"The elders say our ancestors are a double blessing..."

 

"The elders say our ancestors are a double blessing: they are behind us in our past and before us in our future. They are the spiritual bookends to our lives. In the past, their experience teaches us the skills we need to build a life in the here and now. If we learn from their example we will find their wisdom. In the future, they show us the visions we need to go beyond what we think is possible. If we see through their eyes we will discover their imagination. So when you say a prayer of thanksgiving for the ancestors in your life, be sure to face in both directions."
---The Rt. Rev. Steven Charleston, Native American/Indigenous Ministries of the Episcopal Church