Great Spirit

Great Spirit, whose voice I hear in the winds and
whose breath gives life to all the world,
I need your strength and wisdom.

Let me walk in your beauty and make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunsets.

Make my hands respect the things you have made, my ears sharp to hear your voice.

Make me wise so that I may know the things you have taught my people - the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock.

Great Spirit, I seek strength - not to be superior to my brothers, but to be able to fight my worst enemy, myself.

Make me ever ready to come to you with clean hands and straight eye, so that, when life fades as the fading sunset, my spirit may come to you without shame.

Amen.

(American-Indian prayer)