A Whole New World

I like to keep a list of all the places I have been.  I have collected a nice little bundle of experiences from cities, states, and countries I can write off my "must see before I can't" list.

In the U.S., apart from Montana, I had been to every state I had any real interest in.  Among the states I had no real interest in was Ohio.  I mean, what on earth could there be to see in Ohio?   Except perhaps for the bizarre cement tribute to corn in Dublin, Ohio.  As luck would have it, my sales territory at work includes Ohio as well as a few other states I had no real interest in:  Nebraska, Wisconsin, Indiana.  So when I had to attend a conference in Columbus recently, I didn't get too excited.

As I planned for this trip I decided that since I was going to be out there I should see some clients in Cleveland and in Ft. Wayne.  When I saw that the distance between these cities was about 3 hours (a shorter drive than from my home to the Bay Area) I figured it made sense to drive.  Hey.  I'm a good corporate citizen - it is far more economical. But I was dreading three hours of car travel on flat, boring, uninspiring, stupid Ohio.  (What I do for my job!)

Now that it's done, all I can say is: Who knew?!?!?

About halfway from Columbus to Ft. Wayne I found myself driving on interstate thoroughfares through rural America.  These two-lane highways took me through the heart of the state where for miles and miles and miles, surrounded by trees full of fall color, corn fields, picturesque farm houses with red barns and wheat silos.  It occurred to me that I believed these images only lived in pricey gift calendars and Grandma Moses paintings.  But here I was, in it - smack in the middle of America - the one you heard about, the one you think of when you think "Americana" - but the one you suspect Hallmark made up to sell Thanksgiving cards. I found myself commenting to myself - out loud - over and over again: "oh wow!"

And then - as if it being out in the middle of "gorgeous nowhere" wasn't unsettling-ly beautiful enough, coming right at me on this two-lane thoroughfare were two men with beards, dressed in black, riding in a buggy drawn by a horse.  Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh!!!  My eyes nearly popped out of my head with excitement as I realized I was seeing Amish people.  I was so exited you'd think I had stumbled onto a secret world of fairies.  (The Amish must get soooo sick of this kind of reaction.)  But I couldn't believe it!  I had seen real live Amish people!  Like in the movie "Witness".  Like an idiot who had just spotted Bigfoot - I fumbled for my iPhone to call Bob and anyone else I could reach with limited service to tell them.  Excitedly and breathlessly, I told in detail the whole story as it unfolded in front of my eyes.  I mean, imagine!  For about 20 seconds, unbelievably, I had a rare experience of  driving right next to - people.

Oh.  Right.

Okay, but not ordinary people.  Except...I think... isn't ordinary their point?

With this new perspective, let me sum up:  I drove across a lovely, picturesque part of this country and came alongside residents who have chosen a simple way of life that focuses on God, family, and community.  It was unexpected on every level and it felt extraordinary.