I recently wrote a blog on living in South Carolina, The
Palmetto State, for 21 years of my life.
I added that I would follow up with a blog about the 9 years I lived in
Texas, during the 1980s and early 1990s.
In some ways, Texas (The Lone Star State) was the place where the Lord
planted me, allowed me to mature some, and prepared me for the next steps in my
life. I will forever have many special places in my heart for
Texas and its people and places after living there for the 9 years.
Here are my Top 10
Reasons I love Texas:
1 Spiritual Rebirth. My spiritual rebirth happened at Goodfellow
AFB in San Angelo, Texas in 1982.
San
Angelo is in the heart of west Texas, southwest of Fort Worth and northwest of
San Antonio. It has roadrunners,
tumbleweed, snow and ice in the winter and strong heat in the summer. Most of all it will be the place where I look
back and see where my life was forever changed during the 6 months I lived
there in 1982. It is a spiritual marker
of grand proportion for my life.
Our daughter Heather was born in San Antonio at
the UT Health Science Center/Bexar County Hospital. I remember that day like it was
yesterday. She is now 23. Dr Higby was there and I cut the umbilical
cord!
Big Bend National Park. It has mountain peaks that hover at 7,800
(Chisos Mtns) and then drop down to about 1000 feet above sea level at the Rio
Grande River. There are evergreens at
the top of the mountains and flora of great color amidst the dry desert in the
lower levels. By far my favorite national
park that I have visited. An amazing
place that I highly recommend. You can
camp, raft the river and hike to your heart’s desire for miles and miles.
The Houston Astrodome. Been to a bunch of old Astros games in the famous Astrodome. It was built in 1965. If you have ever been to Houston you know why
the Astrodome was built: the heat and
humidity are almost unbearable!
The Texas Hill Country. The blue bonnets and Indian paintbrushes that
bloom in March are spectacular. Note
picture above!
The Riverwalk in San Antonio. It is no wider than most creeks in the north
and south yet it is home to great food, entertainment and a short walk from the
The Alamo. The Mexican-American culture
is dominant and so full of life and energy on the Riverwalk.
Padre Island. This is the beach and island that runs
southward from Corpus Christi towards the southern Texas and Mexico border. In the 1980s one was allowed to drive a car
on the beach which was cool and fun to do.
The water is always warm and the beaches are huge.
8 The People.
Actually, this should be higher than number 8. I have often noticed and shared with others
that Texans and South Carolinians are very similar: Both are very proud of their state and its
heritage. Both tend to have a strong
religious and spiritual fervor in its people.
Barbeque and the love for great food is well known for both. Many residents in each state are very happy
with where they live and seem to be content with never moving from it. Finally, both are made up of some of the
friendliest and kindest folk in the lower 48!
The Military.
I was stationed at Lackland AFB (San Antonio), Goodfellow AFB (San
Angelo) and then for most of my 4 years at Brooks AFB (San Antonio). South Carolina was recently voted the most
patriotic state and I would bet that Texas was right behind it. There are military bases all over the state.
Brookhill Baptist Church and Village Parkway
Baptist Church. Both are in San
Antonio. I made my adult profession of
faith and received baptism by immersion in 1983 at Brookhill and then in 1991 I
was licensed to the Gospel Ministry at Village Parkway. Some deep spiritual experiences and some
religious mile markers that continue to define my life and allow me to anchor
back to two important spiritual events in my life.
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