Following determined paths…..

A few years ago I did the second America From 500 Feet II with Mark Kettenhofen.  We made a list of interesting things in the history of America.  One such story was the Mail Pouch Tobacco Barns.  Now I’m not a smoker or a chewer, the story of how a handful of painters, painted thousands of  barns across America, is amazing!  Teams of two painters were went out in pairs with a model T truck, and they crisscrossed the country talking farmers into letting them paint the Mail Pouch message on their barns.  They got a whopping $10.dollars a year for the privilege!    In interviews before the last painter died, he said they could usually paint two barns a day, did you get that, two per day!

I’m not saying people don’t work hard today, but two barns a day??!!!  The story was intriguing because of just how committed these men were to a job that paid so little.  It is also a story about a time when people had big dreams and worked hard to see them come true. I believe we need a lot of things in America today, dreams and drive to make them come true are two of those things.  A dependence on God and a belief that He loves us is another.  A strong country, or family, or individual, is the sum of many parts, but the most important part is a determined path to build a life around something more than happenstance.  God, principle, integrity, and honor!  If you’re starting your own list, this would be a good start!!

Blessings,

the pilgrim