Pictured, left to right, with a quilt featuring the traditional Lakota colors are Newton Kimberly, Hazel Jolliff, Celeste Swihart, David Soliday, Payton Andisman, Kahlil Mitchell-Smith, Emmet Ritchie, Aaron Gonzoles and Nestor Cook.
Submitted by David Soliday
David Soliday
Your Pastor Speaks
While I am a part-time minister for the Delaware Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (DUUF), my day job is in technology at Ohio Wesleyan University. I often bring lessons learned in one role to the folks I serve in my other role. A pastoral presence at the IT help desk is a tremendous asset, and teaching is similar to preaching. Another example of this is my work with the Spring Break Interfaith Service Week program.
For most of my 15 years at OWU, I have been a faculty/staff advisor on one of these interfaith teams. I first went with a group of students to El Salvadorto serve at an orphanage. I’ve gone several other places, both international and domestic, before settling into my favorite. For the last decade, I’ve been an advisor to the Lakota Team, serving the Lakota people on reservations in South Dakota. We’ve had cohorts go to serve and learn on the Pine Ridge and Rosebud reservations.
Each year, shortly after spring break, I share the stories of my journey and the experiences on it with the fellowship I serve, much as those who have gone on pilgrimage will share the story of their adventure with their home community. I share insights, fresh perspectives, and new understandings, and I always invite the students on the team to join me. Through this sharing, a pilgrimage has the potential to have an impact on many people, not just the pilgrim.
In this case, it is exposure to Lakota culture and values that has an impact on the students and staff on the team. The Lakota people, including those we work with, honor their relationships in humility and respect. They are much more relational than individualistic, and they appreciate all their relations, even with animals and plants. One illustration of this is on the morning of our first work day, they first try to get to know us and find out what our gifts and passions are. We do this before job duties are assigned, and the work we do for the rest of the week is decided by matching up our own interests to the needs of the organization.
Deep reflection is a critical part of the spring break service week program, and that’s a critical ingredient in making it transformative. Teams are formed well in advance, so members have opportunities to get to know each other. Nightly team reflection on the trip creates a safe and courageous space to tackle hefty issues, like our government’s horrible treatment of indigenous people. Speaking openly about our experiences during the trip makes it a more compelling tale when retold later.
This year was special. We have been working with Lakota Youth Development, a nonprofit organization of Rosebud Sioux serving their own youth and young adults. Teams of OWU students and I have been going there for the last eight years, and each time I brought a humble gift of coffee, because I know the executive director loves it. This time, I was also presented with a gift in return — a star quilt, sewn by her sister. A gift of honor for ongoing friendship and many years of service. It features the traditional Lakota colors. I am humbled by this, and have hung it proudly in a new space I’ll be using at OWU.
A typical message to DUUF during these “Reflections from the Rez” talks I share with you today: step out of your comfort zone, especially to strike up a conversation with a stranger. Take a trip when you can. Join or make a new team. Make someone feel welcome. Then share the story of your own adventure with your family and friends, or the folks you serve. You might have a transformative experience or maybe not, but at least you tried, and sharing that will encourage others to do so as well.
Plus, listen to the stories of our elders and their own adventures. Be humble and you might learn something. We have two ears and one mouth, so we should be listening twice as much as we speak. Listen attentively, provide feedback, and you’ll make the world a better place. It’ll also make you feel good in the process.
David Soliday is the minister at the Delaware Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.
