Try as he would, Little Cloud could not interest himself in
the making of bows and arrows, he could not even interest himself in the riding of fast
and strong horses that every boy living on the plains longed to possess, and when the
buffalo came to graze Little Cloud ran the other way as not to hear their snorting and
their bellowing.
No one knew how Little Cloud was going to grow up and take
his place in the village among his people if he liked nothing of what they did to learn
the skills of survival. All Little Cloud liked to do was to find a lonely spot out of
everyone's view, and once there, he would make small and beautiful toys for all of the
younger children of the village.
Soon everyone began to say, "How can you make toys?
This will not fill your stomach with food, this will not drive away an enemy, this will
not do anything for anyone, this is foolish!" But Little Cloud continued his gentle
work filling his heart with good memories as he worked, and kept his hands happy in what
they did. The only member of the village that believed in his destiny was his old and
loving grandmother.
One night as the winds shout their message, and the thunder
comes to call, Little Cloud's grandmother sits before a crackling fire staying warm
against the wind and rain and listens to the voice of Little Cloud.
"Grandmother, how will I know what my destiny looks
like?"
His grandmother stirs the glowing coals with a knurled
stick, the reflection of the fire shines in her eyes and she begins to sing a song to him
that gives him courage. "You will know! Only you will know what your destiny looks
like. This is a night of great power Little Cloud." His grandmother lifts her head
only for a moment as she watches him turn to leave.
There are no words that need to be passed one to one
another, grandmother knows that Little Cloud is going out to seek his destiny. "Bring
back your destiny so I can see it, so everyone here can see it." His grandmother
calls. Little Cloud leaves the comfort of the fire to climb the top of the mountain and
call out to his destiny.
COMMENTARY:
When everyone says you can’t, you are fortunate to
have deep within your heart, a voice that asks you to go on, to follow the call of your
destiny, not to pay attention to the nay saying voices from all sides. No! the person of
destiny must go ahead with the strength of courage, and determination to meet their life
in a good way and what they will make of it.
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