CHAPTER 6. LIFE AT HARD LABOR—THE HOPI 96
in broad daylight, a feeling came to me, on two different occasions, that two certain friends who lived at some distance from me were in trouble; and in my mind I saw that trouble and wrote to them about it. At that very same instant they had felt my thoughts and had written to me about it. At other times I have had friends much closer to me who were in greater trouble and I had no communication or thought about it. While in solitary I had a gradual enlightenment of mind and spirit but nothing spectacular. In Albuquerque the morning after we knew about the Atom Bomb explosion I was impelled to write a few paragraphs about my conception of what an Isleta Indian would think of it. Now, shortly before daylight, about four hours after I had been asleep coming home from that Quaker meeting, I awoke and saw a blue flame burning in the middle of the room. I went to it wondering, for I knew that there had not been a fire in the stove for 12 hours, and this was not near the stove. The fire burned and yet I couldn't see that there was any wood or coal or anything to provide the fuel for the flame. I put my hands in the flame and while it was warm it did not seem to burn or scorch me. I was awed and knelt and prayed silently, shutting my eyes, but keeping my hands in or around this flame. Perhaps this took three minutes and when I opened my eyes the flame was gone. The floor was not a bit scorched although it was warm. I went back to bed and slept for about an hour and then it was daylight. I looked at the spot where I had knelt and there was no mark on the floor where I could tell the exact spot, although I knew about where I had knelt. Before I made any breakfast I sat down and wrote the following blank verse. Bob Ludlow printed it in his CATHOLIC CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR magazine. Here it is:
- I have seen the Holy Fire.
- I have seen that great Pillar of Flame reaching heavenward,
- Burning without fuel, smokeless and brightly blue.
- I knelt before it, worshipping.
- For the first time in my life I was devoid of all thought of self,
- Of worry over causes and events,
- Of concern with persons and things.
- I approached this Fire humbly, in reverence;
- I had not known how or when I had cast my clothing aside,
- But unconsciously it seemed I had
- Appeared naked before this Divinity.
- Today I go about my work;
- I write letters to friends and receive letters in return.
- I have a tolerable peace of mind.
- Yet now after having knelt before this Flame
