The Heartland Journeys Story

 

Definition of Place & Purpose

 

From tiny Lake Itasca in the northern peninsula of Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico, the Mighty Mississippi runs through countless counties on its way to the sea.  From a single river flow numerous tributaries and streams stretching out like so many arms twisting and turning through the prairie.  Valleys, hills, and inland lakes came about as the waters moved the earth aside.

The paths our ancestors took, like the streams, branch out from the heartland, going in many different directions, never returning, always growing, and stretching over the land as towns and farms shaped the land.  And, although we may be far from the headwaters, in our hearts we are never far from this place called home.

This is the place where it all comes together.  We are all on a journey of some sort and my journey has taken me here.  This is my father's birthplace, the land of my fore bearers.  The roots run deep in my family and in the soil.

This is where men went out into the fields to plow, mothers wept for the sick and the needy, where young people attempted to cross the river alone.  The days and nights were long.  Full of hard work, prayer, and sleepless nights. As the loon sounded over the marsh, our souls cried for peace and harmony.  Most men were brutal and the winters were brutal.

Images of huge booted men, mountains of snow, earth-shattering thunderstorms, lying hungry and cold in log cabins; being swallowed up in the crashing waves of angry lake are embedded in our native mind.  I think it is or was these haunting images that kept us moving at a clip.

The old jobs have almost disappeared.  Hunting, Fur Trapping, Logging, Fishing, Farming are no longer the mainstays for economic growth or living.  The mid-west territories had become industrial empires in their own right for a while.  When the old Ford Plant shuts down in Saint Paul, an era of machinery building will come to an end in this neck of the woods.

Living and recreating in the outdoors has become a past time, not a vocation. While I am proud to boast that Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Michigan have more hunters, fishermen, hikers, and outdoor photographers than any other section of the country, my heart goes out to all the small farmers in the Mid-west who are just barely getting by.  I guess there is no sense in bucking progress, for the trend of big agricorps buying out or forcing out the family farmer increases.

People up here still have big hearts.  I am told philanthropy and foundations in these parts are strong vibrant parts of the community.  Medicine and medical research bring in top experts from all over the world.  I read once that Minnesota has the best health care system in the world. For what its worth.

Yes, we are all on a journey.  As Dr. Frost once penned "The woods are lovely, dark, and deep, but I/we have promises to keep, and miles to go before I/we sleep; miles to go before we sleep."

I hope you stay a while.

Thanks!

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