Door to Dakota
Nature is wide open, yet we shut it out. We treasure privacy and hide from creation, fearing the exposure. The plains are wide open with nothing to hide. They sprawl out across the earth, stretching to show their eagerness. The rivers are wide and cannot be contained. They are in constant pursuit of…
Dirty Drivers
When driving through the plains of South Dakota, the flat surface and high speed limits of the roads cause us to cruise past our surroundings without pause. We are not here to see, to look, to gaze but to go. We are driving to a place that is not here and do not stop to…
The Embrace of Place
Dear Grandpa Ferd, It’s been awhile. Last time I was here, I was about to go on my first tour of Augustana College in South Dakota. Mom and I invited Grandma Lavon and Aunt Carol to join us on the road trip to Sioux Falls because, as you know, Grandma loves to travel—but more importantly,…
Soothing Shadows
This is my favorite tree on Augustana’s campus because it demands attention. Not only does its immense size dominate the landscape but its shadow takes up as much space as its branches. Anyone who walks past it is instantly absorbed. As I cross its path, my own shadow gradually disappears. I am no longer able…