Patriot for Now

From the Library in Decatur In, I decided to walk on a little ways and see where the road brought me. The next town was Van Wert Ohio at over thirty miles away, but I figured that I could walk for a few more hours before camping for the night.

With so many hours of daylight, I walked several miles before getting a short ride that brought me 6 miles outside of Van Wert. So I headed for town.

Four miles outside of town, an old fifteen passenger van pulled over and offered a lift. His occupation: chauffeur to the Amish. This young man brought me into town and dropped me off at a church that his father-in-law would be attending for a recovery program in less than an hour all the while assuring me that he would offer me a place to stay.

I wandered in to town a while thinking the recovery group may not be the best bet for a camping spot. After dinner, and attending a party in the park talking to everyone I could, I left discouraged with no offers on the table and headed back to the church for help. I attended the group and was immediately welcomed; I was amazed by the kindness and openness of these people. They were not hesitant at the site of a vagrant and were quick to make me feel like part of the family.

After group, one of the leaders offered a place to stay; not on his lawn, but in his house with his family. Turns out that this man is the father in law of my Amish employed friend from before.

I have been here three nights.

I was planning on leaving the next morning but there church bible study had an event that I just couldn't pass up.

"Chicken Pickin"

Midwest Experience #2 (the first being the lactating goat)

Chicken pickin is the process from live chicken to frozen meat; oh yea, the whole process. This includes the chase, the makeshift guillotine, boiling, plucking, cleaning, and butchering, and with forty chickens to be 'taken care of' I was able to experience every bit of the process. Now, for someone who has been vegetarian for a year up until this trip, I must stay, I handled it like a champ. At least that's what I let everyone believe, (no one could tell that I was holding down a breakfast I didn't even eat.)

I stuck around for church yesterday; both morning and night service. And by this point, everyone in the church knows my name or at least that I'm "that walking guy" and I'm so blessed to be a part of their fellowship for even this short while.

After night service was a mad dash to a town called Defiance (it's actually called defiance, and so is it's college) for an amazing fireworks display, the whole family in tow. The crowd was full of oo's and aw's and bursting with patriotism. I have always loved to see entire communities gathering for this occasion. This is the one time every year that strangers, friends, neighbors, and bitter enemies celebrate one common theme together. No other holiday can claim that.

I am not a patriot.

Not that I'm anti-American, in fact I am very proud of the ideals that this country was founded on, "give me your tired, you hungry, your oppressed, etc." But in the midst of trying to kick out immigrants and the presence of our own tired, hungry, and oppressed, I just don't see it anymore. Not to mention my lack of enthusiasm about a war being pawned off as God's justice instead of our own greed. I'm just not about to sing the praises of this country or pledge myself as anything but Christian. I'm not a crazy extremist liberal or anything, it just doesn't make sense to me. One thing is true though, if all American experience was like this weekend, I would be the loudest of patriots.

I have been completely amazed at how very welcoming this family has been to me. Not only was I invited to spend the night, but encouraged to stay several days. Regardless of their busy household (their collegiate son and teenaged brother along with three grandchildren) they have certainly made me feel right at home. It's almost a strange thought to leave them tomorrow as it seems I've been here for much longer. They have truly blessed me.

I will be back on the road tomorrow morning looking forward to the next point of God's providence. It's all up to Him.

Christopher Andrew.