“Anyone can love the mountains, it takes a soul to love the prairie,” Willa Cather. Sometimes it is heard that people traveling through Kansas complain there is nothing to see. It’s all so flat and crops are grown on each side of the highway. It is thought that if they could just drive off the interstate or main highways and onto our country roads, they would see much more of our homeland and appreciate it like we home landers do — especially during the fall season.
This time of the year is beautiful along the country roads. Ash, oak and cottonwood trees are a showcase revealing their yellow leaves. Yards filled with the colorful maple trees are radiant with their red leaves. All of these trees are a stand out as the always green cedars are webbed in and around. The freshly planted wheat fields are now a wonderful green color. There are milo fields waiting to be harvested showing their burnt brown heads.
The Staghorn Sumac grown between the roadways and fence lines are now showcasing their red leaves. The prairie grasses send up their seeds in tall stalks and heads that sway gently in the Kansas winds. Milkweed pods have dried and open to reveal the cotton flowing in the wind. Within the pastures there are hedge trees that are showing their uniquely created green hedge balls, also known as hedge apple balls. Tales are told of how the hedge balls, if placed in appropriate places, can ward off mice and certain insects. It is remembered when attending the country school, while not watched by the teacher, the boys would use the hedge balls as weapons as they were thrown at others. One remembers just how hard those hedge balls were and are.
There are vines that have grown up and around some of the tree trunks and are now orange and rust colors. The prairie is a colorful scene to behold and appreciated any time of the year. The sunsets and sunrises are a colorful display especially this time of the year. If you haven’t gotten out into the country, now is the time to take it all in.
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A Harvest Revival was recently held north of Burr Oak that drew lots of people to hear God’s Word in messages presented by local pastors and area members of local churches that feel led to serve as “pulpit fillers” at other churches when needed. A singer was there along with her band. Food, and fellowship were plentiful. It was held in a large metal building on a farmstead in the country. It was a blessing!
It brought back memories of times past of the “good ole” Tent Revivals.” One lady shared her memories as a child who attended one of the Quaker Friend’s Churches. There were at least three Quaker Friend’s Churches within a few miles of each other in Jewell County. This denomination as well as some others would often hold tent revivals. She said the tent revivals were usually held during the hot summer months and a large tent was placed close to the church building that hosted the revival. She remembered it being so hot within the tent, there hardly was a breeze to be felt. Other’s tell of how music was brought into the tent by the men of the church moving in the heavy upright piano or pump organ. Rallying hymns were sung and soon the evangelist that had traveled from a distance, walked out front of the crowd, cradling his Bible under his arm, and began to bring God’s message in his full tone voice. At the end of the revival, there was an altar call bringing those that had made the decision to follow God and believe in Jesus, to make their way forward, as a hymn was sung. Hallelujahs were shouted, arms were raised in praise, and prayers were offered. After some of these tent revivals, baptisms would take place at the nearest creek, pond, and maybe even in a filled stock tank. Hallelujah!
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