Making History

   While on our way through the state on Thursday, one of our courthouse stops was in Millen, GA, county seat of Jenkins County. This county of approximately 8,000 residents treated us to part of their local history and current events, and it got me to thinking about how we look at our past and still contemplate our future.

   Here is the courthouse, the original one built in 1908, destroyed by fire in 1910, rebuilt in the same style in 1912:

   The courthouse lawn was graced with a familiar icon, a statue of the confederate soldier with an inscription to honor their service for their new country.

   Idealized? Perhaps, but the marker attempts to keep alive the best qualities of the youth that fought in that conflict.

   As I pondered all of that, the noise of drums began somewhere behind me. A man standing nearby explained that it was one of the big days in Millen, High School Homecoming and its parade and Friday night football game. Then here came the parade around the corner:

   And the local heroes of the season:

   And I thought, "what would history say about them 150 years from now?"

   Interestingly enough, there was a float talking about "making history" that weekend in the football game. The accompanying sign gave the projected final score with the kids from Jenkins County on top of Montgomery County 20-13.

   In a way, we all "make history" every day of our lives. Maybe not the kind that rates a monument in front of the county courthouse, but perhaps a life that makes a positive difference in the lives of others. There is a greater reward than a monument.

   The soldiers of the Confederacy lost the war, and the boys of Jenkins County lost the homecoming game to Montgomery 35-14, but the world did not end. The sun came up on Saturday morning, and there would be other chances to "make history" for them and for me.

   Carpe Diem