What does it mean to be a Christian? I was asked the other day what is a Christian? I hear various versions of this question all the time. Questions like: “is that Christian?” Usually, this question is behavior related. Or there are expectations of what a Christian should be, do or say. Normally these expectations ..read more

One of the things I do when I visit churches is share stories of life on the reservation.  Often, I am asked to give the sermon or message for the day during worship. I always bring in the lessons for the day and tell stories about life on the reservation. And we have some wonderful ..read more

I love to share the stories of this place. The stories of growth. The stories of joy. The successes. Even some of the failures. But there are stories I can not share. In some ways, they are the stories that will stick with me. Yhey are the things that give me nightmares. The pain, the ..read more

There is something peaceful about moving water. I can sit beside moving water for hours. There is wonder in the stars. Looking up into a moonledd night and seeing all the stars makes me wonder. I wonder if we are alone in the universe. There is a sense of awe when I am in the ..read more

July 1, 2020, changed my life. It is the day I became the Director of the Pine Ridge Reconciliation Center. On July 8th, I arrived on the reservation. As I look back at all the changes that have occurred at the center in the four years I have been here, I am in awe of ..read more

I had very high hopes for the job corp mentoring program.  We started it to give young adults a foundation to build from. We have had an influx of 18 an 19 year olds at the shelter. Worse yet, it was the families that dropped their kids off. One kid was told by his step ..read more

Four years ago, on July 1st, 2020, I became the director of the Pineridgereconciliationcenter.org I arrived in South Dakota on July 7th. The tribe had declared a 72 hour lock down while I was traveling west from St Louis. I spent a night in Hot Springs. The next morning on July 8th I picked up South Dakota license plates and traveled to the reservation.  I arrived unloaded what little I had brought with me in my truck. I settled into a two week quarantine. Fortunately, I had support to pick up food as needed and even take away the trash. The hardest part was the isolation. I want to get t ..read more

I love my job. I love knowing that every single day I, with the help of my incredible staff, will make a difference. Every day, we help to provide help, which we hope provides hope. Every week The center:  provides 21+ meals. Equips 7 support groups to help provide healing. Thousands of cups of coffee are given away. Hundreds of loads of laundry.  Clean new socks, underware, and other clothing are handled out. Hours of comfort away from scorching heat or freezing cold. Help is given to acquire ID’S l, Social security cards, and other documents.  Guidance is offered to help work ..read more

Growing up, there was a belief that children should be seen but not heard. In watching period piece TV shows the Servants are expected to be invisible unless they are spoken to. I feel like a servant. As long as I am needed, I am seen.  I am wanted. But after I am done helping, I no longer matter. As long as people get want, they want they see me. But after that, I no longer matter. I am invisible.  Or if I have the nerve to question their choices to ask hard questions, I get turned off. Back into the closest until I tell them what they want to hear. Not seen, heard, or wanted until ..read more

The night I proposed to Jackie, I took her to a nice dinner at a resort at Disney World. It was the only night we took without the kids. As such it was the only night we had a drink. At dinner, we had a great waitress.  She was excited to hear that I worked in a church and that we had met at the church. (Yay Holy Cross) That is until I ordered a glass of wine with my dinner. She was shocked.  I had gone against her expectations of a church person.  Her whole attitude toward me changed. She could not believe a Christian, let alone a church worker, would drink. Living into or up t ..read more