WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.960 --> 00:00:02.921 Hey, good afternoon, Pastor Becky. 2 00:00:02.962 --> 00:00:03.922 Afternoon, Pastor Joel. 3 00:00:06.966 --> 00:00:09.928 What, what people, uh, will not 4 00:00:09.969 --> 00:00:12.931 know, except that now I'm telling them, is that I've 5 00:00:13.973 --> 00:00:16.935 had just some major technical issues 6 00:00:17.977 --> 00:00:20.980 all day, and actually the last couple days with Zoom. 7 00:00:20.980 --> 00:00:23.942 And so, um, if you're feeling bad about, 8 00:00:24.984 --> 00:00:27.946 oh, I'm just not very technically savvy, Pastor Becky 9 00:00:27.987 --> 00:00:29.989 was saying like, oh, well, Joel, you're savvy. 10 00:00:29.989 --> 00:00:31.950 I'm like, oh, I am failing so bad today, right? 11 00:00:33.993 --> 00:00:34.953 It just... 12 00:00:36.996 --> 00:00:38.957 Those days happen. 13 00:00:38.957 --> 00:00:40.959 It's like a, uh, testament or the 14 00:00:41.960 --> 00:00:44.921 same way things happen with day-to-day 15 00:00:44.963 --> 00:00:46.923 life and with ministry. 16 00:00:46.965 --> 00:00:47.924 Like... 17 00:00:47.966 --> 00:00:49.926 It's an example. 18 00:00:49.968 --> 00:00:51.928 Oh, exactly right. 19 00:00:52.971 --> 00:00:55.932 Well, so, um, I, I don't know exactly when 20 00:00:55.974 --> 00:00:58.935 this conversation will, will, uh, go out into the world. 21 00:01:00.144 --> 00:01:03.105 And it's March 14th, Saturday, March 14th 22 00:01:03.105 --> 00:01:06.066 day, and we're all waiting across the state for this 23 00:01:06.108 --> 00:01:08.068 blizzard to hit. 24 00:01:08.569 --> 00:01:12.531 Uh, how's how's it looking out there in Rapid City, Pastor Becky? 25 00:01:12.531 --> 00:01:15.493 So right now, yeah, it was just dense fog and it's like we're 26 00:01:15.534 --> 00:01:19.497 awaiting the snow coming in and, uh, 27 00:01:20.539 --> 00:01:23.501 churches are wondering, when do they 28 00:01:23.542 --> 00:01:24.502 make that call? 29 00:01:24.543 --> 00:01:28.506 Uh, depending on their location and the 30 00:01:28.547 --> 00:01:31.509 path of the storm out in this 31 00:01:31.550 --> 00:01:32.510 area as well too. 32 00:01:32.551 --> 00:01:36.514 So it's it's almost like this anticipation waiting game. 33 00:01:36.555 --> 00:01:39.517 I get this little glee about a possible snow 34 00:01:40.559 --> 00:01:43.521 day because we haven't really had a lot of them, but then 35 00:01:43.562 --> 00:01:46.524 also like out here on this day, like that hope. 36 00:01:46.565 --> 00:01:50.528 knowing that there are places that are dealing with that fire. 37 00:01:50.528 --> 00:01:52.488 Forest fires. 38 00:01:52.697 --> 00:01:55.658 Places like in Custer, Custer Lutheran Fellowship 39 00:01:55.658 --> 00:01:59.620 or they're really jumping in to help out their community and, 40 00:02:00.663 --> 00:02:03.624 um, anticipating, you know, what can they 41 00:02:03.666 --> 00:02:06.627 do to care for those who might be displaced and evacuated? 42 00:02:07.879 --> 00:02:10.840 Yeah, and we've of course, 43 00:02:10.882 --> 00:02:13.843 well, you you know, well, uh, your work as a 44 00:02:13.885 --> 00:02:16.846 rural ministry ambassador out uh, in the Bear Butte 45 00:02:16.846 --> 00:02:19.807 Conference, West River, you know a lot of those places, and so I'm 46 00:02:20.850 --> 00:02:22.810 glad we get to, to chat right now. 47 00:02:22.852 --> 00:02:25.813 Um, This is a long time 48 00:02:25.855 --> 00:02:28.816 coming, a goal I had when The 49 00:02:29.859 --> 00:02:32.820 1st ambassadors started, which was now just a 50 00:02:32.862 --> 00:02:33.821 little over a year ago. 51 00:02:33.863 --> 00:02:37.825 Um, you and the other ambassadors 52 00:02:37.867 --> 00:02:39.827 started January of 2025. 53 00:02:39.869 --> 00:02:42.830 And my goal had been to do 54 00:02:42.872 --> 00:02:45.833 these little interviews with each of you and to kind 55 00:02:45.875 --> 00:02:49.837 of, because we were building the plane while we were already flying it. 56 00:02:49.879 --> 00:02:52.840 And, and those, 57 00:02:52.882 --> 00:02:54.842 we just, I just never found the time. 58 00:02:54.884 --> 00:02:58.846 Um, and so, uh, part 59 00:02:58.846 --> 00:03:01.807 of the reason why I wanted to have this with you this 60 00:03:01.849 --> 00:03:05.811 week is that this is actually your last week as 61 00:03:05.811 --> 00:03:08.814 a rule ministry ambassador, because you are moving on to, 62 00:03:08.856 --> 00:03:11.817 uh, what sounds like a really interesting and 63 00:03:11.859 --> 00:03:15.821 lovely call where you're going to be interim pastor 64 00:03:15.863 --> 00:03:18.824 for Lutheran Memorial in Pier, right? 65 00:03:18.866 --> 00:03:20.826 Correct, correct. 66 00:03:20.868 --> 00:03:21.827 All right. 67 00:03:21.827 --> 00:03:23.829 Yeah, up to a possible two-year. 68 00:03:23.871 --> 00:03:25.831 Uh, interim, long term. 69 00:03:26.874 --> 00:03:27.833 So, yeah. 70 00:03:29.877 --> 00:03:32.838 Um, get ready, you know, go keep continue the 71 00:03:32.880 --> 00:03:35.841 work that they've been doing in their transition time and then get ready for 72 00:03:35.883 --> 00:03:37.843 what works for them. 73 00:03:38.886 --> 00:03:39.845 So, yeah. 74 00:03:39.845 --> 00:03:42.807 So adapting, like rural ambassador, I learned a 75 00:03:42.848 --> 00:03:46.811 lot about adapting to the needs and the 76 00:03:46.852 --> 00:03:49.814 changes, like sometimes, like, I'm not a plane person, 77 00:03:49.855 --> 00:03:52.817 but I think, well, like building the plane as we go, we had, somehow, 78 00:03:52.858 --> 00:03:53.818 sometimes we have to change the model. 79 00:03:53.859 --> 00:03:57.822 The planes, you know, like a restart. 80 00:03:57.863 --> 00:04:00.825 And like moving into this 81 00:04:00.866 --> 00:04:03.828 new thing, it wasn't because I didn't like what I was doing. 82 00:04:03.869 --> 00:04:06.831 I actually really appreciated that, but I 83 00:04:06.872 --> 00:04:08.833 think this is kind of grown out of that. 84 00:04:08.874 --> 00:04:11.836 So, it's, It is, like, 85 00:04:11.877 --> 00:04:14.839 the needs out in Bear Butte have been 86 00:04:14.880 --> 00:04:16.841 different than other places that the ambassadors are. 87 00:04:16.882 --> 00:04:20.845 And so, it's just trying to connect where 88 00:04:20.845 --> 00:04:24.807 those needs are for congregations and then for uh, 89 00:04:24.849 --> 00:04:28.811 roster leaders and, you know, like I just met this 90 00:04:28.853 --> 00:04:31.814 last week with 2 vicars that are serving and 91 00:04:31.856 --> 00:04:34.817 had conversations with them and just talking through 92 00:04:34.859 --> 00:04:37.820 what ministry is like, what their next 93 00:04:37.862 --> 00:04:40.823 steps are, what their needs are, you 94 00:04:40.865 --> 00:04:43.826 know, and they're both, you know, both doing well. 95 00:04:43.868 --> 00:04:44.827 So it's just, 96 00:04:44.869 --> 00:04:47.830 There's just a lot of changes and it's like, 97 00:04:47.872 --> 00:04:51.834 and you never know what the week will look like, really. 98 00:04:52.710 --> 00:04:55.671 There's there's a couple of, uh, threads there that I 99 00:04:55.671 --> 00:04:57.631 want to pull on a little bit. 100 00:04:57.673 --> 00:05:00.634 Um, One is the 101 00:05:00.676 --> 00:05:02.636 fact that all of the ambassadors. 102 00:05:02.678 --> 00:05:05.639 You've all embodied the role 103 00:05:05.681 --> 00:05:06.640 differently, right? 