohoo’e.
The friends welcomed Nonohoo’e and encouraged him to stay with them.
“Do not tell Evo’neto that you have seen me or spoken with me,” he told them, “I am planning a surprise for Him.”
The friends consented to his request and went on about their daily duties.
As the heavy morning mists began to disperse one day, Nonohoo’e gathered together Grantangi, Libi and their family.
“You are very clever farmers,” Nonohoo’e said to them in smooth tones, “It is no wonder that Evo’neto thinks you are the most loving of the creatures in the forest. You bring Evo’neto the best gifts.”
“Oh no,” said Grantangi, “We friends all bring good gifts to Evo’neto.”
“But Evo’neto can eat your gifts,” Nonohoo’e said slyly, “He cannot find anything tasty in Kisikaw’s words or Yepi’s dancing. Surely yours are the best and tastiest of the gifts.”
As Grantangi, Libi and their family began to talk amongst themselves, Nonohoo’e quietly crept away.
The sun rose until it sat high above the forest, and Nonohoo’e called to Kisikaw, Pisim and their offspring.
“You are very wonderful singers,” Nonohoo’e said to them in persuasive tones, “It is no wonder that Evo’neto thinks you are the most loving of the creatures in the forest. You bring Evo’neto the best gifts.”
“Oh no,” said Kisikaw, “We friends all bring good gifts to Evo’neto.”
“But Evo’neto enjoys the beauty of your singing,” Nonohoo’e said cunningly, “Your words are soothing to His ear. He cannot find anything as delightful in Grantangi’s food or Yepi’s dancing. Surely yours are the best and loveliest of the gifts.”
As Kisikaw, Pisim and their offspring began to talk amongst themselves, Nonohoo’e quietly sneaked away.
When the day began to cool, Nonohoo’e drew Yepi and Ahehee and their offspring to him.
“You are very gifted dancers,” Nonohoo’e said to them in glib tones, “It is no wonder that Evo’neto thinks you are the most loving of the creatures in the forest. You bring Evo’neto the best gifts.”
“Oh no,” said Yepi, “We friends all bring good gifts to Evo’neto.”
“But Evo’neto enjoys the grace of your dancing,” Nonohoo’e said cunningly, “Your dancing delights his eye. He cannot find anything as wonderful in Grantangi’s food or Kisikaw’s singing. Surely you bring the best and loveliest of the gifts.”
As Yepi and Ahehee and their children began to talk amongst themselves, Nonohoo’e quietly slithered into the forest.
That evening when Evo’neto came to walk with the friends in the forest, they were unusually quiet.
“Why are you so silent?” Evo’neto lovingly asked his friends.
“We have been thinking about the gifts we give to you,” said Yepi, “Could you tell us which gift is the best?”
“Yes,” Grantangi said.
“Please tell us,” pleaded Kisikaw.
A strange expression came over Evo’neto’s face. It was a look they had never seen before. They did not understand that they had made Evo’neto feel sad.
“My dear children,” Evo’neto replied, looking around at His creatures, “I created each of you as unique beings and you each have precious gifts that I love. Kisikaw your singing is wonderful. Grantangi your foods are lovely and Yepi your dancing is beautiful. All of your gifts are equally wonderful and special to me.”
The creatures looked at each other, and suddenly they felt very foolish. They understood that they were similarly loved by Evo’neto and the question about who gave the best gift, was no longer important. The friends began to chat and play amongst themselves and Evo’neto looked upon them with fondness.
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Some time later, Nonohoo’e came to the friends and spoke with each family in turn. To Kisikaw and Pisim’s family he said, “You are magnificent creatures and climb trees very well. I wonder why Evo’neto never thought to give you wings like Yepi and Ahehee. Perhaps He felt you do not deserve to be able dance like them. No, you are lucky that you can climb trees.”
He sidled out of the group as they began to talk, and made his way to Yepi and Ahehee’s group.
“You are amazing creatures and fly very well,” Nonohoo’e said, “I wonder why Evo’neto never thought to give you a wonderful snout like Grantangi and Libi. Perhaps He felt you do not deserve to be able to smell things and find delicious food like them. No, you are lucky that you can fly.”
As the family began to talk, he slithered out and found Grantangi and Libi’s family.
“You are gifted creatures and farm and forage very well,” Nonohoo’e said, “I wonder why Evo’neto never thought to give you a beautiful voice like Kisikaw and Pisim. Perhaps He felt you do not deserve to be able to sing beautiful songs like them. No, you are lucky that you can forage and sniff.”
The creatures gathered there began to chatter amongst themselves, and Nonohoo’e crept away.
That evening when Evo’neto came to walk with the friends in the forest, they were unusually quiet.
