{"id":424,"date":"2013-01-15T19:16:26","date_gmt":"2013-01-16T01:16:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/?p=424"},"modified":"2013-01-15T19:16:26","modified_gmt":"2013-01-16T01:16:26","slug":"reflections-off-the-rez","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/2013\/01\/15\/reflections-off-the-rez\/","title":{"rendered":"Reflections off the Rez"},"content":{"rendered":"

It has now been three days since leaving the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation of the Lakota Indians. \u00a0The last evening I would have to say held the most meaning to me. \u00a0We were given the opportunity for reflection by Howard. \u00a0I really enjoyed listening to him speak about his experiences and why he decided to come back to the reservation. \u00a0I could feel inside of me the emotions he described during each and every story.<\/p>\n

Now let me back up just a little as well. \u00a0Howard is an artist who does drawings and paintings. \u00a0 His talent is beyond belief. \u00a0One of his pictures really hit me when \"Howard<\/a>I saw it, and I\u00a0immediately\u00a0purchased it. \u00a0This scan does not do the drawing justice. \u00a0It really is best experienced in person. \u00a0Something just hit me about the painting, something I am still feeling but cannot seem to describe. \u00a0The white\u00a0buffalo\u00a0is vary\u00a0sacred\u00a0to the Lakota but in the drawing it is much more than that. \u00a0Take some time and look at this, tell me what you think.<\/p>\n

Back to the conversations with Howard. \u00a0Howard would take long moments to gather his thoughts before speaking. \u00a0This was what I expected after reading some of the books I previously listed in my posts. \u00a0When Howard spoke, you could tell these were words for us to hear, digest and take with us. \u00a0These were not words of idle\u00a0conversation\u00a0but of words of stories that were “life”. \u00a0These stories told of a past way of life and the adaptations to the new ways of life.<\/p>\n

As I reflect upon not only Howard but all the speakers I looked for connections to God. \u00a0Many of our speakers where Christian. \u00a0Their beliefs were similar to my own Christian beliefs. \u00a0There was a large mix of Lakota beliefs as well mixed in. \u00a0The Lakota people both the Christian and traditional spiritual beliefs are all very connected to things in nature. \u00a0Even in Christian services or before hearing from a Lakota elder we did smudging<\/a>,\u00a0which involves the burning of sage, cedar and sweet grass. \u00a0You then take the smoke and move it about your body. \u00a0Things like the\u00a0medicine\u00a0wheel<\/a>\u00a0are also incorporated or parts and ideas of the\u00a0medicine\u00a0wheel <\/a>are in Christian services.<\/p>\n

Even with the traditional Lakota\u00a0beliefs, there are many connections that can be made to my Christian beliefs. \u00a0It is not that they have a Christ figure but looking at the basics of a creator, purpose, love, what God did and does all seem connected to those same beliefs I have. \u00a0No, I am not going to remove my Christian beliefs in place of Lakota’s but I can appreciate their beliefs and how they have incorporated some traditional practices into Christian practices.<\/p>\n

I believe I mentioned in another post, that I planned on coming back out in June to learn more and assist on any projects that I might be able to do while out there. \u00a0While I was speaking with Howard, he mentioned that he had not been out to see the Crazy Horse Memorial<\/a>\u00a0since buildings had been added to the property. \u00a0I told Howard that I would love to go there with him when I come back.<\/p>\n

Near the end of the conversation with all of us, Howard mentioned that he has been on three previous Sun Dances<\/a>. \u00a0He is now 58 years old and will be doing his fourth Sun Dance<\/a> this July. \u00a0Howard on multiple\u00a0occasions\u00a0had said how he wished that we could experience what happens at the Sun Dance<\/a>. \u00a0I spoke to him afterwards and asked him when the Sun Dance was. \u00a0After speaking some more, I have searched my schedule and really want to attend the Sun Dance<\/a>. \u00a0This will be partly\u00a0dependent upon my schedule with starting internship. \u00a0I have asked that my internship starts after this event but I am also open to starting sooner. \u00a0To even be invited to the Sun Dance<\/a>\u00a0is a great honor.<\/p>\n

