"Not far from foresaken."

The other day I posted a humorous suggestion by the humor site The Onion that North Dakota shoot for building the world's largest strip mall. For a far more sobering picture of the realities small-town North Dakota faces, consider this feature in today's New York Times Magazine.

"Our perception of what a small town is has changed," [one North Dakotan] says. "Today, Williston is a small town. Just like our perception of small farms has changed. It used to be one quarter. Today, 10 quarters is a small farm."

Professor Stenberg agrees. And when it comes to predictions, he says the area will either redefine itself and rebound or it will be "last one out, shut the lights off." Like many other people in the area, he's doggedly optimistic. Or at least he wants to be. But pressed to say what he thinks northwest North Dakota's small towns are going to look like in 20 or 50 years, he sighs and answers: "I don't think they're going to be there. There may be a historic marker there, but that's it."

Not easy to read, but probably important for anyone who cares about these parts and the people who live here. Recommended.

For further helpful reading, pick up a copy of Kathleen Norris' excellent book, Dakota: A Spiritual Geography. Norris writes with both a deep love for the people of the Dakotas as well as a clear, perceptive eye. I wish I had read it three years ago when I first became a pastor here - it's that good.