American Experience: Geronimo( continued)

One of the most spiritually significant moments in Geronimo's life happened immediately after his family was murdered, and he headed deep into Chiricahua Country. Geronimo said he had buried his head in his hands and was crying when he heard a voice call out nowhere "No gun will ever kill you. I will take the bullets from the guns of the Mexicans, and I will guide your arrows". It was at this specific moment where Geronimo is said to be given his "Power". The concept of 'power' is fundamental to Apache belief. Power is everywhere and is contained in different forms Upon hearing this, Geronimo headed back to his people and gathered with tribal leaders to ask permission to avenge the Mexican soldiers who took the lives of his closest loved ones. Geronimo took two hundred men and laid waste to so many Mexican soldiers that Mexicans feared the name of Geronimo from that time onward. Though Geronimo was a great warrior, he was never destined to be a chief. In the eyes of the Apache, he was too impulsive, fretful, vengeful. The careful decision making that the Apaches relied upon their elders for did not fit well with Geronimo's temperament and personality. Geronimo's rash decision making sometimes had disastrous effects for other Apache who did not wish to rebel like he did against the Americans.