Time in the Midwest

This morning was another beautiful example of why so many people choose to live in the midwestern United States. It’s easy to forget in the middle of February when you don’t know what warm toes feel like and your skin turns a pale hue that helps you blend in with your snowy surroundings. But summer draws us back in, and autumn binds our hearts to the land. 

When we plan a vacation, it is usually to go somewhere new, somewhere different from our surroundings. However, as we have spent time in South Dakota, Minnesota, and soon Wisconsin, we have found that there is no place we would rather be right now. This area is remarkable, and we are able to see that beauty with fresh eyes right now. It is truly breathtaking to walk outside on a fresh, sunny morning while birds sing, the trees gently sway, and the sky is the color of my daughter’s eyes. 

We were able to spend three weeks in rural Minnesota on two different beautiful acreages. The weather could not have behaved better, and the rainy summer produced a lusciously green carpet for chasing butterflies, playing with kittens and swinging upside down. We enjoyed special time with my parents during our time at their house. The kids did “Gramp Camp” adventures with them- sewing dolls, making paper doll furniture, baking zucchini muffins, trips to the local waterfall and bakery, scooter rides, and lots of reading time together. We also had time to just focus on each other- cementing our school routines and bedtimes, sharing regular meals together, and catching up on planning. 

Back in South Dakota, we have been living “down by the river”, though it certainly isn’t suffering in a van! We are on the beautiful property of friends who have been away for most of the month. We are helping to take care of the animals and property, and enjoying the beautiful landscape as we continue daily life. 

As wonderful as it is to enjoy each new place, I have also realized a commonality that brings me back to reality; the necessities of life remain similar, no matter the surroundings. I still need to meal plan and clean the dishes, keep up on laundry, deal with petty arguments, help my kids with math work, and apologize to Paul when my crabby attitude overtakes my better judgement. The setting may be beautiful, but it does not erase normalcy.

I actually really like this balance. It’s helpful to see that although a photo can hold glamour and beauty, the life that surrounds the picture is actually pretty constant. We don’t need to live in the pendulum of highs and lows, thinking that if only we had the perfect setting, we would be able to exist in blissful happiness. We can actually enjoy where we are, despite the setting, knowing that the troubles of life continue, yet we can live in hope beyond our circumstance.

I think of how Jesus stated that “in this world you will have troubles, but take heart! I have overcome the world.” God created the beauty that we so long to travel across the lands to see, yet he wisely warned us that there is always trouble to be found. There’s no need to fret that our perfectly-planned ideal setting didn’t turn out to be stress-free paradise, because our hope is in Christ, who has overcome even his own creation. And, if we find ourselves in the depths of despair, we can still cling to the same hope! Because that is our abiding constant. 

We plan to move to northern Wisconsin next week, in time to see the trees turn gold and scarlet as we cross sparkling rivers and eat sweet apples. We will enjoy every bit of autumn, but we will also hold the wisdom of balance in our hearts, letting Christ hold us steady as the swinging pendulum marks the time.