Where \u00a0God is taking me, I am\u00a0uncertain\u00a0for sure. \u00a0Opportunities are abounding and I have been loving the opportunities that keep getting presented. \u00a0How will what I have seen and all that I hope to see and be part of this summer be part of my ministry? \u00a0I am not sure but I am sure it will be part of it. \u00a0This is not something that I can ignore easily.<\/p>\n

God Bless
\nMay the creator be gracious to you.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It has now been three days since leaving the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation of the Lakota Indians. \u00a0The last evening I would have to say held the most meaning to me. \u00a0We were given the opportunity for reflection by Howard. \u00a0I really enjoyed listening to him speak about his experiences and why he decided to … [Read more…]<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"Reflections off the Rez http:\/\/wp.me\/p2m6h5-6Q","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"entry","1":"post","2":"publish","3":"author-admin","4":"post-424","6":"format-standard","7":"category-spirit"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2m6h5-6Q","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1155,"url":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/2014\/12\/02\/who-are-we\/","url_meta":{"origin":424,"position":0},"title":"Who are we?","author":"Douglas Dill","date":"December 2, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"I think many people have a preconceived notion of just what\/who Native Americans are and how they act. \u00a0These brought on by our inaccurate recorded history, movies, books, articles and news stories. \u00a0I have posted two videos here. One is a news story done by Diane Sawyer did on the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Acceptance"","block_context":{"text":"Acceptance","link":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/category\/acceptance\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/7yl4bD4l_GQ\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":338,"url":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/2013\/01\/04\/feeling-stirred-at-pine-ridge\/","url_meta":{"origin":424,"position":1},"title":"Feeling Stirred at Pine Ridge","author":"Douglas Dill","date":"January 4, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday I visited Lakota College on the Rez. (Reservation). \u00a0The group and I were given an audio history of the Lakota Indians,\u00a0accompanied\u00a0by photographs on the wall of the cultural center. \u00a0While listening to the history, feelings began to stir inside of me. \u00a0I found myself ashamed of my government, angry,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Community"","block_context":{"text":"Community","link":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/category\/community\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/Picture1.jpg?fit=853%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/Picture1.jpg?fit=853%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/Picture1.jpg?fit=853%2C480&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/Picture1.jpg?fit=853%2C480&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1086,"url":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/2014\/10\/30\/who-are-they-we-neighbor\/","url_meta":{"origin":424,"position":2},"title":"Who are They-We are Neighbor?","author":"Douglas Dill","date":"October 30, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"During a class about American Genocide, I was presented with an opportunity to reconsider what I knew to what I have heard about Native Americans. \u00a0What is it that we want to hold onto? \u00a0In response to a particular negative report about Native Americans on the Rose Bud Reservation, a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Acceptance"","block_context":{"text":"Acceptance","link":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/category\/acceptance\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/FhribalNXr7A\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":397,"url":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/2013\/01\/11\/the-final-from-the-rez\/","url_meta":{"origin":424,"position":3},"title":"The final from the Rez","author":"Douglas Dill","date":"January 11, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"We are to leave on Saturday from the retreat at Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota. \u00a0It has been full of emotions and learning. \u00a0Yesterday I developed a head cold. \u00a0I was still able to put some more time into the house we have been working on. \u00a0We also did some\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "communication"","block_context":{"text":"communication","link":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/category\/communication\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/Housing-Project-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/Housing-Project-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/Housing-Project-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/Housing-Project-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/Housing-Project-1.jpg?resize=1050%2C600 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/Housing-Project-1.jpg?resize=1400%2C800 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":391,"url":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/2013\/01\/10\/the-happenings-on-the-rez-j-term\/","url_meta":{"origin":424,"position":4},"title":"The happenings on the Rez J term","author":"Douglas Dill","date":"January 10, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Let me start with the easy stuff. Tuesday we have a few hours to go to the house that several of us have been working on. It is not enough time to finish but we will make another dent and a big one I hope. I understand we will get\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Death"","block_context":{"text":"Death","link":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/category\/death\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"_MG_7565","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/MG_7565-300x200.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":328,"url":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/2013\/01\/02\/thoughts-from-pine-ridge\/","url_meta":{"origin":424,"position":5},"title":"Thoughts from Pine Ridge","author":"Douglas Dill","date":"January 2, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday night my fellow students and I arrived at the Presbyterian-Lutheran retreat located on the Pine Ridge Indian reservation in South Dakota. 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