The Turkey Shack: A Journey to Love

by Dave Snyder

Overview

How did a farmer come to create a spiritual sanctuary?

This book is the story behind the creation of Pathways Spiritual Sanctuary on a ranch in the Black Hills of South Dakota. An unlikely story that begins in a tin shed called the Turkey Shack.

__________

Author's Preface:

I’m a guy who wears Carhartt jeans, with pliers in the pocket. I also was the CEO of a $65 million agribusiness and the Executive Director of a $100 million-plus science research laboratory during its startup. Along the way I had spiritual experiences that mystified me. I didn’t shave my head, don robes or join an ashram. My life continued, but it was changed.

In 2010, I created Pathways Spiritual Sanctuary on my ranch in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Based on my history, you might think I’m an unlikely person to create a spiritual sanctuary, so let me tell you up front what I am not. I am not a guru. I am not a psychologist, philosopher, theologian or a person with a degree in any field that would seem relevant to spirituality. I do have bachelor’s and master’s degrees, but in agricultural economics. I remain the guy in Carhartts, a Nebraska farm kid, who happened to have some extraordinary experiences that allowed me to see a new world of love, compassion, tolerance and forgiveness.

This book is the story of that journey—a story that begins in a tin shed called the Turkey Shack.

Dave Snyder

Founder

Pathways Spiritual Sanctuary

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780692122303
Publisher:	David W Snyder
Publication date:	06/15/2018
Pages:	180
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.49(d)

About the Author

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dave Snyder grew up on a family farm in southeast Nebraska and had a career in production agriculture. He moved to South Dakota in 1980 where he and his partner continued their farming operations in the states of South Dakota, Nebraska, Montana and Colorado. In 2000 Dave retired to a small ranch in the Black Hills of South Dakota. In 2010 he built Pathways Spiritual Sanctuary on a portion of that ranch where he and his wife Jan reside.

Table of Contents

THE TURKEY SHACK CONTENTS

PART I―THE JOURNEY BEGINS. 1

Dave’s Story – The Turkey Shack 1954. 3

Wayne’s Story – Harvest 1946. 7

The Alpine Ranch 1993. 13

Pathways Spiritual Sanctuary 2010. 19

The Pilger Years 1946–1953. 23

Back to the Future 1953. 27

Becoming a Farmer 1954. 31

Home Alone 1957. 35

Truck Driving 1957-1958. 39

The Night in the Manger 1958. 43

I Can Take Care of Myself 1962. 47

The Calf is Weaned 1963. 51

Grandma’s Wisdom 1973. 55

A Business Born in a Blizzard 1976. 59

Crying on the Tractor 1979. 65

South Dakota and Divorce 1980–1993. 69

PART II―AWAKENING TO LOVE. 75

You Are Loved 1994. 77

Confusion 1994. 81

The Awakening 1994–1995. 87

Prior Voices and Intercessions 1980s 93

Back to School 1993–1995. 99

The Challenge of the Forest 1995. 105

Now I Am Crazy! 1995. 111

We Are a People Company 1989–2000. 113

The End of D & D Farms 2000. 119

The Journey Continues 2001. 125

The Last Dot 2009. 133

The Gate is Open 2010. 139

A Journey to Love 2017. 157

Epilogue. 165

Acknowledgments 169

Editorial Reviews

Source of the following reviews: www.PathwaysSpiritualSanctuary.org

A wonderfully written story of a farm kid’s traumatic life journey and spiritual awakening. The pages fly by as Dave struggles to understand and accept things that he cannot fully explain. If you have ever wondered how to define spirituality, this book is for you. -Brad Christiansen

A totally engrossing and uplifting book well worth reading. This book would be a great tool for therapists and counselors to recommend to those struggling with family communication, or lack thereof. -Trudy Severson

I have to say I’m a bit of a skeptic when it comes to spiritual matters. I’m more of a “dirt guy.” However, when I started to read Dave Snyder’s book, The Turkey Shack, A Journey to Love, I was captivated. I basically didn’t put it down until I finished it! -David Petersen

This book is such a blessing as it tells the story of how the Pathway to Love is full of ups and downs, trials and triumphs, pain and joy, and in this writer's case, a turkey shack. It shares how a man, whose life could have been shattered by loss, learned to not only share love with others in his family, his work life, and through the eventual creation of a spiritual sanctuary, but also receive it. It's the tale of how this very ordinary man woke up from a lonely and pain filled existence to show us what can happen when we listen and trust the loving voices within and without that guide us as we embrace our own pathway, wherever it may lead. May we all have love, compassion, tolerance, and forgiveness for ourselves and each other. -Carly Ericson, DPT

The Turkey Shack. A compelling read from an ordinary working man who is willing to expose his deepest feelings and risk vulnerability to bring a message of hope and love to others. He shares his extraordinary experience of discovering that there is more to human life than the physical/material we all think we know. -Joan K. Irwin, PhD

A captivating true tale of one man’s odyssey and the creation of a beautiful outdoor sculpture garden and sanctuary in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

What forces led a regular guy to carve out a non-religious spiritual sanctuary and sculpture garden from his Black Hills ranch? Read it and find out. You will be entertained and glad you did. -Steve Zellmer

Disclosure: I’m Dave Snyder’s cousin, the one sitting next to him in one of the photos in The Turkey Shack, A Journey to Love. I’ve followed Dave’s progress as he’s written his story and I think he’s nailed it! This book will be loved by anyone who’s struggled with hardship, and by anyone who spends time thinking about “meaning of life” issues. I guess that means all of us. -Teresa Rennick

This book will surprise you. -Jody Severson

This fascinating book is an insight to a remarkable man allowing the reader into his life, both as a struggling boy and adult. It is honest and compelling ...hard to put down until finished.

-Peggy Hall

From the Publisher