My son and I went to a celebration/funeral today for a Native American/American Indian elder woman. Her name is Norma. Norma passed on, died, left this earth dimension in mid-June, 2015. Her age does not matter.
We met Norma five years ago when she volunteered to "teach" some students at his school how to make a Dream Catcher, something Native people often live with from birth.
We only met Norma a few times, yet she often felt like "family." I expected the church "celebration of life" to consist of a few people and family. Instead over 500 people showed up, people of different color, background, age and religion.
We learned that Norma had led a life of connecting with people everywhere, dedicated to her five children, now older, and being an activist and advocate for all people. She combined her Christian life with the ancient ways of Native Americans, specifically Apache.
When I would sometimes sit with Norma, I listened to her stories of physical and emotional pain, her dedication to bringing about respect for everyone, and her great love for her family, comprised of grandchildren, and the children of others. Norma insisted only that her children be of service, use no alcohol, cigarettes or drugs.
She is an example of a human being that holds "space" for everyone. Her daughter Andrea, met Boye and I "one" time years ago. And today, amongst over 500 people, Andrea, one of the speakers and singers at the celebration, hugged Boye and I, and remembered our names.
We met Norma five years ago when she volunteered to "teach" some students at his school how to make a Dream Catcher, something Native people often live with from birth.
We only met Norma a few times, yet she often felt like "family." I expected the church "celebration of life" to consist of a few people and family. Instead over 500 people showed up, people of different color, background, age and religion.
We learned that Norma had led a life of connecting with people everywhere, dedicated to her five children, now older, and being an activist and advocate for all people. She combined her Christian life with the ancient ways of Native Americans, specifically Apache.
When I would sometimes sit with Norma, I listened to her stories of physical and emotional pain, her dedication to bringing about respect for everyone, and her great love for her family, comprised of grandchildren, and the children of others. Norma insisted only that her children be of service, use no alcohol, cigarettes or drugs.
She is an example of a human being that holds "space" for everyone. Her daughter Andrea, met Boye and I "one" time years ago. And today, amongst over 500 people, Andrea, one of the speakers and singers at the celebration, hugged Boye and I, and remembered our names.
For me, I knew we were "seen" by Norma and family. They saw who we were inside, beneath our outer personality, and ways.
Norma and her family remember people. They remember because they live out what they teach. These five hundred people were part of her community of spirit.
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