An Arkies Musings

My An Arkie's Faith column from the February 28, 2024, issue of The Polk County Pulse. Someone who knew I had traveled to many places recently asked me a question. They wanted to know my favorite destination I would recommend visiting. That was a difficult question because many areas have left a lasting impression. The answer to that question might change from day to day, but the answer I gave that day was Erfurt, Germany.   I still remember my first impressions of Erfurt. The tour bus drove down the narrow cobblestone street and stopped in front of an old church. Our tour guide, Bernd, told us that the church was St. Augustine's Church, built over 700 years ago. In 1277, Augustinian Hermits started to build St. Augustine's Church and the monastery complex. He said, "We will spend the weekend inside the historic walls and rooms where monks, including Martin Luther, once lived and prayed."  Our tour had arranged for us to stay at the Augustinerkloster in Erfurt, Ge...

My An Arkie's Faith column from the February 21, 2024, issue of The Polk County Pulse. On Hacksaw Ridge, soldiers lay dead or dying. Over the noise of gunfire and artillery, voices yelled, “medic!” The enemy had caught them by surprise. Mortar rounds were exploding, and bullets were flying. The order came, “Retreat!” While soldiers scrambled away from danger, one soldier ran toward the enemy, looking for wounded soldiers left on the battlefield. More than seventy-five men remained behind, too wounded to retreat.  For hours, without any help, he carried injured soldiers through enemy fire, lowering each man on a rope-supported litter he had devised to a safe spot over forty feet below the ridge. He used double bowline knots he had learned as a young boy, tying the makeshift litter to a tree stump that served as an anchor. Many hours later, after rescuing countless injured soldiers, he refused to stop even though he was at the point of exhaustion. He was determined to find every fall...

My An Arkie's Faith column from the February 14, 2024, issue of The Polk County Pulse. A light mist was in the air as we arrived at Avalon Hall. I was curious as to what the evening would look like. The event was the Art Lovers Ball. I knew there would be art, music, and food, but I wasn’t sure what to expect. We walked into the beautifully decorated venue and were directed to our table. As the event began, Michael Cate introduced artist Carolyn MacMahon. On the stage were three large paintings. Two paintings of castles reminded me of our summer trip to Europe. Carolyn explained her process, from composition to the steps she took as she finished the paintings. I was touched by the paintings and impressed with the quality. They would not have been out of place displayed at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. But the painting that most impacted me depicted several spirited horses running in a field with beautiful scenery and ominous clouds in the background. As Carolyn began ...

My An Arkie's Faith column from the February 7, 2024, issue of The Polk County Pulse. Last December, a friend of mine, a former resident of Mena, moved to Terlingua, Texas. Terlingua is a mining ghost town with a population of around one hundred. Situated eight miles from Big Bend National Park, tourism is the basis for the town’s economy. My friend loves the town and its laid-back atmosphere. He has been busy remodeling an old house and adapting to the way of life there. Last week, he told me, “Terlingua brings perspective. It illuminates time and your part in the vast expanse of time. It humbles you but consoles you. Terlingua tells you, ‘Relax, it’s all OK. We are a small part of a much bigger picture.’” His words reminded me of my first morning in the Terlingua area. It was a crisp 34 degrees as I walked out of our hotel. I carefully made my way down the dark path to the parking lot. I saw the inky black sky with thousands of stars embedded into the canopy like brilliant diamon...