Keys to the Kingdom

When I was in grade school, the playground equipment eventually became boring, so my best friend and I decided to spice up recess by concocting our own game. We didn’t give it a name, but it could have been called “Blind Trust.“ With my eyes closed, Jonita would lead me around the playground. Then we would switch roles. It was a simple game with only two rules: 1) eyes had to stay completely shut; 2) leader promised not to guide the other into a tree, rock wall, ditch, etc. We had a solemn understanding that when either of us said, “I promise,” we could be at peace and trust that the other one would faithfully keep her word…no matter what. Before I began writing this lede, I shot Jonita a text and asked if she remembered playing this game. She responded, “Yes I do, it required trust.“

The definition of blind: unable to see, lacking awareness, or impossible to see around.     The definition of trust: firm belief in the reliability, ability, or strength of someone or something. Because I couldn’t see, I had to completely trust Jonita to lead me safely through the obstacles on the playground. God is our faithful and trustworthy Leader and He’s promised in His Word that He won’t run us into a tree just for laughs. Sometimes we believers have trouble with our trust. We say we trust God, but are we really believing and acting like it? Or is that just something clever that’s printed on our money?

We put our trust in a lot of things during our lifetime. When our family vacationed in  Memphis, TN, I trusted that the bridge stretching across the muddy Mississippi wouldn‘t collapse as we drove across it. God’s Word makes it so clear that He can be completely trusted. Aunt Charlene inspired me to choose a purposeful word for 2022, because that’s something she’s done for a few years. She believes it helps you to focus and develop that particular word in your life. After a bit of soul-searching, I chose “trust” for my word. “I trust in God at all times. I pour out my heart before Him; God is a refuge for me” (Psalm 62:8).

Sometimes life’s road takes an unexpected bumpy detour and we’re unable to clearly see what’s ahead. Sometimes we can’t see around the blind corner so we have to slow down and proceed patiently. Going through challenges and troubles is when believers either achieve spiritual growth or commit spiritual suicide. The choice to trust or not trust is completely up to your own heart. “Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise” (Hebrews 10:23 NLT).

As long as we don’t throw in the towel, totally trusting God will eventually banish fear and anxiety. “See, God has come to save me. I will trust in Him and not be afraid. The Lord God is my strength and my song; He has given me victory” (Isaiah 12:2 NLT). If we’re afraid, perhaps we’re reserving some of our trust to someone or something else. “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock” (Isaiah 26:3,4 NLT). If I’m experiencing anxiety instead of peace, I need to figure out what’s wrong with my trust and my thoughts and then make the obligatory changes. Since it’s “my bad,”  I must line up with His Word so I can receive the perfect peace He‘s promised.

The Key:  Fully trust God to always know how to take care of everyone and everything.

I have written in previous columns that the population of every Southeast Kansas County declined between the 2010 and 2020 census; it was the first decade that Crawford County joined their regional neighbors to make bad news unanimous.  Along with the population drop has come a steep decline in the number of housing units in Bourbon County from the peak in 1980; this is a real problem.  It just makes sense that we cannot attract new businesses, or even significant business expansions by our existing employers, if we do not have quality, affordable housing in which to welcome new workers.

How bad is the problem?  It appears that the 1970’s was the golden decade for housing in Bourbon County, as the 1980 population stood at 15,969 residents living in an all-time high of 7,194 housing units. By the 2020 census, the count was 14,360 people which is a 10.1% drop. Housing dropped as well, falling to 6,770 units, a loss of 424.  Most of that drop occurred between 2010 and 2020.  Demolition crews must have been busy during the decade.

Other Southeast Kansas counties have experienced a similar stress in their housing markets; the exception is Crawford County, who continues to add to their housing inventory in every decade since 1990.  Linn County experienced robust growth in the number of houses in the county every decade until peaking at 5,446 in 2010, when their population was 9,656.  In the next 10 years, they lost only 65 people, but nearly 400 houses.

The most telling statistics for Bourbon County is the lack of housing starts in recent years and current rental vacancy data.  In the four years beginning in 2017, Bourbon County issued 11 building permits for a total value of $1.16 million.  Over the same period, Allen County, with a total 2020 population of 1,834 less than Bourbon County, issued 49 building permits totaling $7.12 million; not an insignificant difference.  To continue the comparison, both Allen County and Bourbon County have about 29% of their housing units dedicated to rental.  Over the last five years, our vacancy rate has averaged 15.1%; Allen County is at 12.5%.  Given the high demand for quality rental properties, we must have many unrentable units that need attention.  We need to explore the cause of high rental vacancy while rental demand appears to be high.

The Southeast Kansas model county in the area of housing is Linn County.  In the four year period previously discussed, the county issued 205 building permits with a value of $23.04 million.  Their rental vacancy is almost half of ours at 8.5%.  Clearly they are doing something right.  My instinct tells me they are leveraging their water amenities effectively.

We need to swallow our pride and take a closer look at why Southeast Kansas counties, including Allen, Anderson, Cherokee, Crawford, Linn, Neosho and even tiny Woodson County can attract new housing and we can’t seem to get the job done.  We also need to understand why we have the highest vacancy rate of rental houses in the region.  Then we need to work together to solve the problems.