FRIEND ON THE PRAIRIE . . . . 3/23/11
As I traveled about this vast country, dotted with high peaks, extinct volcanoes, out-croppings of lava, and large herds of Antelope, I always had the impression that the few men who had passed through the region or settled there, had not succeeded in civilizing it. I felt that beneath the mere veneer of a few, scattered ranch houses (most of which could not be seen from the main highway), it remained wild, free, and more than a bit dangerous. I never escaped the impression that if the land itself had the chance at all, it would simply shake its surface, like a big dog shaking its back, and throw off the small houses or hamlets of man. After all, they represented just a small installment of human civilization, and were, like a small communities of fleas, just clinging with desperation to their wild, strong host. The winters alone up there were so ferocious with their blizzards and high winds, that there were days when we literally couldn't go outside without getting blown away.
I kept this impression to myself, though I did share with my wife frequently how beautiful
I recall more than once stopping out on some dirt road where I could see for miles in any direction, raising up the antenna and making a call. Occasionally I would call my wife just for a brief word of conversation and company. I just wanted to know she was out there and that I could reach her. More often I was calling my members to see if they were home.
And twice that I remember I had flat tires, and needed to call someone for help or to let them know I would be late while I changed the tire with the spare. It seemed an almost miraculous thing that I could stand there by the car with the wide open distances surrounding me. I stood there with that clumsy, loaned bag phone; and I could call anyone I needed in those two counties, the one where I lived, and the other where I worked.
I was far away from home at those times, but I was also as close as a phone call. And if the phone was running low on power, I had only to use its special adaptor cord to charge the phone through the car’s cigarette lighter. It was even possible back then to store the numbers of the people we called the most – ten of them anyway – right there in the phone.
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| WE MOVED TO Northern New Mexico . . . |
Years ago I was appointed to serve as a pastor in northern New Mexico. I was assigned to help with the Methodist Churches in the towns of Raton and Des Moines. The latter of the two towns was the more rural, striding as it does, U. S. 64. That great American highway links Raton with Clayton, New Mexico. This is definitely high plains country, since the towns of Des Moines, Capulin, and Folsom all sit on top of the great Sierra Grande/Capulin Plateau. The highest points in those towns are right at 7000 feet. Anybody that moves there has to take a few days to adjust to the altitude. But once you do, once you’ve caught your breath, open your eyes and see the beauty
of that land that has been called, rightly, "the High Low country."
At first I will admit it: I did want to move there. I had heard rumors of the difficulties others had had in serving at the church in Raton in particular. And I was apprehensive as to the kind of people I would meet in the greater Des Moines area. I had heard they were
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| The Rancher Guys up there were tough! They wouldn't take no bull . . . |
mostly blue-collar, ranching people. It turned out that was true. So I wondered if I would connect with them easily or relate to them well as a preacher. From this distance it seems silly, but back then, on the brink of moving there and getting settled, this was a fearful prospect for me. I have always been the kind of person who is introverted by nature, and I don't make friends easily. (That tells you my life as a pastor -- a person in a very public role -- has quite often been very difficult; that's because of this very thing.)
It turned out my fears were groundless. The people of the "High Low Country" were in fact some of the kindest, most generous I ever met in any parish! I found this out as soon as I began visiting them during the week. My typical routine was to go out to Des Moines on Wednesday afternoons (besides Sundays), meet with one particular elderly member, and then ride with her to the outlying homes of other church members or related families. Our trips, those first few weeks, took us
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| This Country was barely civilized . . . And it might not be for much longer! |
over lots of beautiful country, spread over a fifty mile radius from Des Moines. After those first several months of visiting in this way, I knew my way around most of that country which occupied the western side of Union County. I had gotten to know most of the main county roads, back roads, and by-ways and so could visit the members of my congregation on my own.
As I traveled about this vast country, dotted with high peaks, extinct volcanoes, out-croppings of lava, and large herds of Antelope, I always had the impression that the few men who had passed through the region or settled there, had not succeeded in civilizing it. I felt that beneath the mere veneer of a few, scattered ranch houses (most of which could not be seen from the main highway), it remained wild, free, and more than a bit dangerous. I never escaped the impression that if the land itself had the chance at all, it would simply shake its surface, like a big dog shaking its back, and throw off the small houses or hamlets of man. After all, they represented just a small installment of human civilization, and were, like a small communities of fleas, just clinging with desperation to their wild, strong host. The winters alone up there were so ferocious with their blizzards and high winds, that there were days when we literally couldn't go outside without getting blown away.
