It was a clear cold day in the frozen tundra wastelands of what is now known as Alaska, an icy wind was blowing, in the middle of this wasteland was a single tree, sleeping its winter sleep; suddenly a bright flash of pure white light which lasted for a second and no longer occurred, when the light faded all was as it was except that perched on one of the branches of the tree was a large brown Hawk. Hawk looked around, as if to get its bearings, let out a screech, then it proceeded to preen its feathers. When it finished with this, it leapt into the air and with powerful wing beats it left to find 'The One' it was meant to search out.

 

As it flew it took one last look at the tree, its place of birth, knowing it would never see it again. It passed over a village of Eskimos, and circled once, as it did so the people looked up and their hearts filled with awe and wonder at the sight of the magnificent creature.

 

Hawk, upon seeing that 'The One' was not in this village, let out a screech and continued its journey. The people, while sad to see it go, wished it safety and speed. They knew it had a mission and it was not meant for them.

 

Hawk continued south, circling each village letting out a screech each time it saw that 'The One' it was meant for was not there. Its animal brothers Deer, Elk, Wolf, and so forth would each give their own cry to their brother as a symbol of luck to him in fulfilling his destiny.

 

Hawk traveled for many weeks never resting, always searching, never finding, when it reached the center of what is now California it felt within its heart that it must turn east, that it would find what it was meant for in the grasslands, so it turned and made its way over the mountains, and across deserts, each time circling any village it came upon, each time screeching when it didn't find 'The One.'

 

During a warm summer day it happened upon a tribe in the grasslands, it circled once, and this time it did not screech. 'The One' was here, Hawk felt it was, so Hawk gradually descended and landed upon a large wooden frame holding tapestry painting made from buffalo hide, and waited.

 

The people of this village were in wonder of this creature and felt blessed to have such a magnificent animal visit them. They all stopped to admire the bird but none dared to approach, except for one boy whose name meant Empty One.

 

Many of the tribe members speculated he had no spirit, that he was no more than an empty shell. They cared for him since his mother died while birthing him, even though he did not talk or smile or show emotion he was a member of the tribe, and they would not shun one of their own.

 

The boy made his way to stand before the frame upon which Hawk was perched. He looked at the bird and the bird at him, each measuring the other, their eyes met, and they searched each other's souls, for the first time in his life the corner of the boy's mouth started to lift in a slight smile, and a single tear rolled down his cheek. Hawk spread its wings and the boy mimicked the actions by spreading his arms, the boy then turned to face the people and took a few steps toward them with his arms still outstretched. Then he stopped, Hawk beat its wings and flew straight at the boy. Just when the bird was about to collide with the boy there was a brilliant flash of light and Hawk screeched for the final time knowing it would be truly home.

 

When the light faded Hawk was no more, but the boy remained, his face turned toward the bright sunlight, tears streaming down his cheeks, a smile full upon his face, and a light within his eyes; a light that was missing before, the light of his spirit, the tribe then renamed the boy "Spirit Hawk."

 

There is a Spirit Hawk meant for all of us; some of us have it and let it fly, some have it within but refuse to let it free, for fear of where it may take them. Others await Hawk's arrival. For those who fear to let it fly, don't. If you allow your Hawk to fly with your spirit you will see heights never before imagined, depths never before realized, and you will see things within yourself and others you never knew existed.

 

It will allow you to see the wonder and magic that still exists in the world around us. For those who await the arrival of your Spirit Hawk, it will find you, and when it does embrace it, and what it stands for. It may come in the form of another person, or it may come from insight within yourself, but it shall find you eventually. To let your spirit soar beyond the flesh and blood, and believe in things you otherwise might not is to truly live and be free.