What does God, church and a pickup truck in a small town say to you?
The picture above was sent to me by one of my favorite followers and every time I see it, I am reminded of the term "God, guns and pickup trucks" which is so reminiscent of life in our rural Southland. The term could also be used to describe life in rural areas generally except that some states preclude gun ownership by establishing onerous tax policies or stiff administrative tasks which require legal expense and time to overcome. Such measures often to overcome often require expensive lawyers so they provide a way to thwart the constitutional will of so many until someone decides to take up a case and get the law changed.
But that being said, how should I describe that picture in ways that make it understandable to anyone? Well, let's start with the easy part, describing the picture itself. It is obviously a beautiful day in the fall, when the leaves are turning with the majesty that nature provides and the location looks like a very nice small town where people are friendly and most folks know one another and are kind. The beautiful and well kept traditional white clapboard church is likely a centerpiece of the town and its Christian neighbors and in the house right up the street lives someone who loves and drives an older Ford pickup truck. So, that of course, is what is in the picture, but what does it really mean?
I believe it tells me this. Since the church is likely the centerpiece of the town, the owner of that old truck likely lives in the house to the right of the tree in the picture, and that owner is also likely to be a regular at that beautiful old church. He is likely a man with family enjoying life in that pristine neighborhood, probably walks to church each Sunday with his family, after which they return home and enjoy a family dinner before spending the afternoon enjoying each other before preparing for the new work and school week. They probably hold traditional family values and believe the Word of God as written and require no fancy explanations. And they are careful with their money, hence retaining the old truck which is kept well maintained for his work. He likely also owns a hunting rifle and probably carries it hunting in his pickup truck, choosing to use it to keep the family car clean and neat. The old truck is his just for his uses, for work and hunting and he is likely its only drive, excepting his son who might very well learn to drive in that truck. The an is also not likely a wealthy man by the world's standards, yet he considers himself very rich, indeed, for his wealth is measured by what is inside his heart and the love that he feels and also provides for his family. But why, oh why does this picture touch me so?
It all boils down to this. It reminds me of my boyhood days, growing up in a small but bustling city where everyone could be found shopping downtown on Saturday and they were all kind and generous with others. Many knew one another, many were weekend hunters and they would often smile and wave and even talk together wherever they might gather on the city streets. And then on each Sunday, the traditional downtown churches, covering nearly the gamut of Christian Catholicism and Protestantism, were caring and sharing fellowships where all were comfortable with each other and tried to live as Christ would have us do. Then Sunday afternoons, following that wonderful mid-day meal was one of rest, visiting with family and friends and just savoring the beauty of the day, much like what was likely in the pictured small, picturesque town. Or maybe it was spent planning the next hunting trip, but somehow I think sadly that it is a glory to never be seen again and it truly makes me sad. But, it still will always give me hope that maybe there is a way to bring it back. That is my wish today, that America returns to her roots and turns her gaze away from today's anger and hate for one another , and comes together with love and respect for one another as God would have us do. And yes, I am truly a dreamer, but I ask what is the matter with that if the cause is a great one? Perhaps I just answered that, but I can hope and pray, can't I? Search your own heart as you go through the day and ask God to guide you. It might just provide the spur to positive action that we all need. God bless you and God bless the United States of America and may she ever be free as one nation under God. If we work for it actively, not willing to sit back and ask for others to do it for us, surely we all can keep her free.
But that being said, how should I describe that picture in ways that make it understandable to anyone? Well, let's start with the easy part, describing the picture itself. It is obviously a beautiful day in the fall, when the leaves are turning with the majesty that nature provides and the location looks like a very nice small town where people are friendly and most folks know one another and are kind. The beautiful and well kept traditional white clapboard church is likely a centerpiece of the town and its Christian neighbors and in the house right up the street lives someone who loves and drives an older Ford pickup truck. So, that of course, is what is in the picture, but what does it really mean?
I believe it tells me this. Since the church is likely the centerpiece of the town, the owner of that old truck likely lives in the house to the right of the tree in the picture, and that owner is also likely to be a regular at that beautiful old church. He is likely a man with family enjoying life in that pristine neighborhood, probably walks to church each Sunday with his family, after which they return home and enjoy a family dinner before spending the afternoon enjoying each other before preparing for the new work and school week. They probably hold traditional family values and believe the Word of God as written and require no fancy explanations. And they are careful with their money, hence retaining the old truck which is kept well maintained for his work. He likely also owns a hunting rifle and probably carries it hunting in his pickup truck, choosing to use it to keep the family car clean and neat. The old truck is his just for his uses, for work and hunting and he is likely its only drive, excepting his son who might very well learn to drive in that truck. The an is also not likely a wealthy man by the world's standards, yet he considers himself very rich, indeed, for his wealth is measured by what is inside his heart and the love that he feels and also provides for his family. But why, oh why does this picture touch me so?
It all boils down to this. It reminds me of my boyhood days, growing up in a small but bustling city where everyone could be found shopping downtown on Saturday and they were all kind and generous with others. Many knew one another, many were weekend hunters and they would often smile and wave and even talk together wherever they might gather on the city streets. And then on each Sunday, the traditional downtown churches, covering nearly the gamut of Christian Catholicism and Protestantism, were caring and sharing fellowships where all were comfortable with each other and tried to live as Christ would have us do. Then Sunday afternoons, following that wonderful mid-day meal was one of rest, visiting with family and friends and just savoring the beauty of the day, much like what was likely in the pictured small, picturesque town. Or maybe it was spent planning the next hunting trip, but somehow I think sadly that it is a glory to never be seen again and it truly makes me sad. But, it still will always give me hope that maybe there is a way to bring it back. That is my wish today, that America returns to her roots and turns her gaze away from today's anger and hate for one another , and comes together with love and respect for one another as God would have us do. And yes, I am truly a dreamer, but I ask what is the matter with that if the cause is a great one? Perhaps I just answered that, but I can hope and pray, can't I? Search your own heart as you go through the day and ask God to guide you. It might just provide the spur to positive action that we all need. God bless you and God bless the United States of America and may she ever be free as one nation under God. If we work for it actively, not willing to sit back and ask for others to do it for us, surely we all can keep her free.
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