Bethel

I imagine that at some point we have all candidly declared what we claim to be our favorite spot on God’s green earth. Be it a once-visited, dream-vacation destination; a frequently-visited, familiar beach in the summertime; a mountain peak finally reached after a tenacious climb; or a grandparent’s home filled with happy childhood memories. In theory, we get to choose our best-loved corner of the world, but in reality, I feel that mine chose me.

Before my parents married, my dad purchased some land in Santa Fe, Tennessee, (generally speaking, it’s a little town tucked between Columbia and Franklin). Growing up, we’d often pack a picnic and drive out to the farm and skip rocks on the pond while talking and dreaming about possibly building a house there one day. To wrap up our outing, we’d typically drive a few minutes down the road for some sweet treats in Bethel, a community comprised of a country store, a community center and a small church, all nestled in a beautiful cove within the “greater” Santa Fe district.

As the pace of life and the growth of Nashville have steadily increased over time, Bethel has maintained a sense of stillness and tranquility that has consistently drawn me back there through the years. From seeing a horse-drawn wagon tethered up outside, to hearing bell-chimed hymns from the church, to the calming gurgling of the creek, to the singing of the multitude of birds that fill the surrounding trees, everything about being there symbolizes peace to me. I literally couldn’t count the number of times I’ve driven on a sunny morning to Bethel, down Old Hillsboro Rd, through Leiper’s Fork, with a cup of Starbucks and listening to my favorite music, just to sit at the picnic table and read or journal. It’s honestly what I remember feeling most homesick for during my time living in South America several years back.

Although the country store/restaurant has changed owners and names over the years (it is now Nett’s Country Store and can be found on Facebook with many a tempting photo of homemade pies!), it has faithfully always offered a truly delicious cheeseburger. 🙂 The red-tin roofed and white-washed, wood-sided building and its creaky front porch, with its natural backdrop of green rolling hills, offers an inviting welcome to hungry locals or to those just out for a drive in the country. On Sundays they serve a Southern meat and three buffet from 11a-2p; they also have catfish Fridays and host Bingo and karaoke nights. And one day I’m going to finally make it out to Bethel’s annual fish fry!

I suppose the places we call our favorites are inevitably where our souls feel renewed—where we seem to feel God’s presence most tangibly—those places that reflect beauty and serenity in ways that provide us with at least a small glimpse of the eternity set in our hearts.