I have not been to Louisiana for nearly four years, nor to the family reunion for twice plus half that, at least, so we decided to go. We have not great loss of love for Louisiana – except for the food, of course, and some select people. So, to say that we missed it would be wholly untrue. Yet, we did miss some of the people.
We left on Thursday at about 6 eastern time and traveled all night and arrived at McComb, MS at 9 the next morning. It was a long trip, to say the least, but it was safe, and I give thanks to God for that. There was no big deal, no scares, nothing – it was a rather boring trip.
As we were nearing Jackson, and the landscape became more familiar (and seen, as the light dawned), my wife and I were both impressed with our unimpressed stance on heading back to Louisiana. The land is unimpressive, unless you like the flat land of the South – I moved to the mountains for many reasons, one of which is the beauty of the Appalachian Mountains.
We quickly showered and shaved at the hotel and hit the road again, heading to Baton Rouge. My met my brother in law and my great aunt, one of 3 that remains, for just a few minutes – but that turned out to be lunch. Now, I had intended to stop by and say hello, as we were going to see them on Saturday anyway, but they insisted that we go to Piccadilly which is a cafeteria style restaurant. I had wanted nothing but Popeye’s Fried Chicken while I was down south, but I was thwarted on my first attempt. We left my aunt’s and my brother in law in Baton Rouge and went to my old hometown of Central (it was not a town when I left, mind you, but has since been incorporated) to visit a former pastor and friend of my Grandfather’s. About 14 years ago, during a rather bad time in my ‘home’ life in which my mother started her down hill slide which would end rather horribly, he took me in to allow me to finish my high school year at Central High School before I moved to Summit, Ms.
He also married us when my childhood church demanded that we join and pay tithes for 6 months. Remember – at this time, we were still living in sin with a child 3 months old. So, I have kept in contact with him over these years. He is Baptist, but I try to look past that.
We visited him and his wife for a little bit, with his wife loading my children up with toys and goodies. And, believe it or not, she had my daughter singing at the piano! I cannot get her to sing in car! Now, she has declared that she has a song that she wants to sing in church! Amazing, but then again, children just need to be reached.
So, we left there to visit my in-laws – I have never been able to get along with my m-i-l. I will not go into it here. Anyway, we were there for an hour and then back to McComb.
We then got a call from that former pastor who said that he would like to meet us at Mr. Whiskers, a catfish place near McComb. Again, thwarted from my attempt to eat Popeye’s. So, we met him, his wife, and his son in law, there. We had a good time. My grandfather and I ate there a great deal while I lived with him, and enjoyed hosting friends there. If you are ever in town, go there. Eat. Enjoy.
So, we went to the hotel and finally, I slept. We woke the next morning to go and visit my old home place. I wished that I had not, really. The memories of it when I left would have sufficed me for a long time, but now, I see it littered with garbage, cobwebs on the rafters, and the yard overgrown. My uncle owns it now, but rarely visits. On the way home, I dreamed of some way buying it and restoring it to it’s original condition, but what would I do with it? Would I move from West Virginia to Mississippi? No – I feel that God has placed me here in this spot and this time.
I understand now why nostalgia was considered a mental illness a generation or three back. I also understand Paul’s statement about forgetting those things behind and looking forward. We can eat ourselves up with wondering ‘what if’s’ or the ‘used to be’s’. That house is no longer my grandfathers, or mine, and I could or would do very little to change it.
We made our way to Kentwood for the family reunion and it was good to see everyone. We left there at about 3 and visited a small spring in Chattawa, Ms where again I had spent some quality time with my grandfathers to travel to Dyersburg, Tn. Finally, I had my Popeye’s in Dyersburg.
Sunday, we went to church and spent some time with the pastor and his family before taking a nap and heading back to church that evening. And after church – Popeye’s. Then Sleep. On Monday, we left for home and again, no scares, no close calls, nothing, just the safety that we had prayed for.
While in Dyersburg, I met a young man with a powerful testimony that really touched my heart. He was a young boy when he first came to Dyersburg and attended Sis. Johnson’s Sunday School class. He was soon gone, but years later, as a young man, happened to be in Dyersburg (he had since moved to Memphis) mudding (for those with the less red variety of neck, that means taking an ATV and getting really dirty) and ran into Sis. Johnson at the Taco Bell. She invited him to church, and he has never left, traveling on Sunday from Memphis to attend services. It gave me hope that perhaps, if my children were to turn away from God when they are older, that they might find a way back. And I believe that is the hope of all parents.
All in all, not a bad trip. It would good to be down yonder way for a while, but I am glad to be back.
I had mentioned earlier in the week that I had began to see the sovereignty of God as something that is real. I feel some great assurance that my life has been led to the point where I am to remain in West Virginia. My roots have been planted, you see, and I feel at home. But, in looking how I got here, how I met my wife, how I came to be in a place where I needed God more than He needed me, I see an Unseen Hand about me. I realize that I can only say so much without sounding egotistical, but in each major life event, I can see myself being led here. I do not mean for any great purpose, but I am in Church, serving God, with a family – a loving wife and two wonderful children. (What greater purpose?) Because of this Unseen Hand, I am here – but I can look back and see the ‘what-if’s’.
A pivotal point in my life was the death of my grandfather. Had he lived, I would have stayed in Mississippi, gone to college on his dime, and who knows what else, but I would say that I most likely would not have met my wife, had the children that I have, or been in the Church that I am in now.
I had a lot of time to think on the highways that I traveled, and each thought led me to God. It is because of Him alone that I am where I am – where I have wanted to be for many, many years. I am satisfied with my life, and could think of no better alternative.
