While listening to one of my favorite talk show hosts today, he took a call from Metropolis, Illinois. Before a month ago, I’d never heard of Metropolis nor been there. Sure, I’d passed by on the Interstate on my way to Iowa, but, as always, in a hurry to get on down the road.

On my way home from Iowa, I noticed there was a Murphy Gas facility (Wal-Mart owned). While pulling off the big Super Slab, I noticed a sign about a state park. I figured I had an extra hour before meeting good friends in Nashville for supper. I gassed up and headed for the park.

On the way, I stopped at an automotive garage and confirmed distance and directions. Standing outside the business place was a huge cutout of Superman. The face was missing. Tourists climbed a ladder behind the cutout and stuck their head into the hole. I don’t know whom they were kidding, but I bet there wasn’t a real Superman among ’em.

I grew up reading the original Superman comic books when I could get by with it. They weren’t allowed in our house, but I had friends! (g) I did watch Superman (black and white) on the old tv when our kids were small.

Well, back to modern day Metropolis. I learned from the mechanic that the name of their town led them to “adopt” Superman as their town hero. (Metropolis, as you remember, was the name of the gigantic city where Clark Kent, Lois Lane worked at The Daily Planet.) They have an annual get together that brings in a humongous number of folks. I told the mechanic that the first Superman, George Reeves, was born (and grew up) in a tiny little farming community just a few miles from where I lived in Iowa.

One of the running lines (as a humorous response) I give counselees, friends and family who expect somehow that I am able to accomplish superhuman things is this: I DON’T change clothes in a phone booth; I DON’T have a big red “S” on my chest; I DON’T leap tall buildings in a single bound; I’m NOT faster than a speeding bullet; I CAN’T see through solid walls, etc.

Getting off the road in Metropolis brought back a lot of childhood memories. When I pulled into the park, it was one of the most beautiful State Parks I’d ever seen. Perched on the banks of the Ohio River, it was just incredible. I decided that I would spend my golden hour sorting laundry and straightening Tonka in the cab and under the topper.

I began talking with a man and woman in the truck next to me. Turns out that his grandfather had sold that very land to the State for the park in the 1930’s. He sold it for $30 an acre because he didn’t want it to be sold for houses and businesses. I liked this man and his ancestors right away.

What’s my point? While I can do “all things” through Christ, I have to be careful that I don’t allow myself to be pressured into thinking that results depend on me, by myself, in my silk tights, with the big red “S” on my shirt! (g) My commitment to Him is to do exactly what He wants me to do, the way He wants me to do it, then leave the results to Him. After all, Paul tells us that some plant seeds, some water, some cultivate…BUT, God gives the increase (results).

Thanks, Metropolis, IL for reminding me of some happy times from my childhood. I love to wander down Memory Lane! (g)

As always, I’m looking forward to your response. Just use the “Leave a Reply” box below and let me know what you think, an experience you’ve had along this line. Also, feel free to share prayer requests with me. I’ll pray! Thanks.

SOME SELECTED RESPONSES TO “WRONG SIDE OF THE TRACKS”

– Your Mom looks like a spring chicken, Jerry. So young. I thought I was going to see someone old and frail. She fooled me. I’m sure glad you got to spend some time with her. We only get to have one Mom, don’t we?

-We didn’t really have that problem (wrong side of the tracks) in our town, but in school we had three classes of people, The snobby ones, the middle class ones and the ones whom no one wanted anything to do with. Never the twain should meet. I was in the middle. ha ha!

-Good to have you back online again. The tracks where I grew up were the narrow gauge British style train tracks, but few trains were moving much after a few years. When the country stumbled into independence, so did their dependability. What a sad thing! For just a bit of maintenance, so many could have moved around the country so efficiently (for so little money, as well). Many of the “beds” are still there, but the tracks have been mostly pulled up and used for just about anything one could imagine. In that country, there was no wrong or right side. Everyone was dirt poor. Even though my folks earned very little for their hard work, we felt like kings next to the overwhelming majority. That, in itself, created huge dilemmas. Our answer was to try to hire as many workers as we could. That way they would have the opportunity to earn a living for their family, and the process seemed far more fair than simply doling out the bucks to everyone who came by, and they certainly came by.

-So good to hear from you. Bless your Mama’s heart. I’m so glad you spent such wonderful, quality time with her. I’m happy to hear that she is doing well. Also, I’m sure glad Pat’s health is starting to improve. I hope and pray that all goes well with the building of the house. May God find the perfect property for you and be in every nook and cranny of that house always.

-Great picture of Mom, but who is holding her? Just kidding…She looks pretty good for a middle aged lady. (g) (Ed. note: It was Brodie’s Bear. I’ll share more about Brodie in a future piece.)

-WELCOME HOME; I was born in the Depression but have never felt depressed too much. Born on the right side of the tracks, but never felt I was better than anyone as we are all God’s kids. Like people in general and was told that I could make friends with a glass of water, and sometimes was told by some of my snobby friends that they were not going to “talk to those people”. I have loved the life I have led and the things God has done for me, and guess that is why I have always been content with whatever we have had. Really liked this story, Jerry. We are so glad that you are home and have prayed for both you and Pat. We PRAY that she will be getting better soon. I AM SURE IT WAS GREAT SEEING HER. I am so grateful that you got a chance to see her and eating the Mexican food was an extra benefit that I would have liked myself. You are an extraordinary man.

