by Brenna Erickson

Created on: August 16, 2008   Last Updated: August 26, 2008

Beside a Babbling Brook
- Reflections of rural country living-

Out of sugar? Better hope the neighbor has some. Rural country life is often
difficult in its various ways. I know because I grew up in a town no bigger than a few
hundred people. Our closest neighbor lived almost a half mile away and many others were
several miles.

Most young adults, once including myself, dream of one day leaving the deserted area

they are growing up in for a place bustling with people, entertainment, and without argument-more options. On the contrary, the now grown adults living in these places full of activity find themselves longing to return to the quiet and uneventful place where they grew up. Why is this? I will tell you.

First, close your eyes and imagine, if you will, a simple and serene location where the only thing you hear is the rustling of the leaves amongst the trees. An occasional bird sings off in the distance, a robin perhaps. No filthy pigeons here. Wild life roams freely without the skittish fear of being plowed over by crazy city drivers. The air smells sweet, void of unclean smog and pollution; it almost tastes as sweet as the flowers around your bare feet smell.

Although you cannot immediately serve that craving for a Big Mac, it does not seem to matter anymore as you count the many ways rural life soothes your soul. A glass of homemade lemonade quenches your thirst far beyond that of a Coke and the opportunity to be free from the constant ringing of your cell phone is therapeutic.

The sound of the front porch swing eases you into a peaceful countenance just before bedtime, as you watch a sky full of stars overhead. Who would have known so many existed? At the end of the day with a chest full of clean, country air and a stomach full of fresh, garden vegetables, you nestle in between the bed sheets dried by this morning's sunshine. The cool night's air gently flows through the open window of your bedroom as your drift peacefully off to sleep. No need for a loud and obnoxious alarm clock, you will awake rested and refreshed.

Hard to return from that simple, serene location is it not? Although there will be times when life becomes difficult because modern conveniences are not around the corner, but I believe, it is even more difficult to live a life full of clutter and confusion. Living in a rural area helps a person to become more organized, better prepared for future events, and more in tune with the simple yet profound things in life.

There may be times when a person does run out of sugar in the middle of baking a fresh raspberry pie. However, they will learn to buy extra the next time they make their weekly trip to town. Often the only sounds one hears might be the herd of cows that are grazing out in the field, or the babbling brook just down the hill. These are more calming sounds though than honking cars and loud emergency sirens one would hear in the city.

I believe that inside each of us is a desire to live free from the chaos and confusion of life, which we now encounter, on a day-to-day basis. Living, or even just spending time, in rural areas helps heal the soul and calm our ever-racing minds. Imagine, if you will, how peaceful this world might be if we all were as blessed as those who live beside a babbling brook.

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