Beyond the Darkness

Vernal Lind grew up in the Leaf Hills on a farm in West-Central Minnesota, not far from Inspiration Peak (second highest point in Minnesota, named by Sinclair Lewis). He graduated from St. Cloud (Mn.) State University with B.S. and M.S. degrees. He also attended a number of other colleges and universities to do post-graduate work. He taught English for 36 years at the senior high level—and one year at the college or university level.

He moved to Battle Lake (MN.) after retirement. Presently, he is a freelance writer and an active volunteer; published in GRIT, CAPPERS, LIFEWISE, TEACHERS OF VISION and other periodicals; and his stories appear in WRITING SO HEAVEN WILL BE DIFFERENT, RIDING THE AIRWAVES, and OTTER TAIL REVIEW (anthologies). He writes a regular column for TEACHERS OF VISION as well as occasional articles.

He is involved in church, has held a number of positions—congregational president, committees, part-time organist, coordinator of adult education, etc.—for 16 years. He is a volunteer at a care center—doing Evergreen Reading Program, play and sing, lead hymn sing; he also volunteers at Otter Tail County Historical Society—researching, recording materials, proofreading, and some editing of newsletter. He also proofreads for a weekly column in FERGUS FALLS DAILY JOURNAL and CONNECTIONS magazine.

He delivers Meals on Wheels once a week, volunteers at B.L. Senior Center, and worked at the Food Shelf as chairman of the board for several years.

He is active in the state organization, Minnesota Christian Writers’ Guild, and received Best New Writer and Writer of the Year awards from the Write to Publish Conference.

Vernal Lind is single but very much involved with his family. He loves his two sisters, nieces, grandnieces and nephews and considers them as a big part of his life.