Those Who Opened Their Ears

Journal 2005 10 19
Those Who Opened Their Ears

“The great chief Yel-lep-pet two other chiefs, and a Chief of Band below presented themselves to us verry early this morning.    we Smoked with them, enformed them as we had all others above as well as we Could by Signs of our friendly intentions towards our red children Perticular those who opened their ears to our Councils.”

After this meeting the party proceeds on at 9am and Captain Clark while walking above and around a long stretch of rapids records, “from this place I descovered a high mountain of emence hight covered with Snow” which he takes to be Mt. St. Helens. Historians think it was probably Mt. Adams. Expecting to hunt elk between these two great mountains in two weeks I believe it would be an easy error to make. They are close neighbors. Clark must have taken comfort knowing he was approaching the eastern extent of Captain Vancouver’s explorations.

Setting off down the Columbia River yesterday the men spend many hours traversing long rapids. Then Clark, while waiting for the group to pass the rapids, decides to calm the fears of a new tribe. “I was fearfull that those people might not be informed of us, I deturmined to take the little Canoe which was with me and proceed with the three men in it to the Lodges, on my aproach not one person was to be Seen except three men off in the plains, and they Sheared off as I aproached near the Shore, I landed in front of five Lodges which was at no great distance from each other, Saw no person    the enteranc or Dores of the Lodges wer Shut with the Same materials of which they were built a mat, I approached one with a pipe in my hand entered a lodge which was the nearest to me found 32 persons men, women and a few children Setting permiscuesly in the Lodg, <Some> in the greatest agutation, Some crying and ringing there hands, others hanging their heads. I gave my hand to them all and made Signs of my friendly dispotion and offered the men my pipe to Smok and distributed a fiew Small articles which I had in my pockets,—this measure passified those distressed people verry much, I then Sent one man into each lodge and entered a Second myself the inhabitants of which I found more fritened than those of the first lodge    I destributed Sundrey Small articles amongst them, and Smoked with the men, I then entered the third 4h & fifth Lodge which I found Somewhat passified, the three men Drewer Jo. & R. Fields, haveing useed everey means in their power to convince them of our friendly disposition to them, I then <formd> Set my Self on a rock and made Signs to the men to come and Smoke with me not one Come out untill the Canoes arrived with <Some five Came out of each Lodge and Set by me and Smoked    Capt Lewis at> the 2 Chiefs, one of whom spoke aloud, and as was their Custom to all we had passed the Indians came out & Set by me and Smoked    They said we came from the clouds &c &c <which the> and were not men &c. &c.    this time Capt. Lewis came down with the Canoes rear in which the Indians, as Soon as they Saw the Squar wife of the interperters <wife> they pointed to her and informed those who continued yet in the Same position I first found them, they imediately all came out and appeared to assume new life the sight of This Indian woman, wife to one of our interprs. confirmed those people of our friendly intentions, as no woman ever accompanies a war party of Indians in this quarter—“

How do we convey peace to those who fear us? Do we let them believe that we came from the clouds and are not men?

In today’s context many people are extremely fearful of anyone who declares Jesus Christ to be Lord. They think we come to condemn, coerce and control. Our message of hope, redemption and a new life of grace is lost in the fearful assumptions of the listener.

Clark offers the Indian symbol of peace, the pipe, and gives many small gifts pacifying some, certainly not all. When Sacagawea arrives with baby in arms the people believe the peaceful intentions of William Clark and finally drop their guard. She was visible.

Gifts? Yes. “A man's gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.”  Proverbs 18:16  

Someone that is trusted is even better. Sacagawea was the visible representation of peace. What is our visible representation of peace to those who fear us? It is the very person we are trying to introduce them to. We must communicate Christ. Immanuel, God with us.

“Here we are, then, speaking for Christ, as though God himself were making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ's behalf: let God change you from enemies into his friends!”(2 Corinthians 5:20)

We are called to be the visible representation of Christ’s body. No magic wand. No woman with a baby. A life presented in service and humility carrying the message of eternal peace held in God’s presentation of peace, His very visible Son, Jesus Christ.

Don’t fear entering a camp of those who would fear you. Offer gifts and symbols of peace. Tell God’s story as though He were telling it through you and look in “perticular for those who open their ears to your councils.”