-First of all, I want to say I’m so glad that you had such a good time with your Mom and that the two of you had such a fun time. Thanks for the picture. I enjoyed your article and completely understand the other side of the tracks thing…but a positive note in that many of those people on the wrong side turned out well… I guess if we are determined nothing can hold us back…especially if we have God. God can use people no matter what side of the track they are on… Possibly wealth and such would hold a person back from serving Him….not that people that are better off don’t serve the Lord.

-I’m so glad you are back safe & sound. I missed you so much, but I’m so glad you had such a wonderful and blessed time with your Mother. I loved the picture of your Mother. She looks so pleasant and sweet. Is she or is that just for the picture? (grin) I’m so sad that she is blind, for some reason I had forgotten she was blind. Hope Miss Pat gets to feeling better soon. Hope the builder gets busy with finding your land and builds soon.

-Thanks for the update. Glad to hear your visit with your mother went well. Yesterday was J___’s 21st birthday…it was great to see her; she came home for dinner. She will be giving her Junior Recital on Saturday, December 13th, at the USF campus in Tampa…she’s busy with practice…practice…practice.

-I was on the wrong side of the tracks until I met Jesus. :), but now I still have to be tough (in Christ) to live. Sometimes being a Christian makes you feel like you are on the wrong side of the tracks according to the world. The world doesn’t know that they are the ones on the wrong side of the tracks.

-I was glad to get a picture of your Mother, you all look alike. I was really glad to hear the news that you all had such a great visit. Family means a lot to me and I am always glad to hear news where family members visit each other and enjoys one another’s company. Life is so short and precious. Tell Pat, we are still praying for her. Hopefully your builder will find you a place to build and she can start living a life of health.

-Not everyone who lives on the “wrong side” of the tracks so to speak is a bad person. So many shun them and look down on them, and most of them are just like you and me. Of course, some stray, and fall into a bad way of life, but, then again, so do a lot of people who live on the “right side” of the tracks.

It makes me think about that saying “You can’t judge a book by it’s cover.” It’s so true. We are all too quick to put a label on someone due to where they live. That truly stinks I think. Just like the Harley rider groups. Everyone thinks they are dangerous, murderers and terrible gang members. Well, shoot. I know first hand that 95% of them are wonderful people. In fact, they do their yearly ride for charity which is a wonderful cause. Just because people live somewhere or look a certain way, is NO reason to label them. God bless ya for making me think as always.

-(Ed. note: This response is from someone with whom I went to high school and knew very well. His Mom lives in the same assisted living place where my Mom lives.) Thanks for visiting my Mom. My sister says that when people come to visit she is her always friendly self and chats.

It’s funny that your newsletter covered “the wrong side of the tracks.” I’m just finishing a paper entitled “family of origin” for an on-line class I’m taking through Pacific Lutheran Theol. Seminary in Berkeley. I had written a section about this and how I was not aware of it particularly when I lived in E.G. It wasn’t until I moved away and came back that it was apparent. Partly, no doubt, because while I lived on the West end, so many of my friends lived on the East.

The church where I attended Sundays and Saturday mornings for confirmation class was out on the “wrong side of the tracks”. I know because I walked it…..uphill both ways… in the snow year round. (g) Nonetheless, those who chose to think that way (the Westsiders)….did, and drew their own lines of demarcation.

Every town has this, of course, including L_____, CA. Some people are just not happy unless they can “distinguish” themselves from others. Here it’s Caucasian and Mexican. Although the lines are not firm, there is certainly a general division, even in church attendance. One area that I drive by every day has two B______ churches on the same street, one block apart. One is nearly all white and the other is all black. It is a major problem we face in the church. 70% of L_____ is unchurched. This is probably typical.

Anyway, back to E.G. One of the conclusions at which I arrived is that in social structure, it is less noticeable looking from the “top” down than it is looking from the “bottom” up. Just like in our country, the “haves” tend not to notice the “have-nots”, but the “have-nots” definitely are aware of the “haves.”

Thank you for keeping me on your e-mail list. I loved the picture!! God Bless you in your work for the Lord. He is risen!

-It was good to receive your inspiring notes once again. I am glad you had such a nice time with your Mom. She is such a special person. The picture at the end was a really good one of her I thought. I also pray your move will progress quickly. I know from experience that waiting on builders and everything can be very frustrating. Hope to hear a good report soon!

-I think the “wrong side of the tracks” must have disappeared with our generation. I remember, to my shame, that I didn’t want to go to the high school on the wrong side of the tracks. Nowadays, there are many cities where the tracks have disappeared -mine is one. The railroad right-of-ways are now bike trails or part of a subdivision or shopping center. When I travel to my home town, I actually appreciate hearing the train whistle and watching it roll by. I don’t even mind waiting while it goes by. It’s all a part of a culture that is, sadly, disappearing. Those were the good ol’ days (grin).

-Certainly missed hearing from you, Jerry, but I fully understand why. Glad to hear you had a good time and that your trip was worthwhile. As far as your Inside Out goes, looks like you had a one track mind (LOL) but no “loco” motives.