This week I got to chalk up two more national parks, Yellowstone and a little of the Tetons.  Both were amazing and I will be spending Saturday going deeper into the Teton's National Park, but Yellowstone was everything I expected and more. I can totally understand why so many come to that park every year, as I did my tour I had to laugh as it seemed to be a ton of national parks within the one.  

The buffalo were abundant quite amazing. I got to drive by a huge herd when I drove in and when I drove out as well as having to wait to get into my campsite because one had to check out the trash receptacles. But what amazing animals and probably smarter then people as signs are posted everywhere to keep your distance and I watch some folk go right up to them, crazy! I also go to see a herd of elk and other animals, but unfortunately no bears.

Before I did my doctorate I did a con-ed program with some clergy friends (Tim who I wrote about earlier was in that group) focused on Baptism as renewal. This would have been a great place to have visited for that project with the life emerging and dying and everything in a constant state of change. The Hot Springs were a reminder of destruction as you could see the land that they had claimed the burnt trees sticking out of the sulfur soaked ground but so were the waterfalls and rivers that carved the canyon. It made me think of a question I often get of whether this world is dying and in its last days or if it is still in creation. I am recognizing more that this is not a good question. While there are many traditions focused on the end of times, I am having a harder time to think in a binary way, in fact biblically, if one were to believe in the resurrection, an end is only a beginning and something that will not be the same. 

Nature teaches us this, all we need to do is see the canyons whose land eroded to create something new and amazing. I think this is important because with an acceptance of perpetual birth, rebirth. renewal and reformation we can focus on the lives lived and forego those heresies spouted by so many of what ought to be and living into the far of losing what was because what was already has been and is no more and what ought to be is merely based in the myopic perspective of one who cannot see beyond their own comfort.

My time in South Dakota ended Sunday with one last load of laundry and the midwest staple of Biscuits and Gravy, Luckily we still got out pretty early and on the road to Devils tower, one last stop in the Black Hills, this time in Wyoming. One of the folks I spoke to said that it was the most impressive thing in the Black Hills.  While I may not slap the label most on it, it definitely is up there. This was a great experience, and maybe one of the best for a packed park. while they did not have timed entry they had a stoplight that would let 3-4 cars in at a time. this meant that you did not get stuck in the parking circle of death and the wait in line at the 1/4 mark was only 15 minutes which I thought was great. We got out, but unfortunately we were met with the sign for no dogs so joy got situated back in the car and I did the mile and a half walk around the strange mountain. It was very worth it as like the pathways from my previous post, it was a moment to reflect on the power of God, something that the mountain had inspired to the first people that saw it and the westerners when they finally arrived. And just like the guy who told me I needed to see it in person because photos don't do it justice, I agree. 

On Monday we had another drive day across the state. My van is great but it is not really that fun to drive in high winds, and Tuesday was that mix of high winds and rain, so by the time we made it to the Marry Widow Mine RV park, I was exhausted and joy and I just relaxed to the rushing river behind our campsite.

On Wednesday I explored Butte and the richest hill in America. and then headed out to spend time with Melinda Schell a former member of Westminster who I really enjoyed and who was partially responsible for me coming to Westminster. Like everyone else I reconnected with it has been a delight to spend time learning about her new life in Helena , MT and how she has been able to really get involved in the life of her son and her Grand Children.  Helena itself is amazing, the dog park I took joy to had a view that is to die for, high on a hill that gives a 365 view of all the mountain ranges around Helena. We drove though the town and as Melinda told the stories of Helena and all her church is doing in the community which is amazing. We finished the day with folks from her church at a local bar enjoying beer and doing theology which turned out to be a lot more fun than I was expecting.

Today, I begin the journey to Spokane for Spokane Pride.

After the weekend of Mud, as my mother is referring to it now, I headed west with a night in Minnesota, then Sioux Falls on my way to the Black Hills. I was surprised with how much I  enjoyed my afternoon in Sioux Falls.  The last time I was in the State of South Dakota I was on a mission for my congregation in Sissiton, SD,a reservation just on the boarder of South and North Dakota. For those who know my story this was a pivotal time for me where I was sent out with no real instructions about what to do and with the primary goal of building relationships preparing the way for a congregational mission trip later that year.  I thought about going back that way, but chose not to as the wind and weather really curtailed some of my exploration.  Plus, the person I would want to see the most passed away many years ago. 

Though as I drove into Sioux Falls I remembered the story Sid Byrd told me to teach me about my privilege and the impact that has on others. Sid, was a Lakota man who was raised in the Dakota tribe. He was a victim of the Indian School but fought to keep his identity and as a young man went into the program at the University of Dubuque that was designed for ministry on reservations.  Sid had many stories and myths he told me that summer but one that always stuck was about the name Sioux.  He said when the white men came across they tended to connect with the tribes that were the more amenable. I wish I could remember the tribe they were using, but in their language Sioux was an incredible derogatory word that was used to describe both the Dakota and Lakota people as if they were a singular tribe. He likened it to the connotations of the “N” word. He then went into an explanation of how he identified as a Lakota and how that was different then his Dakota side. He also talked about how this understanding set the Dakota and Lakota people up for more aggression because instead of being seen for who they were they were defined by the people that hated them the most, and the white man never took the time to learn who they were. He then said that was the foundation for what happened at the pine ridge reservation. This would become important in my life especially in the ministry to let people define themselves.

Sioux falls itself I found amazing. I spent the afternoon in Falls Park, the falls that the town was named. I delighted in the Chili Dog and Pabst I had for lunch while sitting on a deck overlooking the falls and listening the the rumble of the water, children playing and birds chirping. The only drawback was that next door to the beautiful park was the Smithfield plant and the wind was blowing the wrong direction.

After Sioux Falls I headed to the Black Hills with the Obligatory stop at Wall Drug. It was worth it, the place had a Dinosaur that eats every 15 minutes and a chapel along with every type of happy crap a tourist would like. From there I made it to Sturgis, thinking I was stopping at the motorcycle museum, I ended up at an Audi museum. It was fascinating the see the cars and Learn how to start a three stroke engine.  I then drove to Deadwood,  but didn’t get out, which the rainclouds forming and not really being into gambling I appreciated the old town but headed 11 mile south of the center of the US to spearfish for a night at Crow Neck Brewery.

On Thursday I was ready for something truly spiritual (See Album Below) and went to Pathways Spiritual Sanctuary. This was one of the most peaceful places I have ever been. Packed with view, journaling stations statuary, Chimes, and so much more this 2 mile walk was an amazing meditation to help they interspersed  inspirational saying that matched the themes.  It was a great thing to do as I came to the end of the first 2 months of this journey. I was able to reflect on where I had been and really think about where I want to go from here.  I also realize that I am getting sick of labels with so much of society wanting to label everything from politics to spirituality to you name it it seems like so many people live to their labels instead of really living to be a whole person. walking through that sanctuary looking at the diversity of quotes, and spiritual expressions It really awakened the reality that when it comes to faith labels don't help being present does. Also I realized that when it comes to faith it is great to enjoy what is happening, but there are times you need to move on to what is next because it too may be life changing. something I am really learning as I make my journey across North America.

While in the Black Hills area I also did the obligatory tourist stuff including the Crazy Horse monument and Mt. Rushmore.  I went to the historic towns of Deadwood, Keystone and Rapid City among others, but aside from Pathways I really lucked into accidentally driving the sonic byway through spearfish canyon. If I did that everyday, I probably would not have high blood pressure anymore!

I left the Black Hills Sunday and Headed to Montana! 

Recording of the Chimes and Wind, Magical!

Photos from the walk