Out Our Way: Clippers and chinooks

Out our way, we tend to take our heritage for granted.

We sometims forget what a blessing it is to be a Montanan and especially to live on the Hi-Line.

I have the advantage of having lived all over the country. I was born in California, raised in the Chicago area, went to school in Indiana, seminary in New Jersey, lived in Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota  and did a tour in Indianapolis.

I served rural, suburban and  urban congregations of various sizes. I have driven across the country several times and dealt with rush hour in Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago and Indianapolis.  I have also driven back roads in Wyoming and Colorado, South Dakota and Montana.

Yup, I have been around ... which may be why I apprecoiate Havre and the Hi-Line so much.

A high school friend of mine now lives back east in New England.  He likes the metro areas, which is good - but he really does not care for New England winters. They had a really nasty storm back there that knocked out his power for three days or more - and it was rough.

Temperatures dropped to minus 10 out there, and without heat, that is really cold.

Out our way, we have had at least two people freeze to death over in the Fort Belknap area, for we have had a rough winter, as well.

Yet, as I wrote to my buddy, while Montana winters can be brutal as well, we have  something they don't - the glorious chinook.

Granted that Alberta Clipper last October hit us hard - and again the cold snap of the past few weeks has been tough - but it does not last. It is our "secret" we hide from the rest of the state and the country lest everyone want to move here.  We have seen what has happened in Whitefish and Kalispell and other tourist areas once the word got out about the beauties of that area.

Indeed it is beautiful!  But we have a beauty as well - walk or (better) ride in the Bear Paws in the spring when the wild flowers pop up ... or the fall when the berries are ripe and the air crisp.

Even in Havre, most folks have not seen the glories of miles of open country seen from atop a ridge miles from the nearest roads.

As most of you know, it has been a rough ride these past few years. Coming to Havre after a painful and ultimately futile attempt to serve a large church divided by factions and cliques, I was broken.  But as the sign says "Havre - It's the people."

Here is where healing took place.

There was more pain and sorrows ahead - but there was also growth and a deeping sense of belonging to God and to His people.

There have been some terrible Alberta Clippers along the way -  but also many wonderful chinooks.

Sometimes we have to take the time to go up on the ridge and open ourselves to what God has given us.

I loved the smell of the sage, the sound of the meadowlark, the feel of the breeze ruffling Goliath's mane, and the sight of the Big Open stretching all the way to Canada and beyond.  But I also love the feel of God I find in  His people.

And I know that wherever the trail may lead, I will be  sure to fnd a home in their midst.

Indeed, "My boundaries enclose a pleasant land, for I have a goodly heritage."

--

Doc and John Bruington continue to share the journey and hope you will also share the trail with us. Love this community and the heritage we have been given - for it is a marvelous gift.