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Authors: David Thurlo
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do something wrong? Am I in trouble?” she asked, sitting across from them on the sofa.
“Not at all,” Ford said quickly. “We were just wondering if there was any way we could help you. We know you must be worried about your father, and maybe a little afraid, too, though you’re being very brave about it.”
“I was scared, but not anymore,” Dawn said. “
Shimasání
knows things, and she said Dad’s going to be okay.”
Ella saw Ford’s face stiffen. Although he was a Navajo scholar with an intimate knowledge of the tribe and the Navajo Way, he didn’t accept any other power, or way of life, that didn’t center around the god he worshiped. Reverend Bilford Tome was a conservative Christian who preached that the
Diné’s
traditional beliefs were pagan andfalse—a part of the tribe’s history, but nothing more.
“Is there anything I can do to make the next few days easier for you?” he asked, sidestepping the issue.
Ella knew that Ford was hoping she’d ask him to pray for her dad, but although Dawn didn’t dismiss his beliefs, she didn’t embrace them either. Uncertain of what would happen, Ella watched the situation play out between Ford and Dawn.
“Dad’s going to be fine, but the other man, the soldier who got all those medals fighting for our country, he’s in bad shape,” she said at last. “Maybe you could pray for him to your god.”
“My God wants to be yours, too. He doesn’t play favorites. He loves you. Why don’t we ask Him together?”
“I don’t know how,” Dawn answered.
“Just repeat what I say,” Ford said, then led her in the Lord’s Prayer.
Halfway through, Rose appeared at the doorway, glared at Ella, then disappeared. Though Rose hadn’t said a word, Ella felt the sting of her mother’s disapproval. Ella’s dad had been a Christian preacher, and her mom, a Traditionalist her entire life, knew that the strict demands of conservative Christianity didn’t allow much room for the Navajo Way. Rose wanted her granddaughter to know and embraceher own culture before being asked to participate in what she saw as Anglo religion.
After they finished the prayer, Dawn grabbed her school bag and ran off to catch the bus.
Ford came over to where Ella stood by the living room window, watching her daughter. “I hope you didn’t mind,” he said.
“I didn’t. And I appreciate the fact that you didn’t insist that she pray
only
to your god,” she added,mostly to make a point.
“It’s
not
just my God,” Ford insisted, then shook his head. “Never mind.”
“What’s next on your agenda?” she asked, walking with Ford to the door.
“I need to meet with a parishioner, then I’m going back to the hospital. I’ll be there within the hour, so if you’d like, I can call you and give you updates on the men.”
“That would be great. In particular let me know whenKevin’s awake and alert enough to be questioned. The hospital said they would, but they have other priorities,” she added. “Adam, from what I’ve been told, is struggling to survive. I’m hoping for the best, but I doubt he’ll be coming around anytime soon.”
“That’s what I’ve heard, too,” he answered. “His wife attends our church and asked me to hold a bedside prayer vigil for him.”
“I got theimpression that his parents are Traditionalists,” she mentioned, remembering how they’d been dressed at the hospital.
“Yes, they are. I’ll have to work things out so nobody’s upset, but the wife’s wishes come first.” Ford stepped to the front door. “I better get going, but we’ll talk later.”
Ella was about to say something when Justine walked into the room, having entered through the kitchen.“Good morning, partner—Rev. Ford,” she added, giving him a friendly smile just before he stepped outside. “Your mom offered me some of her piñon coffee,” she said, holding up an empty mug, “and I’m going to take her up on it. Then I’ll be ready to go,
“Not at all,” Ford said quickly. “We were just wondering if there was any way we could help you. We know you must be worried about your father, and maybe a little afraid, too, though you’re being very brave about it.”
“I was scared, but not anymore,” Dawn said. “
Shimasání
knows things, and she said Dad’s going to be okay.”
Ella saw Ford’s face stiffen. Although he was a Navajo scholar with an intimate knowledge of the tribe and the Navajo Way, he didn’t accept any other power, or way of life, that didn’t center around the god he worshiped. Reverend Bilford Tome was a conservative Christian who preached that the
Diné’s
traditional beliefs were pagan andfalse—a part of the tribe’s history, but nothing more.
“Is there anything I can do to make the next few days easier for you?” he asked, sidestepping the issue.
Ella knew that Ford was hoping she’d ask him to pray for her dad, but although Dawn didn’t dismiss his beliefs, she didn’t embrace them either. Uncertain of what would happen, Ella watched the situation play out between Ford and Dawn.
“Dad’s going to be fine, but the other man, the soldier who got all those medals fighting for our country, he’s in bad shape,” she said at last. “Maybe you could pray for him to your god.”
“My God wants to be yours, too. He doesn’t play favorites. He loves you. Why don’t we ask Him together?”
“I don’t know how,” Dawn answered.
“Just repeat what I say,” Ford said, then led her in the Lord’s Prayer.
Halfway through, Rose appeared at the doorway, glared at Ella, then disappeared. Though Rose hadn’t said a word, Ella felt the sting of her mother’s disapproval. Ella’s dad had been a Christian preacher, and her mom, a Traditionalist her entire life, knew that the strict demands of conservative Christianity didn’t allow much room for the Navajo Way. Rose wanted her granddaughter to know and embraceher own culture before being asked to participate in what she saw as Anglo religion.
After they finished the prayer, Dawn grabbed her school bag and ran off to catch the bus.
Ford came over to where Ella stood by the living room window, watching her daughter. “I hope you didn’t mind,” he said.
“I didn’t. And I appreciate the fact that you didn’t insist that she pray
only
to your god,” she added,mostly to make a point.
“It’s
not
just my God,” Ford insisted, then shook his head. “Never mind.”
“What’s next on your agenda?” she asked, walking with Ford to the door.
“I need to meet with a parishioner, then I’m going back to the hospital. I’ll be there within the hour, so if you’d like, I can call you and give you updates on the men.”
“That would be great. In particular let me know whenKevin’s awake and alert enough to be questioned. The hospital said they would, but they have other priorities,” she added. “Adam, from what I’ve been told, is struggling to survive. I’m hoping for the best, but I doubt he’ll be coming around anytime soon.”
“That’s what I’ve heard, too,” he answered. “His wife attends our church and asked me to hold a bedside prayer vigil for him.”
“I got theimpression that his parents are Traditionalists,” she mentioned, remembering how they’d been dressed at the hospital.
“Yes, they are. I’ll have to work things out so nobody’s upset, but the wife’s wishes come first.” Ford stepped to the front door. “I better get going, but we’ll talk later.”
Ella was about to say something when Justine walked into the room, having entered through the kitchen.“Good morning, partner—Rev. Ford,” she added, giving him a friendly smile just before he stepped outside. “Your mom offered me some of her piñon coffee,” she said, holding up an empty mug, “and I’m going to take her up on it. Then I’ll be ready to go,
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