Tag Archive for: Nostalgia

A Friday Evening Errand

It’s not what I expected.  Yet, at a theme park I found a replica of a mid-Twentieth Century restaurant with vintage cars to complete the picture.  The scene reminded me of how young people used to cruise streets of their local towns on Friday and Saturday nights.

Thinking later about that view, it reminded me of a story that I had heard a pastor share.

An older couple went to town one Friday evening to run some errands. Driving along, they saw several young couples sitting close in vehicles that they passed.

Finally, the wife from her place across the pickup cab asked, “Do you remember when we used to sit like that?”

From behind the steering wheel, her husband with a quick glance her direction said, “I have never moved.”

Perhaps, you can relate to this story.

You may feel distance between a spouse, relative or friend.  What caused that distance?  A particular situation may come to mind, or it may have just been a gradual separation.  May I ask if you have done anything to reconcile that rift?

I’ve had friendships that have gradually grown apart.  It’s not a fun feeling to see a former friend as a mere acquaintance.  Experience also has shown that it can be difficult reviving some of those relationships – especially in the hectic world that we find ourselves in.

Going a little deeper, have you ever felt that God seemed far away?

Yet, like the old gentleman in the story, our Creator never moves.  It’s always you and me that puts distance between ourselves and the Heavenly Father.

I don’t know where you’re at in life.  Perhaps, there are some relationships that need mending.  Maybe you need to make time to get alone with God?

Friend, let’s look for ways to rebuild friendships and draw close to the Heavenly Father.

Have a great day!

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” – James 4:8a (NIV)

(Please follow us on Facebook at “The Rural Journal” and online at www.theruraljournal.com. This was first published at www.theroadreport.wordpress.com.)

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Built to Withstand the Weather

Many people love covered bridges. They stir nostalgia – allowing memories of another time to come to mind.

As part of their charm, these structures often draw much speculation to why they were built. It seems, thanks Hollywood, chivalry and courting come to mind for many.

However, the real reason for covered bridges was more utilitarian. They were originally built to protect the structure from the weather.

While maybe not as inspiring as a love story written for the big screen, there’s something just as noble and powerful to the reason behind covered bridges.

We often look at the outward appearances of people and things. Yet, we don’t look at their inner beings – who or what they really are. While an appearance may make for an attractive picture, the inside “guts” reveal the real structural integrity of a person or thing. It also makes us ask if the bridge (or person) is built to withstand life’s storms – and are they who they were created to be?

Covered bridges offer a unique, attractive perspective of a previous era. Yet, they also offer a great reminder that we must always look at what’s inside to make sure that it matches what is on the outside.

Have a great day!

😀

(Please follow us on Facebook at “The Rural Journal” and online at www.theruraljournal.com. This was first published at www.theroadreport.wordpress.com.)

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Simpler Times

Stone fences are often associated with the New England states and rural Europe. Across much of the Midwest, where I’m from, fences made from boards or barbed wire are more common.

Likewise, covered bridges are often considered to be a thing of the past. While they can still be occasionally found, most of these structures are either restored or built to look old.

This picturesque Midwestern farm drive offers a glimpse into another time. With a covered bridge, and a stone fence lining part of its length, one feels like they’re traveling down “Memory Lane”.

Looking at this scene, it calls back to a time that seems simpler. Small farms, families working together, neighbors helping each other and communities coming together to worship are hallmarks of that era.

Today, we are often stressed out in our hustle and bustle. We lose more than we gain, as we miss out on time with God, family and friends.

This picture is a great reminder to slow down and enjoy the moment. Let’s make sure that we’re investing our time in the people who truly matter in our lives.

Have a great day!😀

(This was first published at theroadreport.wordpress.com.)

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Just In “Case”

I made a delivery to this Amish farm. Before leaving, I had decided to get a picture of this old Case tractor. It didn’t wear the green and yellow implement colors that I love, but the unique setting had a vintage feel – like it should have been seventy or eighty years ago.

Some may wonder why a tractor would be on an Amish farm. While those farmers are often only allowed to use horses in the fields, many are able to use tractors for stationary power or to pull wagons and trailers on local roadways. In “Case” you missed it, this picture shows a belt linking the tractor to a pump that is out of sight.

Looking at this photo, I’m reminded of how many details we often don’t notice. There’s so much that we miss as we hurry through life. Perhaps though, the thing that most often suffers are our relationships with God, our families and friends.

Every generation has its own issues and trials. Yet, this tractor was built before all of our modern conveniences and distractions. It’s a testament to simpler times – and, the values that our minds fix to that era.

Have a great day! 🙂

(This was first published at theroadreport.wordpress.com.)

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The Old Brick House

This farmstead sits just down the road from where my grandparents used to live. Ever since I was a boy, it has sat abandoned – causing me to be intrigued by this setting.

Old brick farmhouses built in this fashion are not as common around here as wood-sided structures. This causes me to wonder about the uniqueness of the place, and the family who might have built and called it home.

There’s beauty and a story in every house – and the life of each person. Even the most dilapidated structure or grievous offender can display the Creator’s love.

Every trip is an chance to see something new. It’s up to us to find diamonds – even in the rough.

Have a great day!

(This was first published at theroadreport.wordpress.com.)

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An Old Barn and Chevy Pick-Up

Sometimes you stumble upon a fascinating scene that’s hidden on some small dirt road.

That was definitely the case when I came across this old Chevrolet pickup parked under a barn overhang.  After making a delivery at a nearby residence, I stopped long enough to grab this photo of that scene.

While I had driven past that barn on many occasions, that day was the first time that I had seen that Chevy parked there.  It was an image that seemed to be jump out of some painting or old picture.

The vintage truck and old barn serve as reminders of a different era.

There was a time when generations of family members spent much of their time together.  Fathers and sons would work side by side to plant and harvest crops.  Families would join together for times of prayer and Sunday dinners.

Of course, things were made to last back then.  Buildings were built more for function, than beauty.  People seemed to be more resourceful – not always chasing after the current fads, but rather they often made more effort to take care of what they already had.

This scene is a great visual reminder of our need to slow down and rest.  That’s the opposite of what we are often seem to believe – as most of us are now constantly moving.

We’re inundated with new technologies today that are supposed to make our lives easier and save us time.  Yet, it seems as if many of us have less time for our family and friends – the things that truly matter in life.

Likewise, social media often promises to keep us more connected with others.  But instead, as many of our friendships are maintained behind computer and phone screens, we lack the physical and emotional aspects of our relationships with loved ones.  We must “unplug” from our devices to really connect with our family and friends.

As I contemplate that old truck and barn, I’m reminded that some of life’s best lessons are found on those little gravel roads.  It’s in those places where forgotten memories often have a way of helping us see what is truly important.

Have a great day!

(This was first published at theroadreport.wordpress.com.)

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A Wagon, Corn Cribs and Nostalgia

There’s something about old farm scenes that often capture our attention.  Take this box wagon parked in a shed between two corn cribs.  We can visualize the sweat, toil and long hours that were involved in filling those bins with ear corn. 

Yet, there’s something about this photograph that also gives a sense of peace, quiet and solitude.  It brings backs a sense of nostalgia.  In fact, this picture reminds me of a Currier & Ives painting or a scene from a Hallmark movie.

This picture is a contrast to what most of us know today.  We’re used to the hustle and bustle of modern life, as opposed to being forced to travel at the pace of a team of horses – like the ones that would have been used to pull this wagon.  The picture also reminds us of the time and labor once involved in filling those cribs – especially when we consider how modern equipment handles much larger harvests in the same period of time. 

When I see this photograph, it also reminds me of the effort of many hands, often involving the whole family to harvest a crop.  There’s a sense of unity when we think about the relationships that were built as parents and children worked together. 

Seeing this picture is a reminder that we often need to slow down.  Great relationships and good work ethics are both realized when we take our time and invest in them. 

I’m also reminded of the simplicity and beauty of faith.  It’s in these simple illustrations when I sometimes see some of God’s greatest gifts in a new light.   

Let me encourage you to go for a drive in the country.  You never know what you may find. 

Have a great day!  🙂

(This post was first published at: theroadreport.wordpress.com.)

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