Missouri

Today is the bicentennial of Missouri’s admission to the United States of America, shamefully as a slave state, as part of the Missouri Compromise.

I’m going to chose to ignore the circumstances and celebrate instead the anniversary of statehood.

My connection to Missouri goes back to at least my great-great-grandparents on one side of the family, and to at least great-grandparents on the other side. That’s five generations of Carters and Blochers and Gutshalls and Stolps and Ratliffs and Slades and Adams and who knows what other surnames, all connected to this state.

And now I have nieces and nephews and a great-niece and great-nephew also born in Missouri, making seven generations in this state.

I pray that Missouri finds its way again.

For today, I offer a small prayer of thanks for this state that has provided roots and meaning and challenges and joys.