O Great Spirit, whose voice I hear in the winds
and whose breath gives life to the world, hear me.
I come to you as one of your many children.
I am small and weak;
I need your strength and your wisdom.
Make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset.
Make my hands respect the things you have made,
and my ears sharp to hear your voice.
Make me wise so that I may know
the things you have taught your children,
the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock.
Make me strong,
so that I may not be superior to other people,
but able to fight my greatest enemy, which is myself.
Make me ever ready to come to you with straight eyes,
so that when life fades as the fading sunset,
my spirit may come to you without shame.
– Prayer of a Native American