“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatever
state I am, therewith to be content.” (Phil. 4:11)
I confess. More than occasionally I dream of living in a state other than muggy Mississippi. Okay, so I think about it more than occasionally, and in my search for greener pastures, I came across these tidbits. Mississippi has more than 2 million people, Alaska has approximately 700,000 people. Mississippi is nearly 49,000 square miles while Alaska is a sweeping 663,267 square miles. In winter, Mississippi is green, Alaska is white. Mississippi borders four other states, Alaska borders none. Mississippi’s highest point is a hilly 807 feet but Alaska’s is a majestic 20,320 feet.
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| Alaska's Kenai River (photo by Rick Small) |
Mint The Restaurant’s mint julep chicken and waffles is a Mississippi favorite, and while Alaska has no Mint, they do have a Nordstrom’s, my favorite department store for those stuffy-but-work-required business suits. Want to taste Mississippi’s mouth-watering catfish? Going once… going twice… wait, maybe you’d prefer Alaska’s healthy Omega 3-rich King Salmon.
Residents of both states enjoy the great outdoors. Mississippians water ski while Alaskans snow ski. Deer hunting in Mississippi or moose hunting in Alaska… take your pick. Line your pockets with Mississippi “white gold”, cotton. On second thought, it’d be more profitable to line them with Alaska gold.
So what am I driving at? Here’s the bottom line. Both states have their unique landscapes, local color, and differences… much like people. Governor Sarah Palin has made a life in Alaska. I’ve made a life in Mississippi. We’ve both decided to “bloom where we were planted”, or maybe grow where we landed. No matter, we both have a home, family, friends, and fun things we like to do. We are using our skills, gifts, and talents to make a mark where we live.
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| Sarah Heath is Warrior #22 |
Looking to Governor Palin, she made a mark on Wasilla High School as point guard for the Warriors basketball team leading them to their very first state championship. She made a mark on Alaska small business by slaying salmon on Bristol Bay alongside her commercial fisherman husband Todd.
When not knee-deep in fish slime, the self-described sports enthusiast was making her mark on the pageant world winning such titles as Miss Wasilla and Miss Alaska Congeniality, all for the sake of scholarship money for college. As a mom, Governor Palin made her mark on the community by getting involved with the PTA at her children’s school. And no one --- and I do mean no one -- can refute the indelible mark she made on the Mat-Su Valley as Wasilla City Councilwoman and Mayor or as the Alaska Oil and Gas Commissioner and Governor of the Last Frontier.
Reaching beyond Alaska, Governor Palin splashed her mark across America as the 2008 Republican Vice Presidential nominee. Today she continues to make her mark as a wife, mom, and “Na Na”… a daughter, sister, niece, friend, prayer warrior, caribou-hunter, best-selling author, political analyst, keynote speaker, travelogue star via "Sarah Palin's Alaska", and endorsee of commonsense conservative candidates running for office, to name just a few of her providential “marks”.
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Sarah Palin was the mayor of Wasilla 1996 - 2002
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| Governor Palin of the great State of Alaska | 2008 Vice Presidential Candidate Palin |
Are you making a mark where you live? Your circle of influence has eternal ramifications, you know that... right? God is looking for people to stand up and make their mark. He’s waiting for somebody who will be a leader in this hour—someone who’s not just waiting for the door to be opened, but who’s opening the door and pressing through.
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This is not the time to sit back and just watch what’s happening. Follow Governor Palin's example. It’s time to make your mark!
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Gwyn makes this comment
Thursday 17 November, 2011