104 00:05:06.682 --> 00:05:09.643 And I think that's actually a strength, but it's, then it 105 00:05:09.685 --> 00:05:12.646 also becomes a little bit hard to define what an ambassador is 106 00:05:12.688 --> 00:05:15.649 because it's somewhat how each 107 00:05:15.691 --> 00:05:18.652 of us embody the role and the needs of 108 00:05:19.695 --> 00:05:22.656 the local community, right, of the people, 109 00:05:22.698 --> 00:05:24.658 because we don't all live in the same place. 110 00:05:24.700 --> 00:05:27.661 And so I think that's 111 00:05:27.703 --> 00:05:31.665 a strength, but then it becomes a little harder to define what it is. 112 00:05:31.707 --> 00:05:34.668 And I think maybe one of the things I want to talk about here 113 00:05:34.668 --> 00:05:38.630 for the rest of the synod as they listen in, is 114 00:05:38.672 --> 00:05:41.633 the fact that there's this kind of openness to what it can be. 115 00:05:41.675 --> 00:05:44.636 And for you, one of the things I really valued is how 116 00:05:44.678 --> 00:05:48.640 you spent so much time with, um, uh, 117 00:05:48.682 --> 00:05:51.643 seminarians who are doing contextual learning, uh, out 118 00:05:51.685 --> 00:05:54.646 in the Bear Butte Conference, uh, uh, those 119 00:05:54.688 --> 00:05:57.649 vicars that you were just mentioning that you were 120 00:05:57.691 --> 00:06:00.652 really the person, the ambassador who is most closely tied 121 00:06:01.695 --> 00:06:04.698 to the rural ministry immersion for seminarians 122 00:06:04.698 --> 00:06:07.659 program, which is also part of what's funded by the, 123 00:06:07.701 --> 00:06:10.662 the, the Lily Grant that we've received, the journeying together in 124 00:06:10.704 --> 00:06:11.663 Christ initiative, that that 125 00:06:12.706 --> 00:06:15.667 really is you doing a lot of that. 126 00:06:15.709 --> 00:06:18.670 And so, And people don't maybe know that, right? 127 00:06:18.670 --> 00:06:21.632 About that, that, that, 128 00:06:21.673 --> 00:06:24.635 that you took on those roles and, and from 129 00:06:24.676 --> 00:06:27.638 our, earlier conversation that I think you, I, I don't know 130 00:06:27.679 --> 00:06:29.640 if you, I know that you felt called to that work, right? 131 00:06:30.682 --> 00:06:31.642 That, yeah. 132 00:06:31.683 --> 00:06:34.645 I really I really appreciate that part of it. 133 00:06:34.686 --> 00:06:38.649 Like, um, just being supportive 134 00:06:38.690 --> 00:06:42.653 and, uh, helping 135 00:06:42.694 --> 00:06:45.656 the, them in their practical 136 00:06:45.697 --> 00:06:49.660 ministry time as well as, They need to study. 137 00:06:50.702 --> 00:06:53.664 Classes, they need to study. 138 00:06:53.705 --> 00:06:56.667 I mean, they're doing, and then they have things in their personal life. 139 00:06:56.667 --> 00:06:58.669 So they're learning right away how to balance 140 00:06:59.670 --> 00:07:02.631 ministry and, 141 00:07:02.673 --> 00:07:05.634 um, family and and all those things all together. 142 00:07:06.677 --> 00:07:09.638 And it's been fun to see the congregations working with 143 00:07:09.680 --> 00:07:12.641 them when the congregations are like, you know, I'd get a phone call 144 00:07:12.683 --> 00:07:15.644 and be like, you know, we think our vicar is doing too much. 145 00:07:15.644 --> 00:07:17.646 Like, we love it, but, you know, we know they're a 146 00:07:18.689 --> 00:07:21.650 student 1st and it's like, ding, ding, ding, you got it. 147 00:07:21.692 --> 00:07:22.651 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 148 00:07:22.693 --> 00:07:24.653 Oh, that's great. 149 00:07:24.695 --> 00:07:27.656 Oh, see, I mean, so the, just 150 00:07:28.699 --> 00:07:31.660 the fact that I, that I, I want people to hear 151 00:07:31.702 --> 00:07:34.663 that about what a great kind of 152 00:07:34.705 --> 00:07:37.666 thing that is to, to have the synod be able to 153 00:07:37.708 --> 00:07:40.669 have these roles and that each of you as ambassadors 154 00:07:40.669 --> 00:07:41.628 have taken on different things. 155 00:07:42.671 --> 00:07:45.632 And so I, There's part of me that wants to 156 00:07:45.674 --> 00:07:48.635 talk about all the other ambassadors right now too, because they're doing really good things too, 157 00:07:48.677 --> 00:07:51.638 but that just means that I actually have to have conversations with them 158 00:07:51.680 --> 00:07:54.641 for another episode of Post on the Road, right? 159 00:07:54.683 --> 00:07:57.644 Um, uh, to, to see how 160 00:07:57.686 --> 00:08:00.647 these different things are happening around the Synod and and 161 00:08:00.689 --> 00:08:03.650 how this work is kind of growing in 162 00:08:03.692 --> 00:08:05.652 this really kind of organic way, right? 163 00:08:05.694 --> 00:08:07.654 I mean, I think it's just great. 164 00:08:07.696 --> 00:08:10.657 And I can say this now 165 00:08:11.700 --> 00:08:14.453 that I'm really going to miss having you. 166 00:08:14.494 --> 00:08:17.456 I was thinking about on the drive into the office today. 167 00:08:17.456 --> 00:08:20.418 About, like, why is it 168 00:08:20.459 --> 00:08:24.422 that I feel so connected to Pastor Becky Piper? 169 00:08:24.463 --> 00:08:27.425 And I think there's a couple reasons and and I 170 00:08:27.466 --> 00:08:30.428 just want to share them what was in my mind and and 171 00:08:30.469 --> 00:08:32.430 see what, see what you think. 172 00:08:32.471 --> 00:08:36.434 Um, I think one of them, even 173 00:08:36.475 --> 00:08:39.437 in the beginning, when you when you talked about the snowstorm coming and 174 00:08:39.478 --> 00:08:42.440 not having a snow day in a while, I mean, that connects 175 00:08:42.481 --> 00:08:45.443 me back to as a kid growing up in northern Wisconsin, 176 00:08:45.484 --> 00:08:48.446 and how much I loved snow days, right? 177 00:08:49.488 --> 00:08:52.450 Um, and then I 178 00:08:52.491 --> 00:08:55.453 think fairly early on, you and I connected about the fact that we 179 00:08:55.494 --> 00:08:58.456 both actually grew up in the Driftless area, 180 00:08:58.456 --> 00:09:02.418 where the glaciers never touched, and these kind of just, 181 00:09:02.460 --> 00:09:05.421 um, the, I grew 182 00:09:05.463 --> 00:09:09.425 up on the Wisconsin side, you grew up in the Minnesota side, but all of these deep 183 00:09:09.467 --> 00:09:12.428 hills and and kind of cliffs 184 00:09:12.470 --> 00:09:14.430 and other things that happen there. 185 00:09:14.472 --> 00:09:18.434 I think that, yeah, I think that's one of the reasons why I feel like, 186 00:09:18.434 --> 00:09:20.394 yeah, connected in some ways. 187 00:09:20.436 --> 00:09:22.396 And so I just get to name that I feel, 188 00:09:22.438 --> 00:09:25.399 going to miss that now that you're moving on to other things. 189 00:09:26.442 --> 00:09:29.403 That was a part of this is like, I've appreciated 190 00:09:29.445 --> 00:09:32.406 you, and I appreciate the other rural ambassadors like 191 00:09:32.448 --> 00:09:35.409 we get together oftentimes this way via Zoom 192 00:09:35.451 --> 00:09:39.413 because we're all over, but just 193 00:09:39.455 --> 00:09:42.416 the different backgrounds and supporting each other 194 00:09:42.458 --> 00:09:45.419 and sharing the stories and, you know, this 195 00:09:45.461 --> 00:09:48.422 happened or this is what I'm doing and I'm amazed by all 196 00:09:48.464 --> 00:09:51.425 that, but then, yeah, that those things 197 00:09:51.467 --> 00:09:54.428 that pop up and you're like, oh, yeah, that's a connection. 198 00:09:54.470 --> 00:09:58.432 And I think that for me, that's when you think about defining this 199 00:09:58.432 --> 00:10:01.435 work, like how do you define it, if it looks so different, it's almost 200 00:10:01.435 --> 00:10:04.396 like being a connector for the South Dakota Synod. 