“Homesickness is a great teacher. It taught me, during an endless rainy fall, that I came from the arid lands, and like where I came from. I was used to dry clarity and sharpness in the air. I was used to horizons that either lifted into jagged ranges or rimmed the geometrical circle of the flat world. I was used to seeing a long way. I was used to earth colors--tan, rusty red, toned white--and the endless green of Iowa offended me. I was used to a sun that came up over mountains and went down behind other mountains. I missed the color and smell of sagebrush, and the sight of bare ground.” WorldWayLongEarthUsedFallWhiteBehindsSunTeacherSeeingAirLandTaughtColorMountainRedSightGreenSmellCirclesEndlessClarityRangeDryFlatsHorizonOffendedLong WayRainyGreat TeacherIowaHomesicknessSharpness Author:Wallace Stegner
“One of the things I find fascinating about God's creation is the way he seems to temper the negative environmental elements with corresponding positive ones. For instance, without the nearly ceaseless rains of the northwest, no incomparable green scenery would greet the eye from all directions. And the snow that snuggles atop Mt. Hood, Mt. Rainier, and Mt. St. Helens would not exist if, at lower elevations, there were no rain. . . . God's creative style ensures that something wonderful will offset something less than wonderful. In everything God seems to be balanced.” IfsWaySeemsEyeCreativeWonderfulStyleCreationBalanceElementsRainNegativeGreenEnvironmentalSnowInstanceFascinatingTemperBalancedHoodSceneryElevationCorrespondingIncomparableGod's Creation Author:Marilyn Meberg