Out Our Way: Aho,Tatanka!

John 20; 28-29

Out our way, we meet a few tourists along the way and sometimes even celebrities. You may remember the Kevin Costner movie "Dances with Wolves," and a few years back one of the bit players - a kid who went by the moniker "Smiley" because he had been in the movie and smiled a lot in the one scene he was in - well, he came to the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation to talk with the kids at a school program. Impressive - but I got him beat. When pastoring in South Dakota a short time after the movie was made, a local rancher who had a small herd of bison that were used in the movie invited me to come ride with her and meet the "cast." Aho, Tatanka! This is what I was told means "Hello, Bison" in the Lakota language. So yes, I got to mix with some real-deal movie stars!

But as we move past Easter and remember the Bible doesn't end with the Resurrection, it is interesting to read of those who weren't there on Easter morning - like Thomas in today's text - or Mark - a disciple of Peter - or Paul of the Epistles - or any of the others who for the next 2,000 years connected with the Living Christ through the Spirit and by faith, and still do so today. 

The Enemy (2 Corinthians 4:4) has always dominated politics and governments where power and control, not justice or righteousness, have always been the focus. The evil that presently dominates the world, as World War 3 appears to be just over the horizon, has always been with us. But so has Christ, and the faithful who hold onto the faith anyway.

I have never met Kevin Costner - but I have met some of the bison who shared the spotlight with him. Aho, Tatanka! I have never seen the Risen Christ in this life - but I have read the testimony of those who have - and shared the faith with those who, like me, despite not seeing,

Brother John

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The Rev. John Bruington is the retired pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Havre. He now lives in Colorado, but continues to write "Out Our Way." He can be reached for comment or dialogue at [email protected].