The Golden State

When people think of California, they think of beaches, major metropolitan areas, Disneyland, and Hollywood. It is considered a large, diverse area full of concrete freeways and sunny skies.

California has all those things, but I think sometimes it's easy to forget the state includes so much more. Today I traveled to Merced for a men's retreat. The nearly three-hour trip from Paso Robles to Merced takes you through the California valley, where you see part of the state that is key, but is often overlooked.

Traveling the lonely two-lane highways between home and this mecca in the valley, I saw many farms with the thousands of laborers in this state toiling in this hot September sun. I think it's easy to forget that California didn't get to be one of the largest economies in the world thanks to Hollywood and Disney Land alone, but rather with a big assist from our agrarian roots.

I think that's a nice analogy to faith too. There is a lot of emphasis put on corporate worship, missions, and programs in Christianity. That stuff is all important and serves a great purpose, but it's only one part of Christianity. The real foundational work of our faith is done during personal study, reflection, and through small group interactions.

In the same way that we can never forget the hard work done by all the farms that line California's interior, let us not forget how important it is to remain faithful to studying God's word. That is how we will continue to grow in our faith.