Stardate 08/17/10 4:05pm in Westmont, IL...
We are taking two days to rest in the Chicago area (as well as getting time with more of Lois' family) before we finish the trip on Thursday and Friday and land in Stroudsburg, PA.
We left Nebraska behind yesterday when we left Lois' brother and their family in rural eastern Nebraska. I appreciated the beauty (yes... I believe rural Nebraska has its own kind of beauty between the endless fields of crops as well as the large horizon), the friendliness of the people, and the lack of automobile traffic. There were things I didn't enjoy as well including the flies and the deafening crickets; but overall I have learned to appreciate rural life while living out West. I have lived in the environs of a large city (Denver) for most of my last eleven years, as opposed to actually residing in the heart of rural life; yet with the number of times we visited Lois' grandma and other relatives/friends in rural Nebraska, I have had many opportunities to experience life away from the city. Two things specifically I appreciated...
1. Peace and quiet - In these times when the hustle and bustle of the city has become crazier and crazier due to technology. I believe it does our 'bodies' good to rest not check our email or facebook or cell phone every five minutes. It can be very beneficial to our time with God to create our own oasis from technology in order to allow ourselves some uninterrupted time with God.
2. Opportunity for real community - In the city, its so easy to gravitate towards those with whom we automatically connect; yet I believe that throughout the pages of especially the New Testament, God expects that we will grow in our relationship with Him as we deal with those with whom we struggle to relate. In a small town, unless people move away, there are certain people in town with whom you will have to get to know no matter how much you dislike them.
Thanks for taking the time to read along on this journey of ours! BLESSINGS!
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