From Lebanon (where I last reported on my journey) to Noblesville (where I am now) is a traverse of 27 miles from west to east across the northern edge of the Indianapolis exurbs.
Lebanon and Noblesville are older towns that have been swelled by an influx of big corporate employers and subdivision builders taking advantage of cheap land. In between the two are the usual exurban mix of exurban homes, older farm homes, small rural businesses, new exurban businesses, and farmland.
Business traffic roars down the little two-lane highway that was my route, and the shoulders, where I try to walk, are very narrow. One can hardly hear the birds for long stretches, when the traffic is particularly thick.
Areas like this are strongly reminiscent to me of the suburb I grew up in. I have already posted about my experience there! Needless to say, my fundamental reaction when I find myself in such a region is to pray for the creatures, who are doomed by onrushing urban development, and don’t know it.
About halfway from Lebanon to Noblesville, I discovered a Friends church, Eagle Creek Evangelical Friends Church, which I hadn’t seen listed in any of the directories I used when I planned my journey. It’s a fairly big one, too, with parking sufficient to handle a congregation of well over one hundred. Alas, no one was there for me to talk to! Friends in Noblesville later told me that Eagle Creek is an independent, another congregation led to drop out of our larger Society by its own drift to the right and the Society’s (perceived) drift to the left.
I took a few opportunities to try walking parts of the distance from Lebanon to Noblesville. Two or three miles at a time still seems to be the most my ankles can handle, and my ankles need long rests between one walk and the next.
Last night I had the pleasure of meeting with Friends at First Friends Church of Noblesville. That was a very fruitful meeting, and I hope to report on it in my next posting.
Today, after worshiping with Noblesville Friends, I proceed down the road to Fall Creek Friends Meeting in Pendleton, Indiana, to meet with them. Following that I meet with Cadiz Friends on Monday night, New Castle Friends on Tuesday night, Richmond Friends on Friday — it’s going to be a busy week!
Friends, I will be thinking of you with love as I proceed.
