Horses and a Good Night’s Repose
Journal 2005 08 13
Horses and a Good Night’s Repose
“This evening the Indians entertained us with their dancing nearly all night. At 12 O’Ck. I grew sleepy and retired to rest leaving the men to amuse themselves with the Indians. … I was several times awoke in the course of the night by their yells but was too much fortiegued to be deprived of a tolerable sound night’s repose.”
Lewis rested in peace as his spirits must have been lifted and relieved by his successful meeting with the Shoshone. They had an abundance of horses and seemed to genuinely welcome the white men into their camp.
Three days earlier Captain Lewis determined to not quit until he found the Columbia River or Indians with horses. Two days ago he spotted an Indian on horseback two miles distant. He attempted to approach the rider but as he made what he hoped was a peaceful, unarmed invitation to meet the Indian, two of his men did not interpret his signals and continued their approach on his flanks. The Indian would not allow Lewis closer than about 150 yards before turning and leaving at full speed. Lewis was furious with his men who failed to understand his signals and the importance of not appearing to stalk and provoke the lone rider. It would be two more days before peaceful contact would be made. Lewis and his three men set out to track the rider in hopes of finding the camp.
The next day they came upon some women working but even they were able to elude the men. Later in their pursuit, an old women with young girls realized they could not escape the strange men and simply sat down resigned to capture and even death. The Minnetares had attacked them this spring killing about twenty of their men, destroyed most of their lodges and stole many of their horses. They had reason to fear outsiders.
We credit Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery for their bold exploration of land unknown. If we do not read the full account of their journey our independent natures conclude it is a solitary endeavor. In reality, the men of the expedition, like all of us today, were dependent upon other people for the success of their mission. God created us to live and find our value in community with our brothers and sisters. We can do no good thing alone and function best in great numbers under Divine direction.
History resounds with examples of people coming together to accomplish great victories. Many times great armies have been gathered to push back evil dictators and their armies. Nations have allied and rallied together to produce and manufacture the weapons of war to repel their enemies into the abyss of their evil ways.
Labor is required to build cathedrals and hospitals. Labor is required to run them. Research teams pursue new and better solutions to relieve human suffering. We can do no good thing on our own. Truly great work requires truly great effort from many.
You and I are required in creation to find brotherhood with those we live with. Christ came to restore us from sinners to sons with Father God. And in that process we are described as the living, breathing representation of a body of which Christ is the head.
Horses and a Good Night’s Repose
“This evening the Indians entertained us with their dancing nearly all night. At 12 O’Ck. I grew sleepy and retired to rest leaving the men to amuse themselves with the Indians. … I was several times awoke in the course of the night by their yells but was too much fortiegued to be deprived of a tolerable sound night’s repose.”
Lewis rested in peace as his spirits must have been lifted and relieved by his successful meeting with the Shoshone. They had an abundance of horses and seemed to genuinely welcome the white men into their camp.
Three days earlier Captain Lewis determined to not quit until he found the Columbia River or Indians with horses. Two days ago he spotted an Indian on horseback two miles distant. He attempted to approach the rider but as he made what he hoped was a peaceful, unarmed invitation to meet the Indian, two of his men did not interpret his signals and continued their approach on his flanks. The Indian would not allow Lewis closer than about 150 yards before turning and leaving at full speed. Lewis was furious with his men who failed to understand his signals and the importance of not appearing to stalk and provoke the lone rider. It would be two more days before peaceful contact would be made. Lewis and his three men set out to track the rider in hopes of finding the camp.
The next day they came upon some women working but even they were able to elude the men. Later in their pursuit, an old women with young girls realized they could not escape the strange men and simply sat down resigned to capture and even death. The Minnetares had attacked them this spring killing about twenty of their men, destroyed most of their lodges and stole many of their horses. They had reason to fear outsiders.
We credit Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery for their bold exploration of land unknown. If we do not read the full account of their journey our independent natures conclude it is a solitary endeavor. In reality, the men of the expedition, like all of us today, were dependent upon other people for the success of their mission. God created us to live and find our value in community with our brothers and sisters. We can do no good thing alone and function best in great numbers under Divine direction.
History resounds with examples of people coming together to accomplish great victories. Many times great armies have been gathered to push back evil dictators and their armies. Nations have allied and rallied together to produce and manufacture the weapons of war to repel their enemies into the abyss of their evil ways.
Labor is required to build cathedrals and hospitals. Labor is required to run them. Research teams pursue new and better solutions to relieve human suffering. We can do no good thing on our own. Truly great work requires truly great effort from many.
You and I are required in creation to find brotherhood with those we live with. Christ came to restore us from sinners to sons with Father God. And in that process we are described as the living, breathing representation of a body of which Christ is the head.
posted by @2007 Dick Cinkovich | 1:04 PM
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