Country

When we were moving into our new home, a couple people asked us some thought-provoking questions. My brother asked if there was any goal in particular that was being furthered by moving to the country. (He’s a city man himself) Then a bit after moving to our new home, Roy asked us, “What about your life has changed since moving to the country.” I don’t think that Brian or I had ever really put so many words to our desire to live in the country.

While going through some old files at my Mom and Dad’s house, I stumbled onto a note/poem that my dad wrote 23 years ago when they moved from the country (then quiet central Oregon) to the “city.” It brought some insight into the visceral reasons Brian and I have for moving to the country.

Dad’s poem is very much his. It doesn’t describe our experience exactly, but I can relate with a lot of it. And I don’t think either of us are as negative about city living as he was when he had just moved to town and noble people live in both places. It’s just… there’s just something about the country.

Country
Dale Chapman

What is country…..
Country is when a knock on the door is always welcome….
because they come so seldom.
Country is where you toot your horn at your neighbor,
not honk your horn at the jerk who cut you off.
Country is where you see God’s creation….
not what man has done with it, the former is eons greater.
Country treats you like an individual,
not as one of a disposable mass of humanity.
Country is where you can be yourself….
not what is the latest fad or what is expected of you.
Country respects hard work and principles
not a college degree, a smooth tongue and all the right props.
Country is where you pass a hundred natural wonders each day and a few people smile and are glad to see you.
Not where you pass a hundred strangers who couldn’t care less about you and a few unnaturally preserved natural wonders.

Country is where you can be by yourself, get to know yourself and respect yourself and be respected by others.
Not where you don’t really know anybody… where you’re never really alone and it’s so easy to be fighting to reach the top of the corporate ladder.
Country is where the raised hand to the passing car is a friendly wave,
not a nasty gesture or shaking fist.
Country is where you work hard to exist
Not where you need to be entertained every minute or have something exciting and stimulating every other minute.

There is always something constructive for everyone to do….
in the country.
Country doesn’t promote lust, jealousy, envy, pride, etc. but hard work and a clear conscience.

Country is space
Country is God’s creation
Coundry demands your respect
Country is beautiful
I love the country