Pie Town New Mexico is a small unincorporated area hidden along Highway 60. First established 100 years ago, it was semi-abandoned by the mid-nineties. It was the determination of a mother-daughter duo to buy the abandoned building and bring pies back to Pie Town that it survives. With an opportunity to visit and see if pies were available, I was curious and wondering.
It was a great rest stop on a day filled with eight hours of driving. One found two places with coffee in old-fashioned mugs, great pies, and small-town gossip. As I look back on that day a year ago, I find myself reflecting on the reasons small-town gossip always thrives and the lessons which came out of that stop.
It is natural to talk about someone else. Anyone will do. In doing so, one directs the focus away from the one person one can control, oneself. It is ironic to see small-town gossip amplifying the natural flaws found in every human being.
In focusing on others, I often catch myself creating a hierarchy of good and bad. Obviously, my weaknesses are never as bad as another’s. If only in my tone, I find myself talking in clear black-and-white statements as I look away from myself. My list starts with a weakness that is not on my list. In moments of exaggeration, it goes well beyond the facts. “The same with adultery. The same with idolatry.” (Romans 2.22)In Pie Town, I found a different type of gossip. The small-town conversations were about the beauty and wonder you could find in the area. They included admiration for the individuals who created and pass on the pie recipes. I heard talk of strengths and insights. It was a wonderful example of what a small community can teach others. I left Pie Town full, energised, and thoughtful. This is a tiny community that lives big. Every community and family could do with a touch of Pie Town in their midst. Lifting each other up, celebrating diversity, and focusing on what each can control and change, oneself.
