STABILITY

NCF Office – July 28, 2026 7 Comments

Oliver Ferguson participated at New Covenant during the seven years he lived in Champaign, serving on the Leadership Team and contributing teachings until he moved to Minnesota in 2019. He has worked at several colleges and universities in the Midwest, and is currently the Director of Study Abroad at Truman University. It was wonderful to re-connect with Oliver at the Jubilee and we are so glad that he can again contribute to our fellowship from his present position. May his reflections on movement and stability in his own life and through scripture speak to you, wherever you find yourself on your journey. – Pastor Renée

I moved to Kirksville, Missouri, a year ago. Whenever I relocate, I try to learn about the local history and visit nearby landmarks. Recently, I discovered I was only an hour and a half away from the house depicted in Grant Wood’s iconic “American Gothic” painting. Intrigued, I spent a day visiting the house in the tiny town of Eldon, Iowa, before exploring nearby Ottