Psalm 148 and the Onondaga Nation Poem of Thanksgiving

If you read my blog, you may pick up on the fact that I really love finding things that bridge different traditions. If pressed, I would probably go as far as to say that most, if not all, spiritual traditions have much the same underlying message. Would it help if we were able to become more aware of them – and hopefully gain more understanding of our similarities instead of focusing so intently on our differences?

Here’s Psalm 148 – and yes, the exact wording may vary if you’re using different Bibles:

“Praise God!
Praise God from the heavens; praise Him in the celestial heights.
Praise Him, all His angels; praise Him, all His hosts.
Praise Him, sun and moon; praise Him, all the shining stars.
Praise Him, heavens of heavens and the waters that are above the heavens.
Let them praise the name of God, for He commanded, and they were created.
He has established them forever, for all time; He issued a decree, and it shall not be transgressed.
Praise God from the earth, sea monsters (dragons in some renditions) and all that dwell in the depths;
Fire and hail, snow and vapor, stormy wind carrying out His command;
The mountains, all hills, fruit-bearing trees, and all cedars; the beasts and all cattle, creeping things, Insects and winged fowl.

Kings of the earth and all nations, rulers and all judges of the land; young men as well as maidens, elders together with young lads.
Let them praise the name of God,
For His name is sublimely transcendent.
It is unto Himself; only its radiance is upon the earth and heavens.”
 
Now, here’s a Prayer of Thanksgiving from the Native American Onondaga Nation – and I trust you will see the similarity:

“Greetings and Thanks to each other as people
To the Earth, Mother of all, greetings and thanks.
To all the Waters – Waterfalls and Rain, Rivers and Oceans – greetings and thanks.
To all the Fish Life, greetings and thanks.
The Grains and Greens, Beans and Berries, as one we send thanks to food plants.
Medicine Herbs of the world and their keepers, greetings and thanks.
To all Animals and their teachings, greetings and thanks.
The Trees – for shelter and shade, fruit and beauty – greetings and thanks.
To all Birds, large and small, joyful greetings and thanks.
And from the Four Directions: The Four Winds, thank you for purifying the air we breathe and giving us strength. Greetings.
The Thunderers, our grandfathers in the sky – we hear your voices. Greetings and thanks.
And now the Sun, for the Light of a new day and all the fires of life. Greetings and thanks.
To our oldest grandmother, the Moon, leader of women all over the world,                                           And the Stars, for their mystery, beauty and guidance,  greetings and thanks.
To our Teachers, from all times, reminding us of how to live in harmony, greetings and thanks.
And for all the gifts of Creation;                                                                                                                       For all the love around us,  greetings and thanks.
And for that which is forgotten, We Remember.
We end our words.
Now our minds are One.”

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