201 00:10:04.438 --> 00:10:08.400 And it's like, um, 202 00:10:08.442 --> 00:10:12.404 you know, I think about that, um, little get to know you thing. 203 00:10:12.446 --> 00:10:16.408 I've used it, at different times and ministry 204 00:10:16.450 --> 00:10:19.453 where you have, you know, the ball yarn, you hold on to it and you 205 00:10:19.453 --> 00:10:22.414 send out the ball, you hold on to it and send out the ball 206 00:10:23.457 --> 00:10:26.418 to the next person and they hold on to, you end up with this web. 207 00:10:26.460 --> 00:10:28.420 So you're all kind of connected. 208 00:10:28.462 --> 00:10:31.423 That's what we, do, as 209 00:10:31.465 --> 00:10:34.426 rural ambassadors and then with the synod as well too. 210 00:10:34.468 --> 00:10:36.428 Like some of those strands might be pretty long. 211 00:10:37.471 --> 00:10:40.432 Uh, some distance, but there still is that connection. 212 00:10:40.432 --> 00:10:43.394 And, you know, I appreciate the geography 213 00:10:44.436 --> 00:10:47.439 that, like, like I have that deep sense to the driflest region. 214 00:10:47.439 --> 00:10:50.401 And when I came many years 215 00:10:50.442 --> 00:10:53.404 ago, came out to South Dakota, I was like, I had 216 00:10:53.445 --> 00:10:55.406 this almost panic, like it's so open. 217 00:10:56.990 --> 00:10:59.951 And and so it was like understanding people's 218 00:10:59.951 --> 00:11:02.913 love for the space and the geography 219 00:11:03.955 --> 00:11:06.917 they're in, just like out in Bear Butte, either the Black Hills, 220 00:11:06.958 --> 00:11:09.920 the sacredness or the time on the prairie, the slim 221 00:11:09.961 --> 00:11:12.923 beautes, like there's all this beauty and to spend time. 222 00:11:12.964 --> 00:11:15.926 listening to how 223 00:11:15.967 --> 00:11:18.929 people are connected to it and how they care for 224 00:11:18.970 --> 00:11:21.932 those places as well as, um, 225 00:11:22.974 --> 00:11:23.934 that's helped me. 226 00:11:24.393 --> 00:11:28.355 You know, like I have this sense of offer that the prairie space as well. 227 00:11:28.355 --> 00:11:31.316 While still I feel tied back to, 228 00:11:32.359 --> 00:11:34.319 you know, that place that I grew up in. 229 00:11:34.361 --> 00:11:37.322 Um, and again, so that's again, that connector. 230 00:11:37.364 --> 00:11:40.325 It connects, but you connect people and you connect place 231 00:11:40.367 --> 00:11:43.328 and connect geography and that all comes 232 00:11:43.370 --> 00:11:46.331 back to these different giftedness of the rural 233 00:11:46.373 --> 00:11:48.333 ambassadors that each one has and. 234 00:11:48.833 --> 00:11:51.795 So it's kind of exciting to know that, that there 235 00:11:51.795 --> 00:11:52.754 can be that difference. 236 00:11:52.796 --> 00:11:54.756 Um, but yeah, defining it. 237 00:11:55.799 --> 00:11:59.344 Like, one set job description. 238 00:11:59.386 --> 00:12:02.347 But it can't be too specific because 239 00:12:02.347 --> 00:12:06.310 then it boxes up the ministry 240 00:12:06.351 --> 00:12:07.311 and the work that could happen. 241 00:12:07.352 --> 00:12:09.313 Yep, exactly. 242 00:12:09.354 --> 00:12:11.315 Yeah, so you were just making a connection for me. 243 00:12:11.356 --> 00:12:14.318 Um, In my mind, I hadn't 244 00:12:14.359 --> 00:12:17.321 made this connection until, um, just 245 00:12:17.362 --> 00:12:18.322 now, as you were talking. 246 00:12:19.364 --> 00:12:22.326 Um, last February, 247 00:12:22.367 --> 00:12:23.327 2025. 248 00:12:24.369 --> 00:12:27.331 I, um, was invited to spend 249 00:12:27.372 --> 00:12:31.335 some time with Brother 250 00:12:31.335 --> 00:12:34.338 Jonathan Oldhorse and Woyatan out in the hills. 251 00:12:35.380 --> 00:12:38.342 And after those 4 252 00:12:38.383 --> 00:12:41.345 or 5 days together, he mentioned about 253 00:12:41.345 --> 00:12:45.307 how this, this, uh, book God is Red, um, 254 00:12:45.349 --> 00:12:46.975 by Vine DeLoria Jr. 255 00:12:47.351 --> 00:12:50.312 was a big touchstone book for him. 256 00:12:50.312 --> 00:12:52.314 And so I got it on audiobook and that 6 257 00:12:52.356 --> 00:12:55.317 hour drive or so from out kind 258 00:12:55.359 --> 00:12:58.320 of deep in the hills back to Sioux Falls. 259 00:12:59.363 --> 00:13:02.324 I listened, and I kept listening, right, 260 00:13:02.366 --> 00:13:03.325 and then picked up a copy. 261 00:13:03.367 --> 00:13:06.328 And, and one of 262 00:13:06.370 --> 00:13:10.332 the theologies that's central to, 263 00:13:10.374 --> 00:13:13.335 um, Lakota spirituality and 264 00:13:13.377 --> 00:13:16.338 and maybe, um, maybe 265 00:13:16.380 --> 00:13:19.341 even indigenous, 266 00:13:19.383 --> 00:13:22.344 um, uh, thinking about God of 267 00:13:22.386 --> 00:13:26.348 theology is that God is a god of place. 268 00:13:26.348 --> 00:13:29.309 Um, whereas much of 269 00:13:29.351 --> 00:13:32.312 what I was brought up in, in kind of European 270 00:13:32.354 --> 00:13:35.315 Christianity, Lutheran, 271 00:13:36.358 --> 00:13:39.319 German, Slovak, right? 272 00:13:39.319 --> 00:13:41.321 Norwegian, for you maybe, was 273 00:13:42.364 --> 00:13:43.323 that God is a god of time. 274 00:13:43.365 --> 00:13:44.324 Hmm, yeah. 275 00:13:44.366 --> 00:13:47.327 And But I, 276 00:13:48.370 --> 00:13:51.331 the, the more I engage in this work, and the 277 00:13:51.373 --> 00:13:55.335 more that I see how you embody 278 00:13:55.377 --> 00:13:58.338 ministry as ambassador, in the hills, 279 00:13:58.380 --> 00:14:01.341 and how the other ambassadors do their work in their places. 280 00:14:01.383 --> 00:14:03.343 It rings so true to me. 281 00:14:03.385 --> 00:14:07.347 Um, that the Lakota 282 00:14:07.347 --> 00:14:11.309 understanding of God as a god of place is so powerful. 283 00:14:11.351 --> 00:14:14.312 Um, Yeah, there's just something 284 00:14:14.354 --> 00:14:17.315 uniquely, lovely about it. 285 00:14:17.357 --> 00:14:20.318 Now, I think maybe one of the other ways that you and I connected was 286 00:14:20.360 --> 00:14:24.322 that we're both a little, or at least I experience 287 00:14:24.364 --> 00:14:26.324 of you as a bit of a bookworm. 288 00:14:26.366 --> 00:14:28.368 Is that true? 289 00:14:28.368 --> 00:14:29.327 That is true. 290 00:14:30.370 --> 00:14:31.329 All right, okay. 291 00:14:31.371 --> 00:14:33.331 So I, I, I say that because 292 00:14:33.749 --> 00:14:36.710 As part of your kind of just ongoing education while your ambassador, 293 00:14:36.710 --> 00:14:39.671 you started thinking about how to be an interim minister 294 00:14:39.713 --> 00:14:42.674 or interim ministry because that's some of what the ambassadors 295 00:14:43.717 --> 00:14:44.676 sometimes asked to do. 296 00:14:44.718 --> 00:14:48.680 And so you picked up this Norman Bedroth book, 297 00:14:48.722 --> 00:14:51.683 um, Interim Ministry in Action, and you 298 00:14:51.725 --> 00:14:53.727 shared it, and you said, with me, you said, it's a really good book. 299 00:14:53.727 --> 00:14:54.686 And so I picked up a copy. 300 00:14:54.728 --> 00:14:57.689 And then immediately the day that 301 00:14:57.731 --> 00:15:00.692 I got my 1st copy was when our newest 302 00:15:01.735 --> 00:15:04.696 ambassador, Tom Opoien, came into my office and everyone, 303 00:15:04.738 --> 00:15:08.700 Tom Opoien, Pastor Tom Opoien, is now an ministry, 304 00:15:08.742 --> 00:15:11.703 uh, rural ministry ambassador starting this month in March. 