Lesson 349: RUN TO THE SUN


Chaplain David Chaltas -- The Old General

RUN TO THE SUN

While working on the Navajo reservation I was invited to attend a special coming of age ceremony known as the Kinaalda. It is held to honor a girl who is entering into womanhood. The ceremony entails the youthful maiden bathing and dressing in her finest traditional clothing. She stretches herself face down on a blanket outside the house (Hogan) with her head to the door. Female relatives begin reshaping her body. Her hair is formed into a knot wrapped with deerskin strings. The Kinaalda blesses the younger children by placing her hand under each ear and lifts them. This insures growth.

One thing about the ceremony really impressed me. The young girl faces the east and begins running with the children following behind her. She runs to the east for a quarter of a mile. She runs to the sun. She runs to the sun each morning. Corn pollen is usually offered to the sun, tasted and dusted on the hair.

Four days of ceremony are held. Only mush and bread can be eaten. The maiden cannot scratch her body during this time. Corn is grinded to create a large corn-cake, which will be baked in a large hole. Medicine songs are sun and a shaman prays while offering twelve Hogan songs. Singing goes on through the night.

At dawn the girl’s hair is washed in yucca suds. The hair is dried with cornmeal and then she runs for the final time to greet the sun. The corn-cake is divided with the shaman getting the first piece. Once the cake is given to all, the ‘changing woman’ can eat whatever she pleases and loosen her hair.

The Beauty Way is a way of life for the Navajo. They believe in walking in beauty. Each morning you offer a prayer to the east and follow the true path. Their run to the sun is spiritual. So we too run in our own way but it is not the fireball in the sky we seek but the SON who is the author and sustainer of all things. The sun was created by the SON.

Have you ever noticed that when you run to the Son your blessings flow? Have you ever noticed when you pray for your life to be at peace through the day, it is? With the blessings of the Son comes warmth that is beyond our understanding. "The Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings for you people who fear my name. You will go out and leap like calves let out of a stall." (Malachi 4:2)

In Matthew 11:28-30, the Bible attests, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest . Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

John 14: 27 tell us of the Son’s gift: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” So run to the Sun and be filled with peace. May the peace that is only known to those who truly know Christ fill you this day. The old general

Beauty Way
(Adapted from the Navajo chant for the Greenberry Thomas Dedication)



 
“Beauty to the East of me, in beauty I walk. 
Beauty to the West of me, in beauty I walk. 
Beauty to the North of me, in beauty I walk. 
Beauty to the South of me, in beauty I walk.



 
Beauty behind me, in beauty I have walked.
Beauty beside me, in beauty I walk.
Beauty before me, in beauty I will walk.
Beauty below me, in beauty I lay.
Beauty above me, in beauty I will fly.



 
As the sun fades into the evening sky,
On the wings of a promise, in beauty I will arise.”
(Dave Chaltas)