Since I moved to Grand Forks for medical school I've wondered why I am here. It seems that everything I love - being outdoors, experiencing different cultures, good coffee shops and microbreweries, and my friends - disappeared once I left Minneapolis. I often ask God if he brought me here or if it was my own blind ambition that led me to Grand Forks. I ask him why I had to leave Minneapolis in the first place.
To tell you the truth I don't know. In fact I may never know. However, as I've recently concluded, it doesn't matter. God is faithful whether I am or not. I decided the main problem that I've encountered since moving here has nothing to do with the location, geography, or demographics of this place. It's my attitude.
It just doesn't matter where we end up working and living in this life. I repeat, IT DOES NOT MATTER! As far as I'm concerned there are as many people to be loved in Hoebunk, ND as there are in Darfur. Moreover there is as much joy to be found in Grand Forks as there is in Minneapolis, even if they don't brew Black Knight here or know how to properly make a shot of espresso. I hope to remedy the espresso situation sometime soon.
So, God willing, I'm going to try and enter my 3rd block with a radically different attitude. I will love Grand Forks. Wow, that sounds weird. This may take some time.
I guess my situation in Grand Forks is kinda like that awkward feeling after getting married when one day you wake up next to your spouse totally blindsided by what you just got yourself into. All the sudden your not in love. All that work you put into the wedding seems foolish. You then need to make a decision whether to work at this or not.
I've decided I'm going to work at my relationship with Grand Forks. I'm going to ask her out on a date. I want to relive the passion that we had when we first started dating. I'm thinking Burger Time. You know, something classy to let her know I'm in this for the long hall . . .
