January 19, 2009 The beginning of a two-week immersion in Pine Ridge, SD.
My day began at 5am, loading a 15 passenger van and setting off for Pine Ridge, SD. It was a quiet trip in a van of strangers. As we drove across the prairie the wind became stronger and stronger creating a physical effort to keep the van on the road. In Mitchel, SD I switched drivers and let my arms have a rest. As we drove I read articles about Pine Ridge and wondered where this little adventure would take us. I also began to pray as each gust swept us across the freeway that we would survive to see the mystery unfold.
Have you ever taken a journey without a plan, itinerary, or any expectation? It's a rare gift to give yourself. I plan to practice being present, listening, and allowing mystery to lead me on. Tomorrow our nation will observe a historic event. I may not be around technology to observe the inauguration live, but I can always go online later. I listened to MLK's "I Have A Dream" speech as I drove out to the rez and wondered about the mystery unfolding in the world's journey of life. So many people traveled east while I traveled west, each to engage an American story unfolding, dreaming, and dying. The path of dismantling racism is far from over, the journey of forgiveness is fraught with the blows of hard winds. Yet, we carry on. And that is a mystery I am thankful for.
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