We just completed a 5 day program titled the Lakota Benedictine Experience at Borderlands Ranch located in the heart of the Black Hills in South Dakota. Dr. Martin Brokenleg was the program leader. He is an Episcopal priest, a pipe carrier in his Lakota tribe, and a Benedictine Oblate from Blue Cloud Abbey in SD. He is the Director of Native Ministries at the Vancouver School of Theology. We joined 8 others from around the country to learn about the differences and similarities between the two spiritual traditions. It was a week of learning and practicing the Rule of Benedict. We had some wonderful experiences going to Flag Mountain and Deerfield Lake for worship and lunch. Since Borderlands is a ranch, accommodations included rooms in the main house, a guest house, a bunk house and camping. We slept in our GTRV and hooked up to electricity from the barn.
We ate our meals together with delicious meals prepared by Carol, we came for the week to cook for us. Rev. Linda Kramer is the founder of the Borderlands program. She is a warm and gracious person who lets us use her house as if is our own. Her library alone was worth the stay. I was reading as fast as I could. Her web site details other programs that are offered. http://www.borderlandsranch.org/
Dr. Brokenleg is coming back next summer for another Lakota Benedictine Experience. I would recommend the experience for anyone interested in the Lakota way of life and learning more about the Benedictine way of life.
