To all my maine-buddies reading this...you will know this is true, but I apologize for anyone who might think I am being unfair...correct me if I am wrong.
Being a new person is Maine is kinda like trying to fit in, when you have to change schools your senior year, in the middle of the semester. There's this who "mainer" code going on. If I grew up in Maine, I am sure I'd feel the same way...maybe people who move to Memphis felt the same way about it there, I don't know. But the code basically says if you didn't grow up in Maine, you'll never be a Mainer.
I was never going to be a true Mainer anyway...I'm a little too flashy for that but knowing this is the code before you even are able to TRY to fit in, well, that's a little difficult. Maine definitely has its own vibe and for the most part, its a very relaxed and enjoyable one. Life is more about comfort than display, more about protecting their way of live than opening up to new ideas and more into "live and let live" than we had been exposed to before.
Spiritually, Maine is vastly different from the south. I think the south could learn a few things and of course, Mainers just need Jesus like the rest of us. Less than 5% of the population in Maine go to church. Many of the ones who do are catholic...church there, is very different. There are actually people here who have never heard about Jesus and are not familiar with his name! Because we kept trying to find the right church fit for us, we had the privilege to sit down with several pastors in the area. Its hard to fathom in this day and age that there is SUCH a need for Christians in places in America...but that is so true. Each pastor, didn't really care where we ended up going to church, they were just thrilled God had brought some Christians to Maine.
These pastors, and their wives, know they are missionaries in the truest form...they knew the Maine mentality would be difficult to overcome and they came and brought their kids anyway! None of them were actually from Maine, they were all brought here for the purpose of pastoring or church-planting. We will definitely be continuing to pray for them. The church we attending the past few months of our life in Maine is doing a great work...pray for Scott and his wife, Beth, the youth pastor Jared and his wife Rachel...they are advancing the kingdom, for sure!
But anyway, back to life in Maine...getting the kids medical care...well, that was another story I'll address in the next blog.
We did make some sweet friends who were born-Mainers! They overlooked our southern ways and accepted us anyway...you guys definitely made life easier on us. I'm sorry we didn't get to cultivate the relationships further, but I know I will see you again. (Psstt...you are not the Mainers I am talking about..ha ha!)
The most wonderful thing about Maine that I will miss (besides that new Whole Foods and the lack of traffic) is the beauty of Maine! I doubt no matter where we end up living in this country, that I will get to live in a place as beautiful as Portland. The beauty truly inspired me, especially on hard days and I will miss it a lot! We're only about 45 minutes from the shore now...way closer than Memphis, but not seeing the ocean all over like in Portland. I do look forward to going back and hanging at the great beaches there next summer.
So, Vacationland as Maine is called, has the state motto of "Maine...the way life SHOULD be!" That life, is great, but I think I'll be happier to visit rather than stay a while! Its vacation land for me, because, we'll never be REAL Mainers anyway!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
I have not lived in Maine, nor will I ever, but I have moved to a small town in Mississippi. I can identify with how you feel about Maine. When we moved here, my heart moved. I made up in my mind that this is home and I would not long to be back in Memphis. However, I soon found out that the people here are closed to outsiders. They all have grown up together, gone to school together, and church together, and know each others families, mom, dad, grandparents, etc. They don't know my people...and since they don't, I am not in the circle. I joined a church right away, started in the Bible study, joined the choir, teach Missionettes on Wed. nights, and still the people act like they don't know me.
Even tho my street is secluded and the houses are on wooded lots and up hills from one another, the only person to speak to me was last year when I was putting up Christmas decotations. Even if we are outside when they drive by, not a word or a wave. (I expected at least a wave, we are in the south afterall!) So it has been a hard adjustment for us. Not only socially, but just the way they do business is not like we are accustomed to...at all. I hear that Mainers are closed, Ms is too.
Signed: getting used to life in another part of the country.
Suz
This is great info to know.
Post a Comment