Well, we just returned from what could be the last of our family road trips. Back in 2011 the family discussed how many states we had visited together. The conversation led to setting the goal to visit all 50 states (as a family) before our youngest graduates high school.
Mission accomplished. This last road trip we traversed about 5,000 miles in the close comfort of our Ford Edge. Up to New England and back, when you spend that much time behind the wheel there is ample opportunity to think. Experiencing a little of every state I certainly have my favorites and my don't-need-to-go-back-there-again states. I have been surprised to find out how much I like some of the northern environments. The region around the Great Lakes, Detroit and Buffalo are cool, lush, and refreshing coming from the heat of Texas.
More so, I have found that I like the folks from all over. One-on-one most people are very helpful and friendly. It didn't matter what state you were in; you found people to talk to and enjoy brief conversations. I found this to be true in large cities as well as small towns. But I think the small town and small city environments were much more conducive to having meaningful experiences. The food of course is good all over especially when you're looking for the best eating an area has to offer.
The idea I want to stress here is that I have found that generally people all over the country are good. It's frustrating to see how divisive and unkind our politics are today. And before you say, it's "so-and-so's fault" I will say it's not the politicians that are fueling this. Now, anyone can sit behind a computer keyboard and disparage people with different thoughts on economic and political ideologies. People lob grenades at the other party's group with no sensitivity to nuance of belief. We label our political enemies as monolithic in thought without any desire to find common ground on different topics.
What I have discovered is in this environment whether it is an editorial page, newspaper, video media, and everyone's individual Facebook opinion, no one is actually listening to each other. Instead they are hurling insults and assaults against intellect and values.
Well all I have to say is this, I've met lots of regular Americans from all over, and I like them. I have zero desire to disparage them for their political ideologies (even if I do think an idea is ignorant). I'm much more interested in that person being in the Kingdom of God. Hopefully, when sin gets out of the way, God will use me for that purpose. I hope he will use you too.
