july_16

St. Catherine's Youth Pilgrimage
July 13 - 21, 2001

Monday, July 16

Today was a day that didn’t work as we thought it might. There must be those days on pilgrimage.

Julia was due in at the airport at 10:30 AM but missed her flight in Denver and didn’t get in until 12:45. We had a short picnic and then went to the Journey Museum. The museum gave us an opportunity to see in overview the history and legacy of this land.
We spent most of the afternoon in the museum and then made our way home. Many of us found ourselves disturbed by the
hustle and bustle of Rapid City and longing to be back at the quiet of the ranch. We talked about the tourist experience of this
most holy of lands as opposed to our experience as pilgrims.

The pilgrimage is beginning to take shape as we learn what it means to live in community for the week. Our actions as individuals really do have an impact on all of the community, but the way we live often ignores this point.

We are starting to deal with these issues and it feels good and not so good. The Lakota tradition speaks of and values respect for the elder and we’ve really had some good encounters with that teaching.

Tonight as we sat around the camp fire in reflection time I realized that there is so much going on with these kids and with us as
adults. The pilgrimage is about encountering those going ons. Pray for us that we might listen to God and to one another as we
struggle to be honest and forthright with one another.

The sky is ablaze with stars tonight. The wonder of it all is hard for us to take in. We are about to find our way back to the top of Flag Mountain to encounter a God who is always more willing and able to encounter us than we are to encounter him.

The pasture outside our log cabin takes on a surreal look in the early morning.

The kids have fallen in love with the horses – “holy dogs” as the Lakota people call them. They are so strong and beautiful. Killing time at Dinosaur Park while waiting for Julia’s flight.

We picnic together in the park outside the Journey Museum. We’re ready to enter the Journey Museum.
Nick and Tyler check out the “housing arrangements” of the Lakota people during their visit to the Journey Museum.

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The pasture outside our log cabin takes on a surreal look in the early morning.	The kids have fallen in love with the horses – “holy dogs” as the Lakota people call them. They are so strong and beautiful.	Killing time at Dinosaur Park while waiting for Julia’s flight.
We picnic together in the park outside the Journey Museum.	We’re ready to enter the Journey Museum.	Nick and Tyler check out the “housing arrangements” of the Lakota people during their visit to the Journey Museum.