Editor's Note “That’s God’s country” By Darcy L. Fargo

February 5, 2020

Professor Masterson taught British Literature, Chaucer and Shakespeare at the college I attended in the Buffalo area. An older man, he had served as a paratrooper in World War II.

I was required to take Chaucer to complete my English major, but with two majors and two minors, my schedule was tight. He agreed to teach the class to me as an independent study. I would meet with Professor Masterson every week or so and read with him in Middle English, and we would discuss the works of Geoffrey Chaucer.

In one of our meetings, Professor Masterson asked me about my hometown. When I told him I hailed from the Adirondack region of New York, he quickly told me, “that’s God’s country.”

I thought of Professor Masterson’s description of our area this week. On Tuesday, I took my son to an appointment in Glens Falls.

As we travelled through the Adirondack Park, we saw snow-covered mountains disappearing into clouds. We saw ice formations that had developed on the rock walls edging the road, some tinted a light blue. We saw water surrounded by ice on a number of ponds, lakes and creeks.

Then, on Wednesday, as I drove along the St. Lawrence River as part of my commute to work, I saw trees laden with ice, ice created from the fog coming off the river. Looking out my office window later that day, I saw that glittery, sparkly style of snow falling lightly.

While I’m not a huge fan of winter, I was reminded that we do, in fact, live in God’s country. God has gifted us with beautiful surroundings that remind us of the beauty of His creation. It often leaves me filled with awe.
I’d also refer to this as God’s country for another reason. As I travel around the diocese, both for work and personal reasons, I meet person after person who reflects God’s love. I hear the stories of how people are responding to God working in their lives. I experience the kindness of you, the readers of this paper, who write or call thanking me and the NCC staff for our work sharing the good news of God’s love and how it’s manifesting in the North Country.

I’m thankful I live in God’s country.