The longest 10 years of my life was 10 months I spent in Greenwood, Miss.
The summer season earlier than my senior 12 months in highschool, my household moved from De Queen, Ark., to Greenwood, Miss. My dad had been “promoted” to the standing of plant supervisor of a piano manufacturing facility there, and so we left the hills of southwest Arkansas for the flatland of the Mississippi Delta. To say that it concerned a bit of “tradition shock” could be an understatement.
Lou Holtz, when he was teaching at Arkansas, as soon as mentioned this about one other Mississippi city: “Starkville is not the tip of the world, however you possibly can see it from there.” I felt the identical about Greenwood.
Now, it wasn’t as a result of Greenwood was notably disgusting that I felt that means. Actually, Greenwood was — most likely nonetheless is — the quintessential charming southern city. It is simply that, for me, Greenwood was jarringly totally different in some ways.
As an illustration, the scent. We lived subsequent to a cotton area. And on sizzling, humid summer season mornings the very first thing you smelled if you stepped outdoors was the thick, oily odor of the mix of herbicide and insecticide. You possibly can virtually style it.
I by no means received used to that.
And lots of the individuals talked “humorous.” It was as if each different particular person you met was from central casting for “Gone With the Wind.” And some of these individuals acted as in the event that they have been really residing within the nineteenth century, nonetheless clinging to previous habits and world-views that had stopped being related in 1865. (One of many first issues my dad did when he took the job in Greenwood was combine bogs and breakrooms on the manufacturing plant. It was solely later that I understood how a lot braveness it took for him to do this.)
Even the meals was totally different, and took some getting used to. However I positively received used to it. It was in Greenwood I fell in love with the seafood po’boy. And that will ultimately result in my lifelong dependancy to Cajun meals.
However at first, I could not stand Mississippi. And, like most youngsters, I consistently complained about it, incessantly letting my dad and mom understand how a lot I did not just like the Magnolia State.
One night on the dinner desk, my dad had had sufficient. He put his fork down, cleared his throat, and mentioned this: “Son, the Apostle Paul mentioned that in no matter state he discovered himself in, he had realized to be content material. Perhaps you must be taught to be content material in Mississippi.”
Mic drop. Dad went again to consuming, and I ended complaining about Mississippi.
Fairly often, we discover ourselves in “states” which can be annoying, or anxious, and even painful. Once we do, we must always do not forget that these circumstances hardly ever final very lengthy. However we must always keep in mind as properly, that in no matter circumstances we should endure, we’re accompanied by the Creator, who desires us to method him and confer with him as Abba, “Daddy,” with all the love that suggests. He loves us. He cares for us. He’ll see us by means of no matter life throws at us.
— Doug Chastain is a retired instructor and is at present a large-vehicle transportation specialist for the Siloam Springs College District. (Okay, he drives a bus.) He’s additionally a grass upkeep technician at Camp Siloam. (Yeah, he mows the garden.) You may contact him at [email protected] The opinions expressed are these of the creator.
