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My journey for the past two years has been in upstate New York at the request of our daughter for assistance with childcare for our youngest granddaughter. I have stories about the brutal cold, the beautiful apple orchards, dairy farms and colorful fall foliage. I judge New York drivers to be much safer than Texas drivers. And, the same Jesus that we’ve got in Texas is there too. But finally, this month we come home to “God’s country.”
Let me share some of my observations upon return:
- Speeding. After crossing the Red River and driving the speed limit on the Interstate, a pickup pulling a big loaded horse trailer passed me going 85.
- Salad. Next, we stopped to eat lunch at a national chain for fast food. After reviewing the overhead menu, I asked for a Ranch-style salad. The cashier turned his head toward the kitchen and shouted “Salad!" The kitchen returned fire, “No salad!" He didn’t use a conciliatory tone, "we are out" or "we don’t have any" only a hard blunt “No.” My conclusion: Real Texans don’t eat salad.
- Ice Cream at a convenience store. Texas men wear hats and belts and carry pocketknives. I witnessed a real Texas cowboy eating a pint of Blue Bell Butter Pecan with his pocketknife.
- Two-tent funeral. Finally, I knew I was in Texas when my Aggie buddy shared, “Jim, have you ever heard of a two-tent funeral? In our family, there was so much hostility between the children of the first wife and the step-children of the second wife that at the graveside, they refused to share the funeral home canopy; so the funeral director solved the problem by erecting two tents, one on each side of the open grave." Smiling, my buddy said, "They had a problem finding a preacher.”
- Arriving on the airplane. Upon landing at Hobby Airport in Houston, the flight attendant over the public speaker said in a soft voice, "Welcome home."
Who says coming home is mundane?
For years upon returning home to San Marcos, I’ve played a mental game with myself — who will be the first person I recognize in the city? And what existing buildings have been torn down to be replaced by apartments? Assessing the volume of traffic at key intersections.
The heat, the pecan and live oak trees and barbecue are ingredients I’ve missed in New York. But the top of the list for coming home is seeing my friends and neighbors. And going to my "home" churches, First Baptist on McCarthy Lane and Redwood Baptist Church.
The verse that comes to mind is:
"Jesus said…'Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you.'" Mark 5:19b
