South Dakota and the Black Hills

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! 

Pathways Spiritual Sanctuary

Recording of the Chimes and Wind, Magical!

Photos from the walk