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What I pray for

I consider it a huge honor and blessing to write this column and share time with you each Sunday. I hope there are readers who are walking with the Lord who are strengthened and encouraged by our time together. I hope there are readers who are atheists, agnostics, skeptical or seekers who gain insight for building healthier relationships and lives; perhaps even take an incremental step toward God. Wherever you are at spiritually, I am truly grateful for you and thrilled you are reading my column, whether for the first time, you’re an occasional reader or a regular reader. Each of us ...

After creating crucifix, former Fargo artist diagnosed with cancer carries his cross

BOZEMAN, Mont. — The San Damiano crucifix, a central focal point at Resurrection University Catholic Parish, holds special significance for Adam Schwankl: He both worships the God it represents and fashioned the unique rendition. “It’s special for me to go in there and see it; it’s humbling,” says the artist, 30, formerly of Fargo, who was commissioned several years ago to create a crucifix as part of the church’s renovation. “I didn’t take a lot of artistic liberties — it’s a very traditional image — but I used a brighter palette,” Adam says, noting that it ...

Reflections: Is it good to be a lone ranger?

During my first eight years of education, I attended a one- room school with a population that ranged from 16 students to eventually only 4 students. I loved the familiarity as each school year started. However, when I headed into a larger school for grade 9, where there were 129 in my grade alone, I struggled to find my way in the comparatively massive building. Gradually, my comfort level grew except at the end of the day. When my last class ended I would leave the classroom, go up the stairs, across a hall, down the stairs, around the corner and down the hall to my locker. Every day I ...

Friendship formed in rain a blessing for both

It’s been seven years, Facebook recently reminded us, since we met that day in the rain. We were mothers helping chaperone an eighth-grade field trip — the first of three school-led trips to Valley Fair I’d make with my children, and the rainiest by far. Most of the adults not yet on circling duty huddled under a shelter near an eatery, harboring a collection of umbrellas and raingear while sizing up the endless clouds. Our children didn’t seem to notice the rain, and though our hair and clothes sagged a bit, our time under the shelter proved fruitful; the clouds offered us ...

I knew I was in Montana

Last fall, I was blessed to give the nontechnical keynote talk at High Point Networks Technical Conference, HiPoCON. I met amazing people and enjoyed the experience greatly. The Fargo event was at Scheels Arena and the Sioux Falls, S.D., event at the Sioux Falls Convention Center. The third location was Billings, Mont. I drove to the Fargo and Sioux Falls events but flew in a private plane to Billings. Tom McDougall, president and CEO of High Point, was the pilot. I had never flown in a private plane before so I had a few nerves as we left the ground, but quickly settled in. We enjoyed ...