by Mike Jenkins

Created on: August 18, 2008   Last Updated: April 21, 2009

How many times have you read about a violent crime in the newspaper and prayed that it did not happen near your area of the world? How many times do you find that the crime did happen near you? How does that affect your lifestyle? I would imagine that if you answered many times or even more than once to the second question, the third question is answered by the words a lot. With so many influences in this world, do we really need violent crimes to be a factor when going shopping, or to work, or even to drop our children off at school? Rural communities have less violent crimes than urban areas according to the U.S. Department of Justice. And this is just one positive reason to live in a rural area. I have to admit that I have six children, and my wife and my decision to live in a rural area mostly comes from the positives that a rural community can provide. The sense of freedom and safety that our children have when going out and about in the neighborhood is the top reason for raising our children here. But there are many others such as education, fellowship, and freedom.

Education is a wonderful thing in small communities. Not only do all the teachers know all the students, but the teachers know many of the parents as well. This allows for a more personal touch to teaching. Less students and more teachers is better for a more one on one approach at teaching. My children go to a school where there are less than twenty children in each class. It's pretty hard to fall between the cracks in any subject, especially when the teachers have at least one trained adult helping.

The fellowship found in a rural community can be seen from an example that I have and it happened only a few months ago. My wife and I were collecting money for a fund raiser and were making phone calls to neighbors asking for charity. From at least three of the dozen calls we made, neighbors said they would not be home when we were to come and collect. We were instructed to come into their homes and they would leave envelopes inside. Incredulous, I asked if they always left their doors unlocked and their reply was, "Of course." I've lived in a big city and I don't think I would have received this answer from anyone I lived near when I was there.

Finally I come to freedom. Now I know I said that I lived in a big city, but the truth is, I've spent 75% of my life in rural areas. There are plenty of freedoms in the city, but the ability to drive for only a few minutes and be completely alone is not one of them. The freedom to escape from people, noises, smells, and man made things is a wonderful feeling. If you have never experienced this, you really need to try it. Only by trying it can you understand what I mean. These are the reasons that I live in a rural area. I know there are many reasons to live in an urban area, but with in the information age where college is completed online, conference calls are everyday occurrences, and even shopping can be done without leaving the home if need be, I cannot imagine there is anything that would make me leave. Can you?

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