Dear Roy, You were the friend of my youth. You are black and I am white. When we became adults, we drifted apart. You served in the military. I served in the ministry. You died too soon for me to tell you this in person, so I’ll tell you now. You endured more than you … Continue reading A letter to Roy. He’s the Black guy in my pictures.
The distance between “was” and “is”
There is a vast difference between “was” and “is.” A Grand Canyon stands between them, but few notice it, except those of us who are currently crossing the divide. Sometimes we speak of the dead as “was” forgetting that their stories remain present with us. For example, my father is alive in my heart and … Continue reading The distance between “was” and “is”
When Trump runs again. A hymn of lament and resolve.
When Trump runs again The truth will still not be his friend MAGA’s will rejoice Election deniers with amplified voice and vitriol Will once again answer Trump’s beck and call Divisions will widen and the poor will bear the brunt Of the masquerading white nationalist front When Trump runs again When Trump runs again What … Continue reading When Trump runs again. A hymn of lament and resolve.
The Old Landmark. Remembering Pastor Steve Spears.
Before GPS and modern maps humanity was reliant on landmarks to guide them as they traveled. Landmarks, those easily seen and recognizable features of the landscape, natural or constructed that helped travelers understand where they were in relation to where they were going. Steve Spears was a landmark in my life. This morning Pastor Spears … Continue reading The Old Landmark. Remembering Pastor Steve Spears.
North Dakota Winds
In North Dakota the winds blow with intention. Unlike Oklahoma where the winds just blow relentlessly. November 1st marks three months in this new territory, and already, it seems my blood is thickening in anticipation of the winter to come. It’s all anyone talks about here, especially when they discover we are new to the … Continue reading North Dakota Winds
October Soul
When the leaves turn golden brown And the sun sets quickly down When there is a hint of chill in the air You can be sure winter is near Like a full harvest moon My soul is in full view Lukewarm of heart I drifted away From a grace that begged me to stay Just … Continue reading October Soul
Consenting to tentative touches that lift and linger
There is a lot of conversation in our world today around the idea of consent, and rightly so, as centuries of misogyny, patriarchy, and just general lack of empathy, have resulted in people being abused. But today, as I was sitting in our University chapel service, I was emotionally moved by the lyrics of a … Continue reading Consenting to tentative touches that lift and linger
Imagination grows in the loneliest of soils
The mind is both a prison and an escape. Memories can hold you captive, but imagination can set you free. Sometimes my mind remembers a cool breeze pulled through a wire mesh screen by an unseen fan tucked away in the attic, this is summer. Other times I recall a warmth emanating from a hidden … Continue reading Imagination grows in the loneliest of soils
A mercy in the world
Wendell Berry beautifully writes in his classic work Jaber Crow; “The mercy of the world is time. Time does not stop for love, but it does not stop for death and grief, either. After death and grief that (it seems) ought to have stopped the world, the world goes on. More things happen. And some … Continue reading A mercy in the world
James and John Wayne
My brother Ron recently shared a story that captured the spirit of my dad perfectly. My dad rarely attended church until much later in life, and when we were children, me and my older siblings would stay home with him on the occasional Sunday night. Ron remembers Dad took him one Sunday night to the … Continue reading James and John Wayne
Education of a wandering man
I’m about to embark on my second decade of serving as a university professor, not counting the numerous years I toiled away in part time teaching positions. This present iteration finds me at the University of Jamestown in North Dakota. Jamestown is a quaint little community nestled between Fargo to the east and Bismarck to … Continue reading Education of a wandering man
Scot Loyd 
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