Monday, May 5, 2014

Common Sense and Promises Kept



Hannah rode well in Estherville this past weekend, one of the closer Iowa High School Rodeos for us.  Laurel took Ellie to a JOAD archery shoot Saturday, she won, earning her third state title this year.  Natalie spent some time at Inspirational Hills Bible Camp as a part of our middle school retreat for church.  The best was when we were able to be together again when we all came together in the mud and cold for the final day of the rodeo.

Some people say we should be campaigning and give up our family time.  Don't think that is the best wisdom.  A promise made is something that must have consistent follow through.  When you say things they cannot be empty words.  I trust that those who know me, know that they can rely on that.
I did learn about lots of things for our district even though I was slightly east of the line.  I talked to many people that work at Polaris, heard about the plant hours and the wages, talked about the commute for many from this area to work in Spirit Lake and Milford and the conditions of the State highways to get there.

It takes lots of hands and donors to make a rodeo happen.  I learned that even as something as simple as a high school rodeo, a national organization can require more and more in the near future while the people at the grassroots level have to try to make the time, work and money fit what the national wants.  Sound familiar?  Changing anything in a routine or system can seem to be a bother aimed only at us.  When you have to detour your route to work for only one day it can seem to throw your entire system off.  We complain, but we can adapt, we can even find out that there are better approaches to a job or situation.  My approach to the State level of government is less reliance on the system and more freedom to make our own choices on the local level.  That won't be an easy task with systems in place and our comfortable reliance on "the system".  Even more so because it will mean that the government and systems will have to return some of their control to the people.  I am more confident every day that the people in Iowa, if they come together, can adapt, grow stronger and succeed if given the opportunity.  The first steps in that direction will be slow, much like learning to walk, but before long we can walk and then run with confidence in our own local abilities.  We have it in us to accomplish, I promise.

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