Good for the soul

It’s Palm Sunday. It was my turn to preach, which of course I did, but Palm Sunday has enough ritual and story to carry its own weight. The passion story inspires me to not give up when the going gets tough, and I hope our students hear that same message. The gospel is long and split up into parts, and I appreciated the high school students who were willing to take some of the parts and help dramatize it.

When the younger students even quit waving the palm branches during that time I could tell they were paying attention better because other students were proclaiming the readings.

This afternoon I got in some exercise in the Rec Center. I shot baskets with 4^th graders. We didn’t do a whole lot of talking, but they appreciated a few pointers, and the shared activity  was relaxing and quality time for me.

When I arrived at Stevens Home (6^th-8^th grade girls) the house was uncharacteristically quiet – reading time! Each student can read anything they’re interested in, but has to spend ½ hour of  reading each day. Because they wanted to have evening Rec time, they voted on the afternoon to turn the pages. Girls were scattered into all three common areas, some curled up in chairs, some on the couch, still others lying on the floor – all intently reading. Wanda banished me into the kitchen to chat with Frank who was cooking supper. I reemerged for their house meeting which consisted mostly of coordinating the week’s upcoming activities. Then we sat to a good meal for a cold day – homemade chicken noodle soup. Shared with that crew it was indeed good for the soul.

Author: St. Joseph's Indian School

At St. Joseph's Indian School, our privately-funded programs for Lakota (Sioux) children in need have evolved over 90 years of family partnership, experience and education. Because of generous friends who share tax-deductible donations, Native American youth receive a safe, stable home life; individual counseling and guidance; carefully planned curriculum based on Lakota culture and individual student needs and tools to help build confidence, boost self-esteem and improve cultural awareness. All of this helps children to live a bright, productive, possibility-filled future. View all posts by St. Joseph's Indian School