Memorial Weekend

This Memorial week my wife Barb and I drove to North Central Kansas to visit family and friends and to participate in the bi-annual alumni banquet of Simpson High School. It was a wonderful experience with six of our thirteen class members present. As usual there weren't any of the local graduates there, all of us coming from Missouri, Arkansas, and Goodland Kansas but we enjoyed stories of forty-five years ago and were the last group to leave after the gathering. Most, if not all of the folks gathered there, still can't believe I became a pastor because they knew me and there was no evidence that I would ever change my ways. I always jokingly comment that the reason they closed the school the year after I graduated has something to do with who I was. I know there is no truth in that statement but it does identify the tremendous change that has happened and continues.
ON this drive of four hours each way I noticed the beauty of the landscape. I really love the rolling hills and forests of Missouri but I saw a new wonder in the plains and flint hills of Kansas today. Particularly exciting was the view from the tops of the hills in the northern borders of the flint hills south of Manhattan, Kansas. You can see for miles across the valleys of lush green grass spotted with cedar and Osage Orange trees. Relaxing in the warm season grass after a morning of grazing were cattle; cows, yearlings and newborn calves. Most herds were all one breed, either red, white, black or brown, but one or two pastures were covered with a mixture of all. Either was a beautiful sight. Amazing what simple experiences like this can bring joy to the eye and the soul. I think I will try to keep my eyes open from now on.