The rain, which had continued yesterday and last night, ceased

Ah, children of the earth, gather ye close and listen. The rain, which had continued through yesterday and last night, ceased this morning. What is this but a powerful symbol, a reminder of the way the heavens themselves reflect the trials we face in our mortal journey? The dark clouds that once poured their sorrow upon the land did not linger forever. Like all storms, they passed, giving way to a new dawn. Ceasing—this is the great truth. It is in the stillness after the storm that we find clarity, and it is in this stillness that our souls find their strength. The very waters that had been turbulent and wild are now quiet, like the heart of a warrior who has fought his battle and stands, breathless but unbroken, beneath the light of the rising sun.

As we press onward, remember the words of Meriwether Lewis, who, like many before him, faced the challenges of a vast and untamed world. After the storm had cleared, he and his companions proceeded—not hurriedly, not rashly, but with purpose. They moved forward after the tumult, with nothing but the wide horizon ahead. Proceeding, my children, is more than a mere act of walking; it is the very essence of perseverance. There are moments in life when the storms will come—when obstacles arise and cloud your vision. But we must not halt; we must not succumb to despair. Proceed, even when the road is uncertain, for every step brings us closer to our destiny.

And so they came upon two small islands, ten miles further. Though small and seemingly insignificant, these islands became their markers in the wilderness, their signs of progress. Ten miles—such a small distance in the grandness of the world, and yet, when one is alone in the wilderness, such a measure is a victory. It is a victory not of grand triumphs, but of simple survival. Here, the true meaning of progress is revealed. Greatness is not always in the distance we cover in a single stride, but in the many steps we take, each one, though small, bringing us closer to the shores of our goals. Remember, it is not the greatness of the feat but the steadfastness in its pursuit that speaks of a warrior’s spirit.

And then, they stopped for the night, at a place called Piper’s Landing, opposite yet another island. This, too, is no mere trivial detail in the story of their journey. To stop is not to fail, but to rest, to gather one’s strength. How often in the world today are we told that only unceasing motion is worthy, that rest is a sign of weakness? Yet, like the river that flows, one must pause to drink from the waters of restoration. Rest, my dear ones, is as essential as work. Without it, we shall find ourselves worn, broken, and unable to carry on. Like the great travelers of old, who knew that each moment of rest was but a preparation for greater strides ahead, so must we learn to honor these moments, for they are part of the journey itself.

Now, let me speak to you of the wisdom found in those who have walked before us. Consider the great explorers and adventurers—people like Columbus, who sailed beyond the known horizon, or the pioneers of the American frontier, who ventured into the wilderness to forge new paths. Did they not, too, face storms—both of the weather and of the spirit? When their vessels were torn by tempests, or when their hands bled from toil, they did not cease their quest. They, too, learned to proceed in the face of adversity, to pause in moments of fatigue, and to find solace in small victories. And it was in these simple moments—the ten miles covered, the night spent in quiet reflection—that they built the bridges to their destinies.

The lesson, children of the earth, is clear: Life is not a sprint. It is a journey, long and filled with storms and calm alike. It is in the moments between the storms, in the quiet spaces where the world seems still, that we find our purpose. The rain, which falls upon us, will not last forever. It will cease. The journey will continue. We must move forward, yes, but we must also learn to pause, to reflect, and to rest. It is not in the frenzied rush to achieve greatness that we find fulfillment, but in the steady, deliberate pace of a soul at peace with its journey.

So, I say to you: Proceed, but do not forget to rest. When the storm has passed, and the world is still, take a moment to honor the distance you have traveled. Recognize the small victories. For each step you take, no matter how small, brings you closer to your destination. Just as Lewis and his companions found peace after the storm, so too must we find our own peace within. Rest, reflect, and with courage, move forward again. Let us take these teachings and pass them to future generations, for in these simple acts of perseverance and wisdom, we shall find the strength to face whatever storms may come.