Traveling to a Place You Could Call Home…

Last week I had the pleasure of traveling back to Mississippi for a quick visit. One of the pleasures of writing is to not only get published but to spend some time getting the word out about the book. In doing this you meet some of the most interesting people and places.

A wonderful and unusual town just inside the Stateline entering Mississippi is the city of Picayune. It is a small town that has grown in the past year or so not because of commerce but because of the heart of the people. Picayune, in the eyes of economists and statisticians would be a small southern town. However, if you have eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart that can be touched you will find pleasure in Picayune.

The growth that took place in Picayune stemmed from the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. When the storm came through there was massive damage surrounding the area around Picayune. In Picayune there was a loss of power and water and even some building damage. Numerous trees were fallen or at least limbs were down. But the power of Picayune was not in the power company or any other utility, it was and remains in the hearts and faith of the people and churches.

Since the time of Katrina Picayune has doubled in size as many of those from New Orleans to the Mississippi Gulf Coast moved to the safety of this previously small town. Yes it has doubled in size during that time. Yet the heart of the people of Picayune has remained the same, enormous! Their love, compassion and Christian action can be seen in the way so many have been assimilated into the community. From the Shoney's who initially stopped using their menus and served only from a buffet so they could serve more faster to the First Baptist Church who moved services to the park across the street to meet the needs of the people faster, love has been demonstrated like a giant welcome mat spread from Ocean Springs, Mississippi to New Orleans, Louisiana.

Picayune has always been a special place. The people are genuine and full of those values that make America and perhaps especially the South, a place you want to call home.

Copyright 2007