My Homeland

I sit currently here in the house of my most excellent friend, Sam Cover, writing this post. The house is filled with young guys from all over the nation, other CollegePlus! Students who are here to attend the California Gathering in a few days. We’re staying here for another day or two before driving down to the Sacramento area, where we will attend the conference proper.
Right now I’m in a small town named Ellensburg, Wastington, just about as far away from my home as I can get! It is beautiful, in a very haunting manner…cold, Yukon-ish looking mountains, nothing but black and white with a few clumps of trees here and there.
It’s been a lovely trip so far. I’ve spent a lot of time in fellowship with some of the most godly young men I know alive, and it’s been a new experience to see the mountains of the far west. I have yet to see the Pacific Ocean, though…perhaps I will before the week is out! We shall see.
While I spent the past year traveling and seeing more places than I believe I have otherwise in my entire life, I’ve been able to see a good deal more of the country I live in. From Minneapolis to Tampa, Philadelphia to Seattle, I believe I’ve seen a good deal more of the kind of people our world is made of, though let me be first to admit I’ve seen nothing yet. But even the tiny slice that I know a little more of now teaches me.
I honestly did not think very much about my home, not too long ago. This isn’t to say I disliked it, by no means, nor did I not care for it. I simply took it much more for granted than I do now. Having never really been very far out of my own land, I didn’t realize the distinct qualities of the South, and it’s people and culture. I knew other places were different, but I didn’t realize the high value of my own beautiful home.
I’ve seen a fair amount of other beautiful places now, but I’m coming more and more to realize now about my own self: I’m a southern gentlemen. Distinctly. My accent may not testify to it, but it is my home. I love it’s people. It’s culture, and land. The balmy, sunny, fairly arid world of gentle hills and massive forests, from the coast to the mountains, it more beautiful to me than any city outline.
I love the people, all friendly and agreeable, and the general lazy, slow moving atmosphere for everyone’s attitude. Most people are not in a hurry here. After seeing the chaotic streets of Chicago and Philadelphia, and the frantic, almost idiotic pace of Californians, it seems a much quieter, simpler way of living. The culture of easy going farmers, accented gentlemen, living in quiet, stately towns and villages is something I’ve grown to appreciate as well.
Now…I suppose I’m still not much of a Johnny Rebel, or a Confederate, by any means. Still again I imagine I’m not a patriot, I definitely have some convictions against a few aspects of the Southern Cause (though the North was certainly no better). Would I have fought for the South? I don’t know, probably not. But right or wrong, I do love this place. And I’m happy to have it as a home.
I’m often enough out of place here, this culture not being known it’s deep thinking scholars or people like me who fanatically try to live out crazy dreams. Generally the atmosphere here is to continue life as it always has been, and it’s certainly not a bad life. But I love these people, and this place, and I am certainly one of them.