I've been in Arkansas for almost a week. I can't believe tomorrow will be Friday and I'll be on my way back to Minnesota, back to my husband (who I miss). I wish he could have been here with me. The hardest is knowing Monday is coming and with it, work. I've discovered that when I'm away, ultimately one of my clients has something horribly wrong happen to them and I end up cleaning up the mess. That's the way it goes though.

I spent some time with good friends though and with my parents as well. I noticed that everyone seems to see Arkansas with some level of negativity. My parents see hypocrisy. Another friend asked me if I would be smothered if I lived here (this was from frustration of feeling like if she did what she actually wanted it would go against social norms too much and people would freak out, even though medically speaking, it's very progressive and done in places like, well, Minnesota). I think what strikes a lot of people is the "God-speak" that goes on but without a whole lot of "God-living" going on. Everyone says they're a Christian. People who have no idea what the Bible actually says claim Christianity. People who distort the Bible with liberalism think they're Christians. It's one of those words you have to qualify now.

Arkansas has it's bad points, but so does every state. I told them up north you have the liberals screaming about the environment driving down the road in their SUVs. As long as there are humans, there are hypocrites. Not least among these, myself. I don't mean to be, but I am. Maybe that's why I deal with Arkansas with a level of grace. And the fact that I just tell people off and what I'm going to do and they can learn to live with it or mind their own business.

Right now I'm at my parents house and the sun is coming up over the lake that is part of the housing development. Pretty houses are on the other side and beyond them a hill that is covered with trees. It's truly breathtaking. Oh, Minnesota has beauty, but this, this is a familiar beauty. One I know, one that sings of home to me. God is here just as much as any other place and just like any other place people are too busy looking at each other and themselves to bother with what He has to say. Liberals holler about God and love and they make God generic brand-x. Conservatives make God a policeman with a big stick, and they become self-righteous. They both miss it. God is a God of Love and Wrath. He does hate. He does love. He saves. He damns. He's in the hills of Arkansas and in the inner city of Minneapolis. He is distinct. He is NOT whatever we want to make Him.

He is not a creature nor does He have any imperfections.

And of all places, I learned that here in Arkansas. Seeing my own hypocrisy and my own sinfulness, I cannot be so quick as to call out the sins of others (though I do, ironically enough). But people are nice here. They'll talk to you in the store. They'll come in and sit down with you when they visit. There's always sweet tea to be made. There's always a meal to share.

There's family. There's friends.

There's home.