The Hopi Elders Prayer from Oraibi, Arizona inspires us to look within ourselves to find new ways to live harmoniously with our brothers and sisters. Here’s the Prayer:

You have been telling people that this is the Eleventh Hour, now you must go back and tell the people that this is the Hour. Hi I And there are things to be considered…

Where are you living?

What are you doing?

What are your relationships?

Are you in right relation?

Where is your water?

Know your garden.

It is time to speak your truth.

Create your community.

Be good to each other.

And do not look outside yourself for your leader.

Then he clasped his hands together, smiled, and said, “This could be a good time! There is a river flowing now very fast. It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid. They will try to hold on to the shore. They will feel they are being torn apart and will suffer greatly. Know the river has its destination. The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of the river, keep our eyes open, and our heads above the water.

And I say, see who is in there with you and celebrate. At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally, least of all ourselves. For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey come to a halt.

The time of the one lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves! Banish the word ’struggle’ from your attitude and your vocabulary. All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.

We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.

—Hopi Elders’ Prophecy, June 8, 2000

Hopi Elders’ Prophecy is our prayer too. We live in a world where we are called to answer the call.  Around the world today, there are rising social, political, economic and environmental issues, threatening the progress of humanity. We face war, corruption, unemployment, poverty, famine, illiteracy, climate change and the list goes.

Honestly, when I hear of all the problems that our world faces today, I have doubts that things will ever get better. You may have had this same feeling. But then, should we sit, fold our hands and do nothing when there are others who are blind and crippled? If we stand together, many things that seem impossible can be achieved. I quite agree. Many people think that the poor and those in need will not become better because of our little help. Therefore, they do nothing for them. However, if everyone in the world offers such ‘little’ help, the world will be changed a lot. When we see that we are the ones called for each other, for the common good of all, for the world around us and utilize our gifts for the good of all, we also inspire others to do the same.

During these journey of life with those in your community or circle of healing, you will inevitably run into some rough spots, but as you struggle, ask yourself the question “How can I be a source of hope here?” You may be surprised how a simple gesture of love  and kindness can diffuse tension and repair strained relationships. Where do you find love and compassion?

I believe no matter where you live, or what your circumstances, we all have our daily sufferings and our pain. Whether it is emotional, physical or spiritual pain, love and compassion are always a balm to the body and the soul. We can have compassion for oneself, for other people, for the environment, for animals, for a life condition or illness – in fact whenever your heart responds to pain and suffering – you are called to be compassionate. In other words, you are being called to act in a way that relieves suffering because at its heart, compassion, hope and love are not passive but active agents in the world. Love, hope and compassion calls us to reach us to one another: to join and not separate; to see unity and not division.

“We are the ones we’ve been waiting for” is more than just a song or statement. It is a global call to acknowledge that united we stand and divided we fall. Therefore, we must hold together as one. It is a reminder that we are social beings and we cannot survive on our own. “We are the ones we’ve been waiting for” is a reminder to open our ears and hearts, when we hear a certain call. It is a reminder to extend a helping hand. “We are the ones we’ve been waiting for” reminds us that the world is our responsibility. 

We must take care of the earth and protect it. Despite our religious, cultural, political, economic and gender differences, we are children of the world. Therefore, we are brothers and sisters. We must stick together. We must love, respect and protect one another.In the midst of our fears and doubts, “We are the ones we’ve been waiting for” reminds us that there is hope. We are one big family. We’re the ones called to write a new story — one that I hope embodies some of the same beliefs in human ingenuity and determination, leavened act of recognizing that the other person IS your own kind. sobriety about our failings thus far, more rapture for the beauty of smallness, and more focus on the collective, as opposed to the individual, project of making a life worthwhile. I wonder if you have received a calling in your life to do something, to go on a mission, to support to someone and during this time you have felt a nudge to step away. This nudge has probably kept us at bay; relentlessly asking, constantly searching, always doubting, never sure, forever waiting. It tells us fulfillment comes from someone, something, or someplace else.