305 00:15:12.746 --> 00:15:14.748 And I said, Tom, would you be interested in something like this? 306 00:15:14.748 --> 00:15:15.707 He's like, yes. 307 00:15:15.707 --> 00:15:16.667 And so I gave him the copy. 308 00:15:16.708 --> 00:15:19.670 So now I have my next copy and I got, 309 00:15:19.711 --> 00:15:21.672 um, uh, 2 of them. 310 00:15:22.714 --> 00:15:25.676 So the next one I have to give away. 311 00:15:25.717 --> 00:15:26.677 I won't lose my own. 312 00:15:26.718 --> 00:15:28.679 Uh, so, um, 313 00:15:30.180 --> 00:15:31.139 I haven't read it yet. 314 00:15:31.139 --> 00:15:33.099 Um, but you're, you're moving. 315 00:15:34.142 --> 00:15:37.103 It was it was a movement enough that now you're moving into your 1st 316 00:15:37.145 --> 00:15:40.148 official role as an interim minister, right, in Pierre. 317 00:15:40.148 --> 00:15:41.107 Right. 318 00:15:42.150 --> 00:15:45.153 Like, I had done a short term interim, 319 00:15:45.153 --> 00:15:48.114 kind of not as intentional, uh, 320 00:15:49.157 --> 00:15:52.118 in Belle Fourche in between their time. 321 00:15:52.160 --> 00:15:56.122 So, like the book came 322 00:15:56.164 --> 00:15:59.125 along with, um, uh, 323 00:15:59.167 --> 00:16:03.129 continuing education in intentional interim training, uh, that I audited. 324 00:16:03.171 --> 00:16:06.132 So I audited the course, and, 325 00:16:07.175 --> 00:16:10.136 and so the book really is a, that book is particularly 326 00:16:10.178 --> 00:16:14.140 a tool for congregations that they could utilize that. 327 00:16:14.140 --> 00:16:17.101 So it's got some pieces in it. 328 00:16:17.143 --> 00:16:21.105 And again, I always think it's not like taking it as a exact 329 00:16:21.147 --> 00:16:24.108 step by step, you must do this because again, each 330 00:16:24.150 --> 00:16:26.110 congregation has a different culture or place. 331 00:16:26.152 --> 00:16:27.111 Right. 332 00:16:27.153 --> 00:16:31.115 Some of it might not be helpful or work. 333 00:16:31.157 --> 00:16:34.118 Um, So I might have another book recommendation 334 00:16:34.160 --> 00:16:37.121 for you once I finish it on managing transitions. 335 00:16:37.163 --> 00:16:38.122 Okay. 336 00:16:38.164 --> 00:16:41.125 In peace, but it, I mean, I, 337 00:16:42.168 --> 00:16:45.129 yeah, I took the course in light of rural 338 00:16:45.171 --> 00:16:48.174 ambassadors in the, the gear in, we're in places. 339 00:16:48.174 --> 00:16:51.135 We might be doing pulpit supply. 340 00:16:52.178 --> 00:16:56.140 We might be sharing resources, preparation, we might be there 341 00:16:56.140 --> 00:16:59.102 when they're in transition. 342 00:16:59.143 --> 00:17:02.105 And so thinking of pieces or tools or 343 00:17:02.146 --> 00:17:05.108 even our, um, presence, 344 00:17:05.149 --> 00:17:08.111 like when we, as an rural ambassador step 345 00:17:08.152 --> 00:17:11.114 into a situation, we might not know all the story. 346 00:17:11.155 --> 00:17:14.117 So to be mindful 347 00:17:14.158 --> 00:17:18.121 of our own selves going into that and then what could we offer them? 348 00:17:18.162 --> 00:17:21.124 So that's why that, piece and then that training. 349 00:17:21.165 --> 00:17:24.127 I thought there's, yeah, so there's some things about it that 350 00:17:24.168 --> 00:17:25.128 could be helpful. 351 00:17:25.420 --> 00:17:29.382 And I think with the rural ambassadors, I think if they, 352 00:17:29.382 --> 00:17:32.343 maybe get to experience them in their space, 353 00:17:33.386 --> 00:17:36.347 It opens them up to looking at what, 354 00:17:36.389 --> 00:17:39.350 Does their congregation look like and what could their needs be? 355 00:17:39.392 --> 00:17:42.353 Maybe those are different than what they thought they'd be. 356 00:17:42.395 --> 00:17:45.356 Like maybe they're open to something more or 357 00:17:45.398 --> 00:17:46.357 to shared ministry. 358 00:17:46.399 --> 00:17:49.360 I mean, we're seeing a lot of shared ministries or and some of 359 00:17:49.402 --> 00:17:52.363 the financial capacity for congregations. 360 00:17:52.405 --> 00:17:56.367 You know, it's, it can be really hard and smaller 361 00:17:56.409 --> 00:17:59.370 churches, rural places, and I think the 362 00:17:59.412 --> 00:18:02.373 synod leadership has a heart for that. 363 00:18:02.415 --> 00:18:05.376 I've seen and experienced 364 00:18:05.418 --> 00:18:08.379 it and I hope that congregations experience a piece of that. 365 00:18:08.379 --> 00:18:11.341 Also through the rural ambassadors. 366 00:18:11.382 --> 00:18:13.343 like this is part of the why. 367 00:18:13.384 --> 00:18:16.346 Um, that we're, we're doing this and 368 00:18:16.387 --> 00:18:19.349 why having folks connected, um, 369 00:18:20.391 --> 00:18:21.351 through all of that. 370 00:18:21.392 --> 00:18:24.354 So yeah, that that having a resource, 371 00:18:24.395 --> 00:18:27.357 a book, a resource or a course, you 372 00:18:27.398 --> 00:18:30.360 know, you take parts and pieces of that that might work. 373 00:18:31.402 --> 00:18:34.364 Um, and then some stuff you 374 00:18:34.405 --> 00:18:37.367 let go of because it's not gonna fit. 375 00:18:37.408 --> 00:18:40.370 Um, are synod or it's not going to 376 00:18:40.411 --> 00:18:43.373 fit the congregation that you move into, but it's nice to have 377 00:18:43.414 --> 00:18:44.374 something to start with. 378 00:18:44.415 --> 00:18:46.376 For me. 379 00:18:46.417 --> 00:18:50.380 And pieces that are in, 380 00:18:50.380 --> 00:18:53.341 tools that are in that book could be something that, 381 00:18:53.383 --> 00:18:56.344 a rural ambassador 382 00:18:56.386 --> 00:18:59.347 might say that would be a useful piece for this congregation that I visited 383 00:18:59.389 --> 00:19:02.350 or I spent time with their council because sometimes, you 384 00:19:03.393 --> 00:19:06.354 know, I've gone in as a rural ambassador to meet 385 00:19:06.396 --> 00:19:07.355 with a council. 386 00:19:08.523 --> 00:19:12.527 know, since I'm here in Sioux Falls and building 387 00:19:12.527 --> 00:19:14.487 the plane as we go. 388 00:19:14.529 --> 00:19:17.490 Um, I don't have as many, maybe 389 00:19:18.533 --> 00:19:21.494 opportunities to be joining council meetings. 390 00:19:21.494 --> 00:19:23.454 And that's maybe good. 391 00:19:23.496 --> 00:19:27.458 Because I, 392 00:19:27.500 --> 00:19:29.460 you know, I, you've been at this a lot longer than I have. 393 00:19:29.502 --> 00:19:32.463 You know, I've been an ELCA roster now 394 00:19:32.505 --> 00:19:35.466 for just over 5 years and you 395 00:19:35.508 --> 00:19:38.469 have a much longer breadth of experience, not only 396 00:19:38.511 --> 00:19:41.472 as a rostered clergy person, but also as 397 00:19:42.515 --> 00:19:44.475 a South Dakotan, right? 398 00:19:44.475 --> 00:19:45.476 Because how many years have you been here in South Dakota? 399 00:19:46.519 --> 00:19:48.479 Oh, since? 400 00:19:48.521 --> 00:19:50.523 What, when did I start? 401 00:19:50.523 --> 00:19:52.483 My 1st call. 402 00:19:52.525 --> 00:19:54.485 Let's see. 403 00:19:54.527 --> 00:19:57.488 Uh, graduated 2000 yeah, 2005. 404 00:19:58.531 --> 00:20:00.533 So, yeah, long time. 405 00:20:00.533 --> 00:20:01.492 All right. 406 00:20:01.534 --> 00:20:05.496 I've been in this synod. 407 00:20:05.496 --> 00:20:07.457 The whole time, right? 408 00:20:07.498 --> 00:20:10.460 And so I think that there's, there's, this speaks to, 409 00:20:10.501 --> 00:20:13.463 I think, that god of place kind of, uh, piece 410 00:20:13.504 --> 00:20:16.466 because all of the other ambassadors. 411 00:20:16.507 --> 00:20:19.469 You and I are the South 412 00:20:19.510 --> 00:20:20.470 Dakota newbies. 413 00:20:21.512 --> 00:20:24.515 Because all the other ambassadors have lived here their whole life. 414 00:20:24.515 --> 00:20:25.475 Right? 