A month ago, I got to visit the land of Norway. As some of you know, my grandparents on my father’s side were both from the southwestern part of Norway. They both came to the U.S. in their early 20’s. They met and raised a family in Brooklyn, New York. A highlight of my recent trip was the two days spent on the property where my grandfather was born and lived until he came to the U.S.
There are deeds, church records, and other documents that show that my grandfather’s ancestors lived on that property since the 17th century. It is a beautiful piece of property situated on a fjord and the mountain slopes that rise up from the water. At the top of the sleep path, there is a clearing with a home, a barn, and a large shed. I have visited this spot several times over the years, including a time, when I was in my early 20’s when my father, my grandfather, and I stayed there with my great aunt. She died in 2001 and no one has lived on that property now for more than thirty years. It was clear on this recent visit that the lands are returning to a more natural state and the buildings are already turned into ruins. We were able to recover a few items from the house while we were there and we brought back memories of what life was like for those first “Larsens” who called it home.
Since I finished college, I have lived in seven different houses and served in as many congregations. I appreciate all the different people that Wanda and I have come to know across the years, but we sometimes look back and feel that we have missed the chance to set down deep roots and lasting relationships in one place. I like the variety that comes with new places and new opportunities, but it is also good to see how people make a deeply satisfying life by digging deeply in a place and calling it “home” over years and decades and even many generations. Each has advantages and disadvantages that can enrich our lives.
Grace and peace,
Steve Larsen