Sweet Home Carolina

I've just returned from an extended stay in my sweet little home town of Robbinsville, NC. I guess a couple of weeks ago I wouldn't have called it "sweet" at all. Like Reese Witherspoon in "Sweet Home Alabama" I had always wanted to escape my roots and never look back at that little crossroads in the mountains. I've been away for 20 years now.

But when tragedy strikes, you find out a lot about life and how you probably had a lot of thinking that was totally messed up. My dad passed away a week ago, and that's when I found out how wrong I had been. The loving kindness of the people of my home town began with members of the the local Rescue Squad when they answered the 911 call, and it didn't stop. People poured out love onto me and my two brothers like I haven't felt in a long, long time. Every day I was a little more amazed.

Have you ever thought about the fact that God's goodness can really only be poured out through people? I don't know if that's really an absolute or not, but it definitely warrants some pondering. My brother and I both were worried that Dad had alienated so many people in his life that no one would show up for his funeral. Again, I was wrong. People came from everywhere. We were inundated with flowers, food, and sympathy. Offers of help came from the most unexpected places. It was so good and healing for me that I wonder if I should feel guilty. It's not like I'm dancing in the streets, but I am doing really well. I have my moments when I feel as if there's a 500 lb weight sitting on my chest, but for the most part I'm just so thankful. I'm thankful that my brother and I were there. Thankful that my dad passed from this life in just the way he wanted to. Thankful for renewed connections with relatives. Thankful for the beautiful weather on the day of the funeral. Just thankful for most everything right now.

One thing I'm really thankful for is that in the midst of all this sorrow, God gave me laughter. I had gotten the flu a few days before Dad passed and I swear that everybody who walked through the door and saw that I was sick told me that I needed to drink some moonshine and honey. Moonshine? Are you kidding me? Do they still make that stuff? It seems that everybody that suggested it also offered to run home and get some for me. I couldn't believe it. No way would I try that stuff. Until I had two nights of sleeplessness because of coughing, that is. Then I decided to try it. That stuff rocks! I thought it was going to melt the bottom of the cup before I could get it down, and it really set my throat on fire, but it helped sooooo much! I really wish I had been brave enough to bring some of it back with me.

And then there's the scanner. Police scanner, to be exact. I kept wondering how people knew so fast. Everyone I asked either said they heard it on the scanner, or that someone they knew heard it on the scanner. Hmmm. I guess it can get boring in a small town. Evidently the only requirements for living there is that you have a jar of moonshine in the fridge and a police scanner somewhere handy. I once heard the definition of a small town is one where you buy the local paper to confirm what you already know. How true.

Well, maybe in a few days I'll be over the flu and life will be somewhat back to normal. I don't know. There's lots of change in the air. But I'm choosing to rest in a Savior Who can redeem anything. ANYTHING. EVERYTHING. And He's so willing to do it for us. Dad's funeral was proof of that. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect ending for him. And God knew it all along.