To Sweat or Not to Sweat?

I struggled with the idea of participating in the Sweat Lodge. It wasn't fear that was the driving force behind my hesitation, but a clear check in my spirit to examine the motivation of my heart. Was I merely going into the sweat lodge to say I had knowledge of the experience? How would that be meaningful, or of any help to someone who questioned the purpose of a sweat? I would only be able to relate a topical experience rather than a spiritual one. It seemed self-serving and wrong for me. I talked with some other women in the group who kindly shared their wisdom with me. In the end no one could answer my question of motive except God. I asked Him, "Where do You want me to go? What do You want me to do?"

Someone said, "You shouldn't go into the sweat lodge just because you have the opportunity." As I listened to our spiritual guide on the sweat lodge grounds I still had the same check in my spirit. I stayed outside the lodge and prayed. I was close enough to see the helper choosing the rocks, filling the bucket with water, and praying ouside the flap on his hands and knees. At times he seemed to be weeping.

Sometimes when I pray fervently in the Spirit, I see things. I call them visions because it normally doesn't happen outside of prayer. I will share the vision with you now because I believe it is for more than one person to know. ~The roots of healing are embedded in the land but there is no one there to tend to the young plants. They are left alone to wither and die. Eagle flies over, his eye upon all of this. He is ever watchful and faithful. He flies today with the same strength as when he first flew. He is searching for his children to help one another rather than remain solitary, doing only for themselves.~

I shared this vision with Pedro because of the Eagle he spoke of. I felt a strong inner prompting to do so. My mouth went dry just supposing what he would think. I was a little unsettled but consulted the wisdom of another person in the group and let some time pass by to make sure it was what I was supposed to do. I prayed, "When? Now?"

Pedro was skeptical at first but as I shared some other things that had happened, and how God teaches me, and he seemed to feel that I was trustworthy. A door opened. I don't think I would have been receptive to this vision inside the sweat lodge. I would have been listening to the others, memorizing smells and sounds and would have missed that time of prayer outside the sweat lodge.