For almost two weeks that stretched from late October into November, my wife and I drove through the heartlands of America. We packed our SUV full of household items for delivery to family members along our route. The trip was scheduled before winter weather arrived. Although we journeyed during the middle of the fall season, mother nature acted like it was still late summer.
We departed Texas with temperatures in the low 90’s and looked forward to cooler breezes. Just beyond Memphis, we stopped for the night at a suburban hotel. We were tired and needed a warm meal. Upon entering the hotel, we joyfully learned that they served dinner. The staff was welcoming and catered to our needs with southern hospitality.
The next morning, we drove eastward through Nashville and Knoxville. The countryside was alive with fall colors. Thanks to technology, my wife was able to attend her Zoom Bible study as I drove on the interstate. We stopped for lunch at an Olive Garden restaurant and sat next to a large table of ladies enjoying a mid-day meal together. One of the older women came over to our table and apologized for their “loud, talkative group.” She informed us that it was a church group who regularly enjoyed each other’s company. We hardly heard them, and they certainly didn’t bother anyone. Their southern accents and charm gladdened our hearts. The Spirit was present in that restaurant.
The following morning, we crossed into southern Virginia, a region I had never visited, and drove northeast through the Blue Ridge Mountains. The undisturbed rolling hills were a feast of vibrant yellows and reds. My thoughts were on the physical and cultural differences between the rural south and urban north that led towards the destructive Civil War. Such a waste of life in the midst of God’s creation.
We stayed in Alexandria (Virginia), close to the heart of our nation’s capital. My nephew lives there and performs in the Army’s brass quintet. We unloaded boxes of my grandmother’s bone china, the ritualistic passing along of family keepsakes to the next generation. Later, we ate outside in the old town on a warm evening as trick and treating families strolled down the streets clothed in their festive costumes. This scene was being replayed throughout our nation, a tradition that unites our country. For Christians, it sets the stage for All Saint’s Day where the Church Triumphant faithful are honored.
We departed early the following morning to get ahead of the commuter traffic but quickly discovered that federal workers also get up early. As we headed north into Pennsylvania, the traffic decreased, and the rural landscape appeared again. It was only a few days until the Presidential election and this important swing state was filled with election advertisements. As we traveled north across the center of the state, one could readily see the political division: the Trumpian rural verses the Harrisburg urban. We crossed into southern New York and by the time we reached upstate New York, there were fewer leaves on the trees and the temperature became noticeably cooler.
We stayed four nights with my daughter and her three children who continue to grow and delight us. All are now going to various schools. The baby, toddler, and pre-school years are now past. Our next stage in life is to be grandparents who are not ‘cool’ anymore. We need to relish the present while we can. We unloaded the remaining household items and our SUV felt empty after our treasures were all delivered.
We took a different route back to Austin. We headed through western Pennsylvania into Ohio on a southwest course through Columbus and into Indiana. The rolling verdant farmland was still ablaze with fall colors with their fields fallow after the harvest. After driving through Indianapolis, we were met with rain and darkness for an hour before stopping at the Illinois border. I was so glad to get out of the 18-wheeler traffic and into a dry hotel for the night. Again, there was warm food in the hotel to keep us from going outside again. There is great joy in small blessings.
The next morning, we gained an hour of time as we drove across Illinois and into Missouri. It was a quiet Wednesday morning as we listened to the election results on the radio. During the last month, we had driven through fourteen states with two of these states designated as swing states. As we were constantly bombarded by election advertisements, I became aware of the financial costs of this election and lamented the wasteful political spending when so many people need food, proper healthcare, housing, and education.
We ended our journey with a four-night stay in Fayetteville, located in the northwest corner of Arkansas. This university town is enjoying an economic revival. Our close friends recently purchased a summer home in a quiet Fayetteville neighborhood. This was my first visit to this charming Razorback community.
Our first morning was spent helping a local food bank distribute food. My role was to move food boxes into vehicles. As we worked for three hours, I was positively surprised at the good quality and quantity of fresh fruits and vegetables donated by local grocers. What struck me most was the distribution of need — from recent immigrants to young adults with illegal smells permeating their cars to nearby residents carrying their food boxes on foot. I learned that serving the needy is not a one-size-fits-all solution. The problems are complex, the solutions difficult, and the level of need is great.
As I reflected on our 4,000-mile journey, I was struck by America’s size, sheer beauty, and diversity. Sights and sounds differ yet Americans are united around our flag. Billboards may express conflicting opinions, but kindness and hospitality still reign. As we passed our nation’s capital, I glimpsed the lit Washington Memorial surrounded by darkened grounds. Even in division, we are “one nation under God.” John Denver’s voice rang in my ears:
I hear her voice in the morning hour, she calls me,
The radio reminds me of my home far away.
And driving down the road I get a feeling that I
Should have been home yesterday, yesterday.
Home is where the heart is. If we have the heart, mind, and body to love our neighbor, we are home. If we can see our neighbor as an image of God, we are home. If we can see God’s creation as a blessing, we are home. As you enter the Advent season of hope, peace, love, and joy, remember that you are always home when you love God and your neighbor as yourself.
