Mount Rushmore Crazy Horse Memorial
The Black Hills of South Dakota are renowned for being good sculpture
material. Most people have heard of Mt. Rushmore, where the colossal granite
portraits of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and
Abraham Lincoln have been carved into the top of the mountain. But did you know
that not far away from Mt. Rushmore is another mountain being carved into a
monument?
Right after World War II, Korczak Ziolkowski received an invitation from the
North American Indian authorities to carve a memorial dedicated to a famous
Indian, Crazy Horse. He quickly took their dream to heart and made it his
passion. The chosen site was in the Black Hills, just a few miles from Mt.
Rushmore, and beginning in 1947, Korczak worked diligently on this project until
his death in 1982.
Throughout this time, the dream grew until it not only embraced the colossal
sculpture carved into the mountain, but also the development, at its base, of
the Indian Museum of North America, and eventually the Indian University (and
Medical Training Center) of North America.
But carving a mountain is a monumental task, no pun intended, and unlike Mt.
Rushmore, which was publicly funded and was carved by hundreds of workers,
Korczak had no money and he worked alone. At the time of his death, only a rough
outline of his carving could be seen in the mountain. He had a large family (5
sons and 5 daughters) however, and following his death, seven of his children
decided to continue his dream.
Today, the head of Crazy Horse, as well as part of his right arm, can be clearly
seen. Once finished, this colossal monument will stand 563 feet high and 641
feet long, far surpassing the size of Mount Rushmore, where the carvings are 60
feet tall. This monument-under-construction will serve as a constant reminder
that North America is not only the land of the Europeans who arrived in the 16th
Century, but more importantly, it is the land of its native people.
Who was this Crazy Horse? He was a courageous Indian strategist who furiously
defended the rights of his people. He was a caring man who had at heart the
interest of the widows, the ill, and the children. After the white man had taken
away his ancestral land, he was asked where his lands were now. His response?
"My lands are where my dead lie buried." The North American Indians couldn't
have chosen a better representative for this monument.
Both Crazy Horse and Korczak Ziolkowski left a legacy that will always be
remembered. But in all reality, we all leave a legacy. Some are perhaps more
significant than others, some are better remembered than others, and some are
definitely more negative than others; but we all leave a legacy!
It is sad how fast we tend to forget our ancestors and what they once stood for.
When you read Genesis 5, you see that Adam's descendants are solely remembered
by the sons and daughters they gave birth to. All except for Enoch. And Noah.
Enoch walked so closely with God that His Heavenly Father took him directly into
heaven (see verse 24), and Noah's obedience to God is legendary!
Only the firm, dedicated followers of God and His Son Jesus will be remembered
for all eternity. Why? Because they become sons and daughters of the Most High.
"I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord
Almighty." (2 Cor 6:18 NIV); "You are all sons of God through faith in Christ
Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with
Christ." (Gal 3:26-27 NIV); "Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his
Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." So you are no
longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an
heir." (Gal 4:6-7 NIV)
What is it that your descendants will remember you for? Will they remember you
as a caring, loving and thoughtful individual? Or as a self-seeking, egotistical
scrooge? What will be your epitaph on your tomb? My desire would be for mine to
read: "He found God's grace too amazing to keep it to Himself."
Do you have a hill for sale by any chance?
Rob Chaffart
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
messages. HTML and plain text versions available.
The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.