The Blog

These are stories I lived and questions I still carry: reflections on growing up on a farm, on what it means to leave and return, and on the urgency of preserving land, legacies, and a rural way of life.

Nature as Healer, Teacher, and Refuge
Nature & Place, Legacy & Memory Rhonda J. Ray Nature & Place, Legacy & Memory Rhonda J. Ray

Nature as Healer, Teacher, and Refuge

Nature has always been my refuge—a quiet healer and teacher. From childhood days watching trees sway outside my window to adult walks in the woods or along the sea, I’ve found comfort, clarity, and a sense of God’s presence in the natural world. Even the smallest glimpse of nature reminds me to slow down, breathe, and trust that renewal is always possible.

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Country Store
Legacy & Memory, Personal Essays Rhonda J. Ray Legacy & Memory, Personal Essays Rhonda J. Ray

Country Store

In rural North Carolina, the crossroads store was more than a place to buy bread or soda — it was the heart of community life. Farmers gathered to swap stories, share news, and escape the fields for a while. For me, visits to Mr. Jarvis Lee’s country store meant nickel sodas, candy bars, and a front-row seat to the conversations that shaped my childhood.

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