Friday, April 14, 2023

The lakota way


Some books I read because they're informative, some because they're interesting, and some simply make me feel good. The Lakota Way by Joseph M. Marshall III clicked all three boxes. I really liked it!

I bought it because Richard Foster recommended it in his Learning Humility. It was an easy read and I thoroughly enjoyed the stories and lessons for living, along with the Native American history and wisdom on ethics and character. I hope to give a copy to the oldest grandson on his next birthday.

I suppose it was extra interesting to me since we watch a lot of GRIT TV (old westerns). Not that we watch it a lot, but that's mostly what we watch when we do have the TV on (for lack of anything better). Once I learned the Lakota are what we whites refer to as the Sioux, things started to add up as far as names and places on some of the shows.

What's really wild to me is just how recent so much of it is. I mean, Europeans only started migrating west - invading their territory - 100 years before my parents were alive. So in a relatively short time these people's lives and culture that had existed forever was completely taken from them. It's also sad to hear how the "Christian" church played a role in it as well.

Anyway, this is a great collection of stories illustrating the twelve core qualities crucial to the Lakota way of living: bravery, fortitude, generosity, wisdom, respect, honor, perseverance, love, humility, sacrifice, truth, and compassion. I'm going to miss reading from it each day.

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