Walking with humility between 2 worlds

Hanging on a wall in our home is a picture titled "Between Two Worlds." It is very spiritual in nature. The somewhat abstract painting, 32 inches by 24 inches, pictures the anguished face of an American Indian with a headdress looking up with pain-filled eyes.

The artist, Mona Hedin, explained her painting with these words: "When one finds himself caught between his spiritual values and the values of the living world, he must find his own spirit so that he may walk with humility and grace between two worlds."

This painting speaks to my heart, as one of my paternal ancestors is Massasoit, the noble Wampanoag sachem who negotiated a treaty allowing the English their security in exchange for guaranteeing the same against the Narragansett Indians. This treaty was kept throughout his lifetime.

He is the Indian portrayed in Thanksgiving feasts, and without the Wampanoags' help, they would have faced certain starvation. The English credit him as the reason the Plymouth Colony survived.

From Wikipedia.com I found these interesting details:

For nearly 40 years, the Wampanoag and the English of the Massachusetts Bay Colony maintained an increasingly uneasy peace until Massasoit's death.

Throughout this time, and in order to maintain the peace, Massasoit sold lands which the English insisted on having.

Roger Williams, when banished from the Massachusetts colony and on his way to Providence, was entertained by Massasoit for several weeks.

Massasoit was humane and honest, never violated his word, and constantly endeavored to imbue his people with a love of peace. He kept the Pilgrims advised of any warlike designs toward them by other tribes.

Unfortunately, when he died times changed with two growing disparate cultures vying for land — each culture trying to maintain their known way of life.

Disagreements ended the peace and prompted King Philip's war, which was a very bloody business.

The only child of Massasoit to survive the war was Amie, wife of Tispaquin. Her descendant, Rebecca Bearse, my father's great-great-grandmother, connects our family to the noble Massasoit.

Rebecca was the first American Indian and the 17th member to join the LDS Church. She and her husband, John Reed, were helpful friends of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Their daughter, Lydia Rebecca, and her husband, Henry Steed, pioneered her way to Farmington, Utah, proving what interesting twists lives can take.