“Why are you so silent?” Evo’neto lovingly asked his friends.
“We have been thinking,” said Grantangi, “Could you give us beautiful voices so that we can sing?”
Yepi interrupted, “We would like a wonderful snout so that we could forage and find delicious food.”
“Please Evo’neto,” pleaded Kisikaw, “Could you give us wings so that we can fly and create lovely dances?”
A strange expression came over Evo’neto’s face. It was a look they had seen on his face once before, but still they did not understand that they had made Evo’neto feel sad.
“My dear children,” Evo’neto replied, looking around at His creatures, “I created each of you as unique beings and you each have precious gifts that I love. Kisikaw your singing is wonderful. Grantangi your snout is truly wondrous, and Yepi your flying is lovely. Each of you has a job to do in the forest. I made you so that you could do you work well. All of your gifts are equally wonderful and special.”
The creatures looked at each other, and they felt very silly. They understood that they were made just as Evo’neto had meant them to be. Grantangi realised that he liked to sniff and snuffle with his snout, and perhaps singing was not really that important to him or his family. Yepi remembered how much he enjoyed his flying, and the idea of possessing a snout no longer seemed so attractive to him or his family. Kisikaw recalled the joy he got from singing and the idea of having wings no longer seemed so appealing to him or his people. The friends began to chat and play amongst themselves and Evo’neto looked upon them with fondness.
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Nonohoo’e once again paid a visit to the friends in the forest. He called them all together. Soon Yepi, Ahehee, Kisikaw, Pisim, Grantangi, Libi and their families arrived at a big space in the middle of the forest.
“Many, many seasons ago, Evo’neto once made this world and this good forest where you live,” Nonohoo’e began, “Then he made you beautiful creatures. Before that, there had been nothing. There has been no world. There had been no stars. There had been no garden or trees or food for you to eat. All had been black and empty."
"I wonder if one day, the world will come to an end. Do you think that Evo’neto may one day say “That’s enough. I’m tired.” And then the forest and your world will suddenly cease to exist?”
Alarmed, the friends murmured amongst themselves, and soon their murmuring grew to muttering, and then became yelling and eventually the forest was filled with the sounds of their loud shouting. The other lowly creatures who lived there ran or flew or crawled away in fear.
That evening when Evo’neto came to walk with the friends in the forest, he heard the sounds of their shouting and went to the glade. As He approached, the friends began to quieten, and soon they were silent.
“Why were you shouting?” Evo’neto lovingly asked his friends.
“We have been thinking,” said Grantangi, “What will happen when the world ends.”
“You made the world and the forest,” continued Yepi, “and one day they will cease to exist.”
“What will happen to us?” asked a worried Kisikaw.
“Do not worry my friends,” Evo’neto said soothingly, “I will always look after you.”
“But will it hurt when the world ends?” asked Yepi.
“Will I ever see my family again?” Kisikaw said loudly.
“Oh please, oh please,” sobbed Grantangi, “Do not let the world end.”
The creatures began to cry and Evo’neto looked sadly at them. “You must trust me when I say that I will always look after you,” Evo’neto said.
The friends continued to cry. The fears that had crept into their minds had filled their hearts and their imaginations with such terror, that Evo’neto’s words did not calm them. He spoke lovingly to them. He spoke words of ration and reason, but still they remained unconvinced and terrified.
For days they wept, and nothing Evo’neto said seemed to placate them. Their fears overwhelmed their simple little minds, and they forgot to trust Evo’neto. They could no longer take joy in their work or the pleasant woodland haven. Reflecting this, the forest began to look neglected, and a feeling of emptiness and hopelessness began to creep in.
“What would you like me to do?” Evo’neto asked them a few days later. He suffered too as he saw their distress.
“I cannot bear the thought that the world will end,” Kisikaw cried.
“Please, Evo’neto,” Yepi sobbed, “Take away the pain.”
“We would rather the world cease now,” gasped Grantangi, “Then always be wondering when it might happen.”
Their families agreed with them. They could no longer hear the words of love from Evo’neto.
“My dear children,” Evo’neto replied, looking around at His creatures, “I will do as you ask.”
Evo’neto thought a thought, and the world, and the universe he had created blinked out of existence.The pain He felt at the loss of His beloved friends, was excruciating. He longed for friendship and love. He thought a thought, and a new universe and a new blue world came into being.
“We will create a friend,” Evo’neto said, “Created in Our image. We will make only one kind so that he may not become jealous of other creatures. We will make him so that he has a strong will and is not so prone to petty fears. We will give him great pleasure and pride in tending the garden. Yes, even though his pride may cause him to stumble and fall, he will always know, deep down in his heart that he needs Me.”
Evo’neto thought a thought...©
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