415 00:20:26.517 --> 00:20:29.479 And so that rootedness is 416 00:20:29.520 --> 00:20:32.482 a strength that then allows 417 00:20:32.523 --> 00:20:36.486 them to be that trusted person to, to, 418 00:20:36.527 --> 00:20:38.488 when there's a need or when there's a question. 419 00:20:38.529 --> 00:20:41.491 And so I know the other masters, just like you, were saying, 420 00:20:41.532 --> 00:20:44.494 get invited to council meetings when there's a, a, 421 00:20:45.495 --> 00:20:48.456 a sticky widget or uh, something to consider or 422 00:20:48.498 --> 00:20:51.459 maybe a partnership that those kinds of conversations are happening. 423 00:20:51.501 --> 00:20:55.463 Um, because the trustedness of you're my neighbor. 424 00:20:55.505 --> 00:20:58.466 And um, I want to have 425 00:20:58.508 --> 00:20:59.467 a trusted conversation with you. 426 00:20:59.509 --> 00:21:02.470 So, because I'm the newest one to South Dakota. 427 00:21:03.513 --> 00:21:06.474 I know that that doesn't happen as much for me, and that's, as 428 00:21:06.516 --> 00:21:10.478 it should be, especially if we think about God as being a god of place. 429 00:21:10.520 --> 00:21:11.521 Um, right? 430 00:21:11.521 --> 00:21:12.480 It's just fascinating. 431 00:21:12.522 --> 00:21:15.483 So, and then, but that, that, that thinking, that theology 432 00:21:16.526 --> 00:21:19.487 is, um, just lovely and new to me, and 433 00:21:19.529 --> 00:21:22.490 I'm just so glad that, that, Jonathan Old 434 00:21:22.532 --> 00:21:24.492 Horse brought it to me, right, in the last year. 435 00:21:24.534 --> 00:21:26.494 So that's part of my growth over this year. 436 00:21:26.494 --> 00:21:28.454 So, um, you know, one of the books that, 437 00:21:29.497 --> 00:21:32.458 uh, uh, we've read a couple books now together as, as, 438 00:21:32.500 --> 00:21:36.462 uh, uh, a team of, of rural ministry ambassadors, 439 00:21:36.504 --> 00:21:40.466 the 1st one I brought was this, um, I just found this book so fascinating. 440 00:21:40.466 --> 00:21:43.469 This is the Spirit of Hope by Byung-Chul Han. 441 00:21:44.512 --> 00:21:47.473 And I brought it, it was still in my car, and 442 00:21:47.515 --> 00:21:49.475 there's all these red underlines. 443 00:21:49.600 --> 00:21:52.562 Here's what I underlined, actually page 32 and 33. 444 00:21:53.563 --> 00:21:56.524 Forgiveness relates to the past by 445 00:21:56.566 --> 00:21:59.527 undoing what happened and thus creating free 446 00:21:59.569 --> 00:22:01.529 space for a new beginning. 447 00:22:02.572 --> 00:22:06.534 A little later in that paragraph. 448 00:22:06.576 --> 00:22:09.537 Promises are isolated islands 449 00:22:09.579 --> 00:22:13.541 of certainty in an ocean of uncertainty. 450 00:22:13.583 --> 00:22:17.545 Then moving to page 33. 451 00:22:17.545 --> 00:22:20.548 If forgiveness makes the past manageable. 452 00:22:20.590 --> 00:22:23.551 A promise does this for the future. 453 00:22:23.593 --> 00:22:26.554 According to Arndt forgiving and 454 00:22:26.596 --> 00:22:30.558 promising are 2 fundamental conditions of human action. 455 00:22:33.436 --> 00:22:36.397 When we had a conversation, all ambassadors that were, 456 00:22:36.397 --> 00:22:40.359 it was really helpful to just hear how other people engage with it. 457 00:22:41.402 --> 00:22:44.363 But when I think of, like, forgiveness and promising, 458 00:22:44.405 --> 00:22:48.367 like, I can think of, like, in my mind right away, jump to congregations 459 00:22:48.367 --> 00:22:51.370 that have had things that affect them, and 460 00:22:51.412 --> 00:22:55.374 how it, takes 461 00:22:55.416 --> 00:22:58.377 some time, they get to a place of forgiveness and look back, 462 00:22:58.419 --> 00:23:02.381 and then it helps them focus on that promise 463 00:23:02.423 --> 00:23:05.384 that is for their future, or that they realize that they have a future. 464 00:23:05.426 --> 00:23:08.387 Like, so, and so that the 465 00:23:08.429 --> 00:23:11.390 distance from the event or 466 00:23:11.432 --> 00:23:14.393 the situation that they've been able to forgive. 467 00:23:14.435 --> 00:23:17.396 And then the movement into the 468 00:23:17.396 --> 00:23:18.356 promise of who they are. 469 00:23:19.398 --> 00:23:22.360 And I, as of late, I, 470 00:23:22.401 --> 00:23:25.363 you know, had conversations with some congregation members about 471 00:23:25.404 --> 00:23:27.365 that, about things that had happened to them. 472 00:23:27.406 --> 00:23:30.368 And where they reflected and, 473 00:23:30.409 --> 00:23:33.371 um, said, you know, they, wow, yeah, I was a 474 00:23:33.412 --> 00:23:37.375 participant in that, you know, before I wanted to just pass that off. 475 00:23:38.417 --> 00:23:42.380 somebody else, but I was a participant in that. 476 00:23:42.421 --> 00:23:45.383 And moving, it's like what 477 00:23:45.424 --> 00:23:47.385 that looks like for them now in moving forward. 478 00:23:47.426 --> 00:23:50.388 Versus, um, maybe situations where 479 00:23:50.429 --> 00:23:53.391 that forgiveness and promise, like it feels like 480 00:23:53.432 --> 00:23:56.394 there's some being stuck. 481 00:23:56.435 --> 00:23:58.396 in it. 482 00:23:58.396 --> 00:24:00.357 And so it's like, if they have, there's no, how 483 00:24:00.398 --> 00:24:03.360 do you have the promise if you haven't been able to let go? 484 00:24:04.402 --> 00:24:06.363 It's not that you have to, I mean, you want to, 485 00:24:06.404 --> 00:24:10.367 You don't completely forget because if that situation arises, 486 00:24:10.408 --> 00:24:13.411 you want to have tools and things, like for that, But, 487 00:24:13.411 --> 00:24:16.373 um, you get stuck and 488 00:24:16.414 --> 00:24:18.375 then there's no, there's not room for the promise. 489 00:24:19.417 --> 00:24:23.380 So congregations might be struggling through that and I've seen like they haven't quite yet. 490 00:24:23.421 --> 00:24:25.382 Um, 491 00:24:26.424 --> 00:24:29.386 Had that sense of forgiveness. 492 00:24:29.427 --> 00:24:33.390 Um, relationship 493 00:24:33.390 --> 00:24:36.393 with a synod or relationship with a previous leader or something. 494 00:24:36.434 --> 00:24:39.396 And so then it's like, how do we move into the promise where, 495 00:24:40.104 --> 00:24:42.065 It's not just the concept or idea. 496 00:24:42.065 --> 00:24:44.025 Right. 497 00:24:44.067 --> 00:24:46.027 It lived experience, yeah. 498 00:24:46.069 --> 00:24:47.028 Yeah. 499 00:24:47.070 --> 00:24:50.031 I, um, you 500 00:24:50.073 --> 00:24:55.036 know, I, I, I didn't know if I would, um, go, 501 00:24:55.078 --> 00:24:58.039 uh, here in this conversation, but I, I, I think I do. 502 00:24:58.081 --> 00:25:01.042 I want to, I want to say again, I mean, this is 503 00:25:01.084 --> 00:25:04.045 a private conversation you and I had, but it leads to this idea of 504 00:25:04.087 --> 00:25:06.047 being stuck, right? 505 00:25:06.089 --> 00:25:10.051 And um, so the the book I'm, uh, this 506 00:25:10.051 --> 00:25:13.054 last year, because of all the driving that this work is, I'm 507 00:25:13.096 --> 00:25:15.056 doing audiobooks, a lot of audiobooks. 508 00:25:16.099 --> 00:25:19.060 And it almost becomes a, um, a way 509 00:25:19.102 --> 00:25:22.063 that I, um, kind of triage. 510 00:25:22.063 --> 00:25:26.025 What do I really want to spend time reading when I can actually physically hold a book, right? 511 00:25:26.067 --> 00:25:29.028 And so, um, one of the books that I, 512 00:25:29.070 --> 00:25:33.032 um, engaged with at seminary, um, 513 00:25:33.074 --> 00:25:36.035 but really just to like write a paper, right? 