I have a theory that Iowans seem just a bit more sophisticated, a bit sharper around the edges, than your average midwesterner - because I-80 runs through the center of the state.
Driving home from Grinnell, after a really pleasant weekend (day) with my daughter, I checked out license plates as I headed east/northeast home to Green Bay. "New Mexico"..."Texas"..."Oregon"..."Arkansas". I-80 is the great leveler - fancy car, rusted out junker, all pass along I-80 to get from here to there.
All this diversity has had its impact on the good Dutch Christians in the land of corn and hogs. They are accustomed to strangers; they, in fact, welcome them by placing comfort stations at least five miles from the highway (a clever ploy to get us to drive into the center of town and buy our gas from locals! Those Iowans are smart!)
You can preach a sermon and quote Wendell Barry and they'll know who you're talking about. They don't ask "who's Paul?" and wonder when he joined the church. No, they know who Paul is. And these hog-and-corn farmers know who John Updike is, too. It's scary.
A person has to be on top of things when hostessing all this diversity, what with the scholars and the truckers and the Wal-Mart checkers finding their way across the state. So Iowans stay sharp, keep watch, and direct us to the way station in a way that makes everyone happy. Go, Iowa!
