The night watches can be scary times, especially when we’re awake and alone. I was reading about one way the young men of some Native Americans tribes proved their manhood before they became Braves — not an easy trial.
Alone in the Woods
There is a rite of passage used by certain Native American tribes for young men. They would take this pre-adolescent young man deep into the woods to a place totally unfamiliar to him. There, the men would leave him.
His rite of passage would be to remain out in the woods, all alone and spend the night. All night long, the young boy would sit with his back against a large tree, knees pulled close to his chest, staring at the pitch darkness, jumping at every sound, longing for the break of day.
And as the darkness slowly began to give way in the morning, he noticed a figure not to far away. Unsure of what this large thing was, he remained motionless and staring.
As the daylight slowly came, he soon recognized the figure as his father who had been standing near him all night long with spear in hand making sure that nothing would happen to his son, not that night, not on his watch.
Too often, the darkness seems so overwhelming that we feel totally alone. It’s the promise of our heavenly Father that he’ll be there, especially in the night, to guard and protect us and see us safely through until morning.
About Paul Sibley
Andrew Gosden (now 18) has been missing from his Doncaster home since 14 September 2007. The search continues.
Elizabeth Jackson on 