514 00:25:36.077 --> 00:25:39.038 Uh, was A Failure of Nerve by 515 00:25:39.080 --> 00:25:40.039 Edwin Friedman. 516 00:25:40.081 --> 00:25:41.040 Have you read this book? 517 00:25:42.083 --> 00:25:42.541 I have. 518 00:25:42.541 --> 00:25:43.000 It's been a while. 519 00:25:43.209 --> 00:25:45.169 The idea of being stuck, right? 520 00:25:45.169 --> 00:25:46.129 This, this, um, 521 00:25:47.171 --> 00:25:50.133 It's, it's part of this book, um, 522 00:25:50.174 --> 00:25:54.137 uh, it's trying to address leadership, 523 00:25:55.179 --> 00:25:57.140 uh, in culture and in lots of places. 524 00:25:57.181 --> 00:26:00.143 And so I was, um, thinking about, 525 00:26:00.184 --> 00:26:03.146 I think it would have maybe been the 1st or 2nd week. 526 00:26:04.188 --> 00:26:07.150 Really early on when when when we started. 527 00:26:07.191 --> 00:26:11.154 And I made this dumb statement. 528 00:26:11.195 --> 00:26:14.157 Um, and and I want to 529 00:26:14.198 --> 00:26:18.161 say the statement because I don't want to hide the fact of how dumb it was. 530 00:26:18.202 --> 00:26:21.205 It 531 00:26:21.205 --> 00:26:23.166 was, I think it was in an email, right? 532 00:26:23.207 --> 00:26:26.169 And I was comparing something and making a, a really, 533 00:26:27.170 --> 00:26:30.131 um, just biased slur and I, whatever it 534 00:26:30.173 --> 00:26:31.132 was, I don't remember what it was 535 00:26:31.174 --> 00:26:34.135 I was describing, but I was like, ah, it's kind of like the redheaded stepchild. 536 00:26:34.177 --> 00:26:37.138 And immediately 537 00:26:38.181 --> 00:26:43.144 after I wrote it and sent off that email, I was like, does Pastor 538 00:26:43.186 --> 00:26:45.229 Becky, have red hair? 539 00:26:45.229 --> 00:26:47.190 Oh, right. 540 00:26:47.190 --> 00:26:51.152 And I was stuck. 541 00:26:51.194 --> 00:26:54.155 This is what I was thinking about today on the driveway to the office. 542 00:26:54.197 --> 00:26:57.158 Um, that I was 543 00:26:57.200 --> 00:26:58.159 so fearful. 544 00:26:59.202 --> 00:27:02.163 about 545 00:27:02.205 --> 00:27:05.166 crashing the plane. 546 00:27:05.166 --> 00:27:07.168 We had just started. 547 00:27:07.168 --> 00:27:10.129 that I think that that, 548 00:27:10.171 --> 00:27:15.134 I didn't immediately, 549 00:27:15.176 --> 00:27:19.180 um, out 550 00:27:19.180 --> 00:27:21.140 of my own fear, right? 551 00:27:21.182 --> 00:27:23.142 That I didn't immediately address it. 552 00:27:23.184 --> 00:27:27.146 But you 553 00:27:27.188 --> 00:27:30.149 unstucked me because you did, that you reached out to 554 00:27:30.191 --> 00:27:33.152 me privately, and said, that's not okay. 555 00:27:33.194 --> 00:27:36.155 And I was like, yes. 556 00:27:36.197 --> 00:27:39.158 And so I was out, right? 557 00:27:39.200 --> 00:27:40.159 it was it was so helpful. 558 00:27:40.201 --> 00:27:43.162 And I think it's one of the reasons why I have so valued over 559 00:27:43.204 --> 00:27:45.164 the last, you know, 14 months. 560 00:27:45.206 --> 00:27:50.169 The fact that, that, Because 561 00:27:50.169 --> 00:27:53.130 we got through that, because you said that wasn't okay, 562 00:27:53.172 --> 00:27:56.133 and I agreed, and then we talked about it a little bit as a, in the 563 00:27:56.175 --> 00:27:57.134 next ambassador meeting, 564 00:27:57.176 --> 00:28:01.138 that there was, It 565 00:28:02.181 --> 00:28:04.141 seasoned the last year really well. 566 00:28:04.183 --> 00:28:07.144 But my failure of nerve wouldn't have been addressed 567 00:28:07.186 --> 00:28:08.145 if you hadn't said something. 568 00:28:08.187 --> 00:28:11.148 And I feel like that's a that's a model that 569 00:28:11.190 --> 00:28:14.151 I want to lift up for people who listen to these little 570 00:28:14.193 --> 00:28:18.155 podcasts and the people as they go to their council meetings and 571 00:28:18.197 --> 00:28:19.156 as they engage in community. 572 00:28:19.198 --> 00:28:21.158 Um, 573 00:28:21.200 --> 00:28:25.162 Yeah, because we have a route for that. 574 00:28:25.204 --> 00:28:27.164 Like what I appreciated, because I mean, I felt like, 575 00:28:28.207 --> 00:28:31.168 I felt like I could go to even 576 00:28:31.168 --> 00:28:35.131 say, oh, hey, maybe you didn't realize this, like this is how this 577 00:28:35.172 --> 00:28:38.134 is how I experienced this matter with this. 578 00:28:38.134 --> 00:28:41.137 Like, sometimes, like, I know I use 579 00:28:41.178 --> 00:28:44.140 a phrase and not understanding 580 00:28:44.181 --> 00:28:47.143 the meaning behind it, and then if 581 00:28:48.185 --> 00:28:51.147 somebody is able to point that out, it's like, now I know. 582 00:28:51.188 --> 00:28:52.148 Now I know better. 583 00:28:52.315 --> 00:28:53.274 So I can do better. 584 00:28:53.274 --> 00:28:56.235 And the fact that you were willing 585 00:28:57.278 --> 00:29:00.239 and wanting to have the whole ambassadors talk about that 586 00:29:00.281 --> 00:29:04.243 so that when we meet together, it's like, this is how we can address, let's be open. 587 00:29:04.285 --> 00:29:07.288 If we hear something or and 588 00:29:07.288 --> 00:29:10.249 like modeling that, because I think you're right, 589 00:29:11.292 --> 00:29:13.252 like, is this is a model. 590 00:29:13.294 --> 00:29:16.255 I mean, we often have that for congregations 591 00:29:16.297 --> 00:29:18.257 and behavior together. 592 00:29:18.299 --> 00:29:20.259 Like, you know, you go to the person. 593 00:29:20.259 --> 00:29:22.261 I mean, scriptural, you know, you 594 00:29:22.303 --> 00:29:25.264 go to the person or then, you know, there's a model for that and 595 00:29:26.307 --> 00:29:29.268 how often do failure of 596 00:29:29.310 --> 00:29:33.272 nerve, you know, we don't, we just like, I'm just going to be quiet about it and it'll go away. 597 00:29:33.314 --> 00:29:37.276 Like, it, doesn't really go away. 598 00:29:37.276 --> 00:29:38.235 Right. 599 00:29:39.278 --> 00:29:42.239 And, and well, and like, you know, one of those things that's, 600 00:29:42.281 --> 00:29:46.243 that's true about our, our, um, our ELCA 601 00:29:46.285 --> 00:29:47.244 congregational constitutions, right? 602 00:29:47.286 --> 00:29:50.247 The scripture that is lifted up within the Constitution of every congregation 603 00:29:50.289 --> 00:29:52.291 is Matthew 18. 604 00:29:52.291 --> 00:29:56.253 And it is that, um, yeah, 605 00:29:56.295 --> 00:30:00.257 uh, this is how we are to talk to one another when we're in disagreement. 606 00:30:00.299 --> 00:30:03.260 And so I think that's, 607 00:30:03.302 --> 00:30:04.261 yeah, really good. 608 00:30:04.303 --> 00:30:07.264 Um, Well, I, 609 00:30:08.307 --> 00:30:12.269 all that was in my mind this morning is I knew that this 610 00:30:12.311 --> 00:30:16.273 was going to be, Well, one 611 00:30:16.273 --> 00:30:19.276 of the time, so the last time that you and I officially kind of have this on 612 00:30:19.276 --> 00:30:22.238 the same team, though, we're obviously always on the same team. 613 00:30:22.279 --> 00:30:23.239 Right? 614 00:30:24.281 --> 00:30:27.243 Uh, and I do agree with the idea that 615 00:30:27.284 --> 00:30:30.287 there's there isn't really us and them, there's just us and more of us. 616 00:30:30.287 --> 00:30:34.291 Um, and Christ 617 00:30:34.291 --> 00:30:37.253 breaking into our place is 618 00:30:37.294 --> 00:30:40.256 to, in a lot of ways, show that that place 619 00:30:40.297 --> 00:30:42.258 over there is also where Jesus is. 620 00:30:42.299 --> 00:30:45.261 Um, and it could be as close 621 00:30:46.303 --> 00:30:49.265 by as the town next over, where it might 622 00:30:49.306 --> 00:30:52.268 be as, you know, distant as halfway around the world, which 623 00:30:52.309 --> 00:30:55.271 sometimes that's what it feels like between Rapid City and Sioux Falls. 624 00:30:58.566 --> 00:31:00.526 So, um, 625 00:31:01.151 --> 00:31:05.114 Because I'm trying to, right, keep those conversations going, right? 626 00:31:05.114 --> 00:31:08.117 Especially when we have like a group like with the ambassadors reading, 627 00:31:08.117 --> 00:31:11.078 uh, the Gift of Small, Alan Stanton. 628 00:31:11.120 --> 00:31:14.081 And um, and I sent copies of 629 00:31:14.123 --> 00:31:17.084 all that to the um, small town and rural task force. 630 00:31:17.126 --> 00:31:20.087 Um, and of course, uh, in 631 00:31:20.129 --> 00:31:23.090 the in the year since I read, uh, God is 632 00:31:23.132 --> 00:31:26.093 Red by Vine DeLoria, um, the First 633 00:31:26.135 --> 00:31:28.095 Nations Psalms has come out. 634 00:31:28.137 --> 00:31:30.097 Um, Okay. 635 00:31:30.139 --> 00:31:33.100 And so that one is, um, 636 00:31:33.142 --> 00:31:37.104 something that is a lovely, just stays in my backpack, right? 637 00:31:37.146 --> 00:31:40.107 Um, and now I'm gonna, you know, 638 00:31:40.149 --> 00:31:43.110 um, Because philosophy 639 00:31:44.111 --> 00:31:47.072 is not everyone's cup of tea, but I, um, when 640 00:31:47.114 --> 00:31:50.075 I was preaching, uh, for 641 00:31:50.117 --> 00:31:54.079 you, uh, When was this? 642 00:31:54.121 --> 00:31:55.080 Was this February 15th? 643 00:31:55.122 --> 00:31:56.081 Was it a month ago? 644 00:31:56.123 --> 00:31:57.082 That I was. 645 00:31:57.124 --> 00:32:00.085 My gosh, it probably was already a month. 646 00:32:00.127 --> 00:32:02.087 Yeah, so a month ago. 647 00:32:02.129 --> 00:32:06.091 I was filling in for you at Grand River Lutheran Church in Buffalo. 648 00:32:06.133 --> 00:32:10.095 And um, And 649 00:32:10.137 --> 00:32:14.099 after the service, uh, I 650 00:32:14.141 --> 00:32:17.102 drove a highway that I hadn't driven before. 651 00:32:17.144 --> 00:32:21.106 Which is kind of rare for 652 00:32:21.148 --> 00:32:24.109 me because I traveled so many years as 653 00:32:24.151 --> 00:32:27.112 a musician all across the states and 654 00:32:28.113 --> 00:32:30.073 and all across the world. 655 00:32:30.115 --> 00:32:33.076 And so I was on a new stretch of road. 656 00:32:33.076 --> 00:32:35.078 And I remembered how, how awesome that 657 00:32:35.120 --> 00:32:38.081 felt back when it was all so new in the late 90s 658 00:32:39.124 --> 00:32:42.085 and I was traveling, because I grew up in a small town in northern Wisconsin 659 00:32:42.127 --> 00:32:45.088 and I, my, I didn't travel, right? 660 00:32:45.130 --> 00:32:49.092 My, my folks, um, my 661 00:32:49.134 --> 00:32:52.095 dad ran a, uh, he's chiropractor and had his own health clinic, 662 00:32:52.137 --> 00:32:55.098 my mom was a nurse and when they would leave, they would have to close shop. 663 00:32:55.140 --> 00:32:58.101 And so the only real trip as a kid growing 664 00:32:58.143 --> 00:33:02.105 up was to go and see um, the grandparents in central Illinois. 665 00:33:02.147 --> 00:33:03.106 Right? 666 00:33:04.149 --> 00:33:07.110 And that my mom's folks and my my 667 00:33:07.110 --> 00:33:10.072 dad's folks were in small town, Wisconsin too. 668 00:33:10.113 --> 00:33:13.075 And so, um, I got 669 00:33:13.116 --> 00:33:16.078 this wanderlust as of 18 year old in college. 670 00:33:16.119 --> 00:33:19.081 And so just traveling like that, um, 671 00:33:19.122 --> 00:33:22.084 a new road always felt so welcoming to me. 672 00:33:22.125 --> 00:33:25.087 And that happened after leaving Buffalo and it 673 00:33:25.128 --> 00:33:26.088 hadn't happened in a long time. 674 00:33:26.129 --> 00:33:29.091 And so I'm driving through, and I get to the, 675 00:33:30.133 --> 00:33:31.093 is it the Slim Buttes? 676 00:33:31.134 --> 00:33:32.094 Oh, yeah. 677 00:33:32.135 --> 00:33:34.096 Yeah, isn't it gorgeous? 678 00:33:34.137 --> 00:33:36.098 It's just amazing. 679 00:33:36.139 --> 00:33:38.100 You come up on this thing and it's just like, what is this? 680 00:33:38.141 --> 00:33:41.103 And I don't even, what's the what's the highway? 681 00:33:42.145 --> 00:33:45.107 Now, see, I almost like, I feel like maybe I'm 682 00:33:45.148 --> 00:33:48.110 dishonoring it because like now people will go on and go find this 683 00:33:48.110 --> 00:33:50.112 place because it's just this little gem, right? 684 00:33:50.112 --> 00:33:51.071 yeah, right, yeah. 685 00:33:51.113 --> 00:33:53.073 Uh, be quiet about it. 686 00:33:53.115 --> 00:33:57.077 But, um, what's that, what is that road that goes between Buffalo and Bison? 687 00:33:57.119 --> 00:33:58.078 Yes, Highway 20. 688 00:33:58.120 --> 00:33:59.079 Highway 20. 689 00:34:00.122 --> 00:34:03.083 In the West, leaving Buffalo, 690 00:34:03.125 --> 00:34:06.086 take Highway 20, you go through this area called the Slim Buttes, which 691 00:34:06.128 --> 00:34:08.088 is just fascinating geography. 692 00:34:08.130 --> 00:34:11.091 And then I come to Bison and I come to Bison to hang 693 00:34:11.133 --> 00:34:12.092 out with Eliza Blue. 694 00:34:13.135 --> 00:34:16.096 who is uh, uh, a musician 695 00:34:16.138 --> 00:34:17.097 here in South Dakota. 696 00:34:17.139 --> 00:34:21.101 And, and she's, she and I, we end up, She 697 00:34:21.143 --> 00:34:23.103 and her whole family, her husband, her kids. 698 00:34:23.145 --> 00:34:26.106 We're all just hanging out on the porch and and just talking 699 00:34:26.148 --> 00:34:27.107 about life. 700 00:34:27.149 --> 00:34:30.110 And so, um, because I 701 00:34:30.110 --> 00:34:34.072 am such a fan now of this Korean German philosopher 702 00:34:34.114 --> 00:34:37.075 who wrote this book that we read together, that 703 00:34:38.118 --> 00:34:41.079 now, I'm sorry, you know, like this one I'm reading. 704 00:34:41.121 --> 00:34:44.082 The Crisis of 705 00:34:44.124 --> 00:34:48.086 Narration, uh, The Burnout Society, right? 706 00:34:48.128 --> 00:34:51.089 These are all super accessible. 707 00:34:52.132 --> 00:34:55.135 Um, uh, especially if you're into Korean, 708 00:34:55.135 --> 00:34:57.095 German Catholic philosophy. 709 00:34:57.137 --> 00:35:00.098 But here's his newest one and so 710 00:35:00.140 --> 00:35:03.101 I ordered 2 copies and and I got one to 711 00:35:03.143 --> 00:35:04.102 Eliza and one to me. 712 00:35:04.144 --> 00:35:06.104 So this is, we're reading it together. 713 00:35:06.146 --> 00:35:08.106 Um, in praise of the earth. 714 00:35:09.149 --> 00:35:11.109 Oh, okay. 715 00:35:11.151 --> 00:35:14.112 And so, I don't have a 716 00:35:14.112 --> 00:35:15.072 review for it yet. 717 00:35:15.113 --> 00:35:18.075 Uh, but, um, this is, this 718 00:35:18.116 --> 00:35:21.078 is my, when I have time to physically be in the same 719 00:35:21.119 --> 00:35:23.080 space, which might be because of the snowstorm. 720 00:35:23.121 --> 00:35:24.081 I get to read it. 721 00:35:24.122 --> 00:35:27.084 Yeah, because I won't be driving. 722 00:35:27.125 --> 00:35:31.088 I just saw it was maybe it was the South Dakota Library Association. 723 00:35:31.129 --> 00:35:34.091 They put something about, um, they put the state of Dakota 724 00:35:34.132 --> 00:35:37.094 on and they were talking about the snowstorm, and based on how 725 00:35:37.135 --> 00:35:40.097 much snow parts of the state we're going to get, they 726 00:35:41.139 --> 00:35:44.101 listed it based on how many books you should have available to read during that time. 727 00:35:44.142 --> 00:35:47.104 So if it's 8 to 10 inches, you 728 00:35:47.145 --> 00:35:48.105 know, you should have 8 to 10 bucks. 729 00:35:48.146 --> 00:35:50.107 And I was like, I love it. 730 00:35:50.148 --> 00:35:51.108 I love that. 731 00:35:51.149 --> 00:35:52.109 That's great 732 00:35:52.150 --> 00:35:55.112 Because like that learning, but yeah, that 733 00:35:55.112 --> 00:35:58.074 Slim Buttes area, like I, one 734 00:35:58.115 --> 00:36:02.078 thing I've appreciated with some of the driving around is the exploration 735 00:36:02.119 --> 00:36:05.081 of places and I, then I have a list 736 00:36:05.122 --> 00:36:07.083 of things that I'd like to do to explore. 737 00:36:07.124 --> 00:36:09.085 I love, and I've always done that. 738 00:36:09.126 --> 00:36:12.088 Like, I'll go to a, a place that's, you 739 00:36:13.130 --> 00:36:16.092 know, everybody, like, everybody goes and does this when they're here. 740 00:36:16.092 --> 00:36:18.094 I'm like, well, what is something that most people don't do? 741 00:36:19.136 --> 00:36:21.097 And then that's what I seek out. 742 00:36:21.138 --> 00:36:24.100 Or it's like, over to the Slim 743 00:36:24.141 --> 00:36:27.103 Buttes, and there's a little campground there, 744 00:36:27.144 --> 00:36:30.106 but it, there's a viewpoint, 745 00:36:30.147 --> 00:36:33.109 and I, there's some kind of trails, they're not like highly 746 00:36:33.150 --> 00:36:36.112 marked, but I just go, kind of explore. 747 00:36:36.112 --> 00:36:39.073 And I know I, I would, you know, post a 748 00:36:39.115 --> 00:36:43.077 picture and people be like, 0 my gosh, there's mountain lions, you know, be be, be careful. 749 00:36:43.119 --> 00:36:47.081 I'm like, I also live in the area where there's mountain lions too. 750 00:36:47.123 --> 00:36:48.082 Right, yeah. 751 00:36:48.124 --> 00:36:49.083 That's a part of it. 752 00:36:49.125 --> 00:36:52.086 But just the, like being, 753 00:36:53.129 --> 00:36:56.090 Even when I've done that, they'll be 754 00:36:56.132 --> 00:37:00.094 like, okay, here's another 2 people that are exploring 755 00:37:00.136 --> 00:37:03.097 or I can see off in the distance, somebody on a horse, you 756 00:37:03.139 --> 00:37:06.100 know, they're enjoying that area too, but, 757 00:37:06.142 --> 00:37:10.104 you know, the cave hills are, uh, also interesting 758 00:37:10.146 --> 00:37:13.107 uh, location or like kind of taking 759 00:37:13.149 --> 00:37:15.109 a road and seeing the area. 760 00:37:15.109 --> 00:37:17.111 There's more there in some of these rural places. 761 00:37:17.111 --> 00:37:20.072 My aunt, I think somebody's 762 00:37:20.114 --> 00:37:23.075 like, oh, Pastor Becky, you're off in the middle of nowhere. 763 00:37:24.118 --> 00:37:27.079 And one of my aunts from Minnesota said, oh, 764 00:37:27.121 --> 00:37:29.081 Becky, you're in the middle of somewhere. 765 00:37:29.123 --> 00:37:32.084 And I'm 766 00:37:32.126 --> 00:37:34.086 like, yes, we're in the middle of somewhere. 767 00:37:34.128 --> 00:37:37.089 I mean, it's like, oh, you can't go live in the middle of nowhere. 768 00:37:37.131 --> 00:37:39.091 You're in the middle of something, please. 769 00:37:39.133 --> 00:37:42.094 places and congregations 770 00:37:42.136 --> 00:37:45.097 and small towns and it's like you are in the middle 771 00:37:45.139 --> 00:37:48.100 of somewhere and relating it to that. 772 00:37:49.143 --> 00:37:52.104 So what, in praise of the earth, was that title of that book that 773 00:37:52.146 --> 00:37:53.105 you're gonna... 774 00:37:53.147 --> 00:37:54.106 Yeah. 775 00:37:54.148 --> 00:37:55.107 Yeah. 776 00:37:55.149 --> 00:37:58.110 So that's a... 777 00:37:58.152 --> 00:38:01.113 Like ministry in the middle of somewhere. 778 00:38:01.113 --> 00:38:03.073 what we're doing. 779 00:38:03.073 --> 00:38:04.074 That's exactly right. 780 00:38:04.116 --> 00:38:07.077 I mean, and I think, um, I mean, I 781 00:38:07.119 --> 00:38:09.079 think this maybe is the, the, 782 00:38:09.121 --> 00:38:13.083 natural ending, right? 783 00:38:13.125 --> 00:38:17.087 What a great way to end this conversation. to 784 00:38:17.129 --> 00:38:20.090 say that, um, we're in the middle of somewhere. 785 00:38:20.132 --> 00:38:22.092 And that leads me back to that. 786 00:38:22.134 --> 00:38:25.095 Um, just key insight 787 00:38:25.137 --> 00:38:29.099 of Vine DeLoria, uh, Lakota, 788 00:38:29.141 --> 00:38:32.102 um, spiritual leader, who 789 00:38:32.144 --> 00:38:35.105 wrote God is Red, when he highlights how God 790 00:38:35.147 --> 00:38:36.106 is a god of place. 791 00:38:36.148 --> 00:38:41.111 that you're never in the middle of nowhere. 792 00:38:41.111 --> 00:38:44.073 And, 793 00:38:44.114 --> 00:38:48.077 um, That's, that's 794 00:38:48.118 --> 00:38:51.121 powerful, and I think, um, Yeah, 795 00:38:51.121 --> 00:38:54.083 some of the learning that I, I, I got 796 00:38:54.124 --> 00:38:56.085 to do with you this year. 797 00:38:57.127 --> 00:38:58.087 So I'm really thankful. 798 00:38:58.128 --> 00:39:01.090 And I think that's it just 799 00:39:01.131 --> 00:39:04.093 says something like, like, we are 800 00:39:04.134 --> 00:39:06.095 learning as we go along as well. 801 00:39:06.136 --> 00:39:07.096 Like there's things that we're learning. 802 00:39:08.138 --> 00:39:10.099 Um, and that's, 803 00:39:10.099 --> 00:39:12.101 It's been great, and 804 00:39:12.142 --> 00:39:17.106 it's like, you know, I joked about getting a, a 805 00:39:17.147 --> 00:39:20.109 title still, so I can say I'm still a part of the group. 806 00:39:20.150 --> 00:39:22.111 Honorary ambassador. 807 00:39:23.112 --> 00:39:26.073 We need we need to actually create that Ambassador Emeritus. 808 00:39:26.115 --> 00:39:28.075 I love it. 809 00:39:28.117 --> 00:39:29.076 But, you know. 810 00:39:30.119 --> 00:39:33.080 Well, yeah, the connect, 811 00:39:33.122 --> 00:39:36.083 like the connections between folks remains, 812 00:39:36.125 --> 00:39:39.086 you know, you have a new ambassador, come on, um, 813 00:39:39.128 --> 00:39:42.089 that, um, is going up to 814 00:39:42.131 --> 00:39:45.092 do something else, uh, in ministry, but then it's like there's 815 00:39:45.134 --> 00:39:48.095 those connections and the congregations, you know, they're 816 00:39:48.137 --> 00:39:49.096 they're still connected too. 817 00:39:50.139 --> 00:39:51.098 So we, 818 00:39:51.140 --> 00:39:55.102 I appreciate it, appreciate your work and the 819 00:39:55.144 --> 00:39:57.146 work that continues on for rural ministry. 820 00:39:57.146 --> 00:39:58.105 Yeah. 821 00:39:58.147 --> 00:39:59.106 Thank you. 822 00:39:59.148 --> 00:40:00.107 Thanks for being a part of this team. 823 00:40:01.150 --> 00:40:02.985 I mean, it's just been a great year together and. 824 00:40:03.026 --> 00:40:05.988 And just so you know, South Dakota Synod, we are in 825 00:40:05.988 --> 00:40:08.949 conversations about who will be the next ambassador 826 00:40:08.991 --> 00:40:11.952 out in Bear Butte, maybe even more than one. 827 00:40:11.994 --> 00:40:14.955 And so, uh, those that information is coming soon too. 828 00:40:14.997 --> 00:40:17.958 All right, everybody. 829 00:40:17.100 --> 00:40:18.959 The storm is coming. 830 00:40:20.002 --> 00:40:22.963 But, um, know that 831 00:40:23.005 --> 00:40:23.964 you are in the middle of somewhere. 832 00:40:24.006 --> 00:40:27.968 And that God is there with you and God is there with us. 833 00:40:28.010 --> 00:40:29.970 God bless you all this week. 834 00:40:31.013 --> 00:40:32.973 Thank you, Pastor Becky. 835 00:40:33.015 --> 00:40:34.975 Take care. 836 00:40:35.017 --> 00:40:35.976 All right, bye bye.