Indian Rite of Passage (Devotional)

Indian Rite of Passage

Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth's rite of passage? His dad would take him into the forest. The boy would be blindfolded and left alone. He was required to sit on a stump the whole night and not take off the blindfold until the sun’s rays shone through it.

Indian Rite of Passage

He was all by himself. He was not allowed to cry out for help to anyone. Once he survived the night he was considered a MAN.

He was forbidden from telling the other boys of this experience. Each lad must come into his own manhood by himself.

Indian Rite of Passage

The boy would be terrified. He could hear all kinds of noises all around him. Beasts were all around him as well. Additionally, it was possible that maybe even some human would come by during the night and hurt him. The wind blew the grass upon the earth as it shook his stump.

Indian Rite of Passage

But the youth would remain sitting stoically still, never removing the blindfold. Remaining there would be the only way he could be a man.

Finally, after a horrific night all alone, the sun appeared. He could now remove his blindfold. It was only at that moment that he would see his father sitting quietly on the stump next to him, watching silently all through the entire night.

Indian Rite of Passage

In a like manner, we as Christians are never alone. Even when we do not know it, our Father is protecting us. He is sitting on the stump right beside us. All we have to do is reach out to Him.

Jesus said in Matthew 28:20 just before leaving the apostles, “I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”

Indian Rite of Passage

Jesus also said that whatever we do to any of His brothers or sisters, we do unto Him when He said, “Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these My brethren, even these least, ye did it unto Me.” (Matthew 25:40)

Indian Rite of Passage

So let’s remember to take every opportunity that comes our way to do what we can to help others in need. James wrote, “To him therefore that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” (James 4:17)

Indian Rite of Passage

And Paul wrote to the Galatians, “So then, as we have opportunity, let us work that which is good toward all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith.” (Galatians 6:10)

Indian Rite of Passage

By doing such we will fulfill the law of Christ: “Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2) It will also distinguish us as Christians: “By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:35)