Deacon 11: Who Owns the Land?

As the first chords of Paul Revere and the Raider’s song, «Cherokee People» blasted through the sound system, I realised that he would speak something true, something transcendental, and perhaps something tragic…

Who owns the land? Well, the correct response would be nobody, but let us not be naïve. All land is owned by somebody, and if you ever stumble across land that is not, tell me about it. If it isn’t held by private hands, the land is in the hands of the government. Governments of all countries own the land just like kings used to own the land in previous times. After all that is why they still call it Real Estate.

So the question is: Should the land be owned by governments and people? In the Holy Bible, the Old Testament, the book of Leviticus (25:23) says: «The land shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine; for you are strangers and sojourners with Me.» This is spoken by God one supposes but it was actually written by Moses. Then, in the book of Psalms, Psalm 24:1 says: «The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein.» This Psalm was written by David, who wrote many of the Psalms. Then Saint Matthew wrote the words of Jesus, who said: «Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the Earth.» (Matt. 5:5).

What this says to me is that we are placed as stewards of the land, we are tenants, not owners and we should treat the land with respect. The land is what gives us life and supports our existence. We might think that because we are born in a country, (everyone is born somewhere yet no one has ever been able to choose the country one is born in), that the country belongs to us. This is a principle of nationalism that leads to chauvinism and war. Not a very positive position to take.

The Earth, as the land in which we live, belongs to God. We are placed here for a purpose. The purpose is debateable, because no one can really say why we are here. We simply exist here because we have been given the gift of life, that is why we breathe and live. But we are surrounded by other life forms, many, plants and animals also have been given the gift of life and they thrive. So I take this as a divine example of sharing the land, not just with our fellow man, but with the animals and plants.

Chief Yellow Lark, a Lakota Indian wrote a magnificent poem/prayer back in 1887 that I truly love and it also addresses issues concerning the land. He says that he wishes his hands would respect the things God (The Great Spirit) has made and also asks for wisdom to learn the things, the wisdom, that God has spread all over the land. In any event, I will share the entire poem/prayer with you here.

Oh, Great Spirit,
whose voice I hear in the winds
and whose breath gives life to all the world, hear me.
I am small and weak.
I need your strength and wisdom.

Let me walk in beauty and make my eyes
ever behold the red and purple sunset.
Make my hands respect the things you have made
and my ears sharp to hear your voice.
Make me wise so that I may understand
the things you have taught my people.
Let me learn the lessons you have hidden
in every leaf and rock.

I seek strength, not to be superior to my brother,
but to fight my greatest enemy – myself.
Make me always ready to come to you
with clean hands and straight eyes,
so when life fades, as the fading sunset,
my spirit will come to you
without shame.

The land of America (and when I say America I am referring to the continent which stretches from the northern part of Canada to the southern parts of Argentina) was the land of the Indians. They held land, sold land, but never thought they were actually selling the land, simply the ability and the right to use it for life and gain…

Pride should come not from being from a land (a country) but from being a good steward of the same. Pride should come from humility, dedication, duty and knowledge. Lamentably nowadays in many countries we see the concept of pride blasted from the mouths of many who do, and are, absolutely the opposite.