The Little Navajo Girl Herding Sheep on a Bicycle

News of the death of Pfc. Lorie Piestewa in the Iraq War is wrenching for me. Hearing she is a Hopi from Tuba City, Arizona, located on the Navajo Reservation, takes me back to the mid-80's when I camped "under the stars" in a remote area near the Monument Valley visitor center and tourist trail area run by the Navajo. I was with my best friend Tom Stott. We were far enough away, and high above the valley, so we had a panoramic view of the stunning Monument Valley rock formations - a view rarely seen - and we were away from the tourists. On the way we traveled through Tuba City and Kayenta, then took "jeep trails" away from main roads.

Now to the little Navajo girl. As we proceeded along the jeep trail, we saw a herd of sheep ahead. And when we got close, there she was riding behind the sheep on her bicycle and keeping the sheep moving, diverting strays back into the herd, and so on. In short, she was sheep herding on a bicycle and doing an extra good job of it. Our sense of respect for being on special ground, and appreciation for being treated friendly, led us not to take pictures. I don't need a picture. The little Navajo girl herding sheep is present for me every day as one of my most pleasant memories of a lifetime. And I am sad. I am very sad because I think that little girl is now about the age of Lori Piestewa. And I know that Lori is killed in war. And on my wall hangs a gold and silver plate with a dove over Jerusalem, with a "Shalom" in English on one wing, and a "Shalom" in Hebrew on the other wing - and around the plate are the words, in English and Hebrew: "Nation shall not lift sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." (Isaiah 2:4) Speaking as a member of mankind, I grieve that we are so far from this ideal. I want to go every day where little Navajo girls herd sheep on bicycles. It is so peaceful there.