By Blue Turtle
Back in the long ago when the people were young and free, there lived a vain young man by the name of Fortunate.
Just as his name implies, he seemed to be greatly blessed by the mysteries. Indeed he stood taller than most and was very handsome. None in the village could run faster or match him in hunting, thus he was well adored by his people. If Fortunate had any faults at all, it was his vanity.
One day after a very successful hunt, Fortunate was standing amidst the people enjoying their adoration when a strange thing happened. There came a shout from near the river drew the attention of his admirers, “The Toad is coming! The Toad is coming!” And all his admirers ran off to the bank of the river to meet the canoe that was about to land.
Puzzled by this turn of events, Fortunate went to see what had drawn the people’s attention only to witness the arrival a figure so strange that it brought a sneer to the young man’s face. The poor figure of this man named Toad was as ugly as ever to meet his eyes, His body was bent and made crooked by birth defects and his face made so ugly by childhood illness that it made one shudder to look at it, yet for all this, His fame as a healer was known far and wide.
Watching as his people gathered about praising this strange abomination of a man, brought so much anger to Fortunate that he vowed then and there that he would learned this old man’s secrets, become a better medicine man and win the complete adoration of his people.
From that point on, using all his great skill as a hunter, Fortunate watched every move that Toad made. Watching the old man dance, Fortunate utilized his youth to be more perfect at the dance. And when Toad gathered his healing herbs, Fortunate gathered even better herbs. Yet for all his efforts whenever he tried to heal people, much to his dismay, he failed to bring relief, whereas it seemed that just a touch of Toad’s hand seemed to bring relief to the old man’s patients.
Puzzled by all this, Fortunate became furious and watched the old man even closer trying to discover Toad’s secret.
One morning Fortunate’s close vigilance seemed to pay off as he watched Toad steal quietly from his lodge. With all his hunter’s skill, Fortunate followed him as he shuffled up to a bluff overlooking the river. Hiding out of sight, Fortunate watched as the old man stripped himself of his clothes and stood atop the pinnacle with his arms raised and began to chant in prayer.
Too far away to make out the old man’s words above the wind, Fortunate watched closely as Toad chanted.
Upon the bluff Toad’s old cracked voice sang praises to the Mysteries, saying, ”Thank you O’ great ones for the sickness of youth that I may feel the suffering of others and know their needs. And thank you for the infirmities that you have blessed me with, that I may help those with infirmities.” And on and on went his chants giving thanks for every painful lesson in life, which had helped him feel for the afflicted. Yet below him these words went unheard by Fortunate.
For two days and nights Fortunate watched as the old man, Toad chanted without end, and finally there appeared a beautiful rainbow overhead and golden ray of Sun seemed to light up the old man. And he watched as Toad lowered his arms and dressed and walked away.
Convinced now that he knew the secret of Toad’s powers, Fortunate hastened up the hill to where the old man had stood. Stripping off his clothes, he stood upon the summit with raised hands and cried out, “Oh Great Mysteries, see here how I honor you! Bless me with the power to heal!”
For two days and nights he stood chanting, yet nothing happened. Getting frustrated he cried out even louder, “Oh Great Mysteries, please look down upon me and bless me with the powers of healing! Can’t you see me? Do you not see that I am young and strong and willing to help the people? You have blessed that old cripple Toad, am I not better than he?” On and on he went, louder and louder. Two more days and nights passed and nothing happened. Stubbornly he persisted, two more days and nights until his voice gave out and even his great strength gave way and he suddenly sank to his knees sobbing weakly.
Only then did the Mysteries take pity on him and a great voice filled his being, ”WHAT IS IT YOU WANT FROM ME? CAN YOU NOT SEE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH GIFTS THAT FEW POSSESS? WHAT MORE WOULD YOU HAVE OF ME?”
Shaken by the greatness of the Voice, Fortunate could not lie and whispered hoarsely, “All Iwanted was the attention of the people. I wanted to be better than Toad so that I would have all of their attention.”
Then the great Voice replied, “FOOLISH CHILD, CAN YOU NOT SEE THAT TOAD’S HEALING IS HIS BURDEN OF PAIN, THUS HIS GIFT. IT IS NOT MINE TO GIVE TO YOU. YET STILL YOU HAVE GIVEN MUCH OF YOURSELF IN YOUR REQUEST FOR ATTENTION, SO I WILL GRANT THAT WISH.”
Thus it was done. And to this day if you go up the Big Beaver River near the forks of the Ohio River you may see a large boulder at the summit of a hill. And if the light and angle are just right you will see the sad figure of that once great warrior named Fortunate, and you too will be moved to say, just as your Father’s and their Father’s before them, “Poor man! Poor man!”
Perhaps you too will see the great messages within this story and appreciate your Creators gifts to you.
Blue Turtle
