Faithful To This Place

Bluefield. For the longest time this was a place I only vaguely knew of as the place where a best friend lived. Then it became the place where I chose to complete undergraduate studies at Bluefield College. And then, finally, became the place where my wife and I are settling down, trying to fix up a house and begin our lives together.

Is it paradise? Not exactly. There's no Waffle House close by (and that's a big deal). I think it would be fair to describe the weather as often dreary. I also think it would be fair to describe many of the roads as "old goat paths." If you need something late at night, and Wal-Mart doesn't have it, then you're not getting it. And you can't ignore the fact that people here are undeniably crazy.

On the other hand, is it paradise? YES. I also love the weather. Rarely do temperatures reach above 90 degrees during the summer (the occurrence is so rare that it is marked by the handing out of free lemonade across town). A healthy amount of snow during the winter is almost guaranteed. And the mountains. I can't get enough of our mountainous landscape around Bluefield. Small town living has its drawbacks, but I'm in love with it. And, you can't ignore the fact that people here are undeniably amazing.

Someone told me once that if you make friends with an Appalachian person, then they will do absolutely anything for you and give you the shirt off their back. However, if for some reason an Appalachian person doesn't care for you, then they won't even sell you the shirt off their back. Whether this is true of every person in the region remains to be seen, but I think I've seen a little of true friendship that exists among the people of this area whom I consider "my people." I love that I've been born and raised around good, country folks and share some common ancestry and background.

I want to be fiercely devoted to this town and this area. I want it to be better for me having been here. I want to take to heart Jeremiah 29:7, "Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare." (NASB) Now, I don't see myself as being exiled here, but I do believe that the Lord was involved in me coming here. I believe the Spirit is working in and among my neighbors and friends here. I want to be part of that. Bluefield is a beautiful place. Not paradise, but paradise all at the same time.

What about you? Is it a challenge to be faithful to your town or city? Do you see your neighborhood as a place where God's Spirit is moving? What are you doing to be faithful to your city?

Being faithful in the Field of Blue,

Caleb