There are still isolated "salt of the earth" enclaves in the good ol' US of A!
A timely event:
Last night, our small, unincorporated rural community of Huffines, Texas [You may find it listed as "Huffins", also] met to vote on a completely new set of bylaws for our community organization. Among other things, the organization administers our local community center (former Huffines Schoolhouse) and holds frequent social events such as pot luck dinners, fish fries to raise funds for the volunteer fire department, etc... We also provide gathering space and, frequently, food, for families who are holding funerals at the cemetery across the road, as well as hosting and supporting the local quilting club.
With no input from me, (although I heartily approve) the first article of the bylaws is:
Article 1. "Whereas the Community of Huffines is a grateful beneficiary of the mercy and grace of Almighty God, and whereas the Club wishes to follow the example of our Nation's founding fathers and act 'with a firm reliance on Divine providence", all club activities shall begin and end with prayer."
With that reverent beginning, the rest of the by-laws followed suit, and the meeting was both congenial and joyous, with not a few "AMEN!"s mixed in with the "YEA"s for the final, unanimous vote of acceptance.
And, praise be, ol' TXnMA was blessed by being called upon to offer up the closing prayer...
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Maybe it's apparent why we still call our neck o' the Piney Woods, "God's Country" -- and why this physical chemist chose to retire here among farmers, paper mill and tire factory workers, timber folks and other assorted working and retired "overhaul" wearers -- when I "escaped from my 20 year 'exile' in Massachusetts"... '-)
Oh, BTW, five firearms per individual (man, woman, child) in our community would be a very conservative accounting... '-)
That's wonderful news! I'm smiling now.
As you are well aware from your own experience, something like this is very rare in Massachusetts nowadays.
Yet it seems to me that when God has been "removed," insanity and social disorder are the inevitable results.
Thank you so much, dear, for writing!