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| They loaned me this bag phone. It was clunky and big, but it worked real well! |
I kept this impression to myself, though I did share with my wife frequently how beautiful
and wild the countryside seemed over which I traveled each week.
At that time others in that church were just beginning to get cell phones and find how useful they could be over those wide open spaces. Someone had the thought that maybe the preacher should have a cell phone. What if he got stranded somewhere out in the middle of nowhere? What if he needed to call someone and he couldn't? What if they needed to call him?
Another thought the folks of the Des Moines Church had was that there was no telephone service (land line) to the church building itself. So the pastor could not use it as a central location in which to make calls to area parishioners -- not unless he had a portable phone.
The two congregations actually put their heads together and came up with a plan. One member in particular from the church in Raton had an extra phone – one of those old bag phones with a pop-up antenna. She donated that, and the church in Des Moines (appropriately named “Grace”) paid for the new wireless telephone account. By today’s
Another thought the folks of the Des Moines Church had was that there was no telephone service (land line) to the church building itself. So the pastor could not use it as a central location in which to make calls to area parishioners -- not unless he had a portable phone.
The two congregations actually put their heads together and came up with a plan. One member in particular from the church in Raton had an extra phone – one of those old bag phones with a pop-up antenna. She donated that, and the church in Des Moines (appropriately named “Grace”) paid for the new wireless telephone account. By today’s
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| I LOOKED OUT OVER THAT VAST COUNTRY . . . (WITH PHONE IN HAND!). |
standards the 100 minutes a month would seem a small amount. But for someone who was using the phone primarily as an emergency call device, it was a very handy thing. I found that in my Wednesday drives, even though I usually never got lost or stuck, I had something in the car with me that gave me a real sense of security.
I recall more than once stopping out on some dirt road where I could see for miles in any direction, raising up the antenna and making a call. Occasionally I would call my wife just for a brief word of conversation and company. I just wanted to know she was out there and that I could reach her. More often I was calling my members to see if they were home.
And twice that I remember I had flat tires, and needed to call someone for help or to let them know I would be late while I changed the tire with the spare. It seemed an almost miraculous thing that I could stand there by the car with the wide open distances surrounding me. I stood there with that clumsy, loaned bag phone; and I could call anyone I needed in those two counties, the one where I lived, and the other where I worked.
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| I was reminded that the God who made this land was near! |
I was far away from home at those times, but I was also as close as a phone call. And if the phone was running low on power, I had only to use its special adaptor cord to charge the phone through the car’s cigarette lighter. It was even possible back then to store the numbers of the people we called the most – ten of them anyway – right there in the phone.
I’ve thought often of the days when I was so far from in miles from the people I loved; and yet I had been given a gift which made them all seem so close. This has made me think more also about what Jesus Christ has meant to me across the years. I know I have felt sometimes far away from Him; and yet He would tell me I was never really out of His sight; and always within His gracious touch.
But this is also true for all Christians in fact. Wherever we are in the world, we may seem far away from God, the Father of Jesus. Yet we are not! We have something better than a cell phone which we must recharge from time to time. It is called faith! In worship the Three-in-One God meets us and rekindles faith; He re-energizes our lives. We know then that we have the Living Christ. We have Jesus alive again for us. We have His Spirit. He reminds us that wherever we are from Him we are not distant. We can always call. And He most certainly calls to us. And those two churches in northern New Mexico gave me a gift of grace which will always remind me of this.
But this is also true for all Christians in fact. Wherever we are in the world, we may seem far away from God, the Father of Jesus. Yet we are not! We have something better than a cell phone which we must recharge from time to time. It is called faith! In worship the Three-in-One God meets us and rekindles faith; He re-energizes our lives. We know then that we have the Living Christ. We have Jesus alive again for us. We have His Spirit. He reminds us that wherever we are from Him we are not distant. We can always call. And He most certainly calls to us. And those two churches in northern New Mexico gave me a gift of grace which will always remind me of this.
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