PEACH TREES FOR PEACE!
On July 7th, 2013 a group of us are travelling to the Navajo nation, to perform a ceremony, seeking peace, and healing for this land we call the United States of America.
Historically, the conquest of the Navajo occurred in a final campaign in 1866, by a Calvary company led by Rope thrower, Kit Carson, in Le Chelley canyon.
In that campaign, Calvary were under orders to perform a ‘scorched earth’ campaign, burning Navajo crops, winter food supplies, homes, and on this final day, torching the 5000 tree orchard in this canyon, known as ‘the bread basket of the Navajo’. This event broke the back of Navajo resistance, and preceded, what is now known as ‘the long walk of the Navajo’.
It has been said by elders, ‘that we could forgive rope thrower Carson for betraying and conquering us. We could forgive the US government for the long walk, and putting us on reservations, but we can never forgive the destruction of our precious peach trees!’
For over 100 years, the Navajo have survived, thrived, and now again the Navajo nation has grown back upon the land, in strength, dignity, and honor.
There is a tradition, from the Iroquois people, that has been passed down the corridor of time, from the great commissioning of ‘the peace tree ceremony’, where the white pine tree planted by the five initial tribes of the Iroquois confederacy, when ‘The great law of peace’ was implemented in 1050. As most tribes know, the Iroquois confederacy ruled the Eastern United States for many hundreds of years before they ‘discovered’ white men on their land, and because of the law of peace (that those who came in peace, were received in peace), the white men were allowed in America.
In this ceremony, a white pine tree was planted (its bundle of five needles symbolizing the five tribes of the Iroquois). Initially, a great hole was dug in the ground, and the elders welcomed their war chiefs in royal procession to this great hole in the ground. Each company of warriors would then throw their weapons of war into this great hole, until each company had taken their turn. The hole was covered up, and the peace tree planted, with the proclamation that :’As long as the weapons of war remain in the earth, there shall be peace in the land!’
We as followers of Yeshua, have learned that the cross of Jesus Christ, is the true peace tree.
We believe that at the cross, not only are our personal sins forgiven, but that as we forgive others, even those from past generations that there is a corresponding healing to not only us personally, but also to our families, and the very land upon which we walk.
Romans 8:20-22
The Voice (VOICE)
20 You see, all of creation has collapsed into emptiness, not by its own choosing, but by God’s. Still He placed within it a deep and abiding hope 21 that creation would one day be liberated from its slavery to corruption and experience the glorious freedom of the children of God. 22 For we know that all creation groans in unison with birthing pains up until now.
We see in these verses, how the creation is waiting for us, the manifest sons and daughters of God, to show up, and bring ‘glorious liberty’ as the manifest sons and daughters of God.
We also see, that the earth has a voice, a voice of groanings….
For those of us with ears to hear, eyes to see, we have heard this voice, the voice of the lands of the Navajo, and by the Spirit of our Creator, we are responding, to take our place, in humble prayer before God, that the land itself be cleansed and healed.
It is our hope and prayer, that weather permitting, we might plant some of these trees in canyon De Chelley, or other suitable location on Navajo land, and that God, the Great Spirit, our Creator, might heal the Navajo lands, and bless them, and that somehow, there be healing and peace between all the North American tribes, and the rest of us who call ourselves Americans. For those of us who know North American history, only God Almighty can possibly bridge the gap between America, and its host peoples. There has been much pain, betrayal, blood, and tears…For those of us with eyes to see a better future for the relationship between the red and white man, may this ceremony be a simple seed, a token, of better days for our children … PEACE!
If you would like to either donate or purchase a tree, or help in some way transporting these trees to the Navajo nation (Window Rock, Arizona, by July 7th) please contact me or make checks available to AOM Ministries, 1928 E Oklahoma St, Tulsa, OK, 74110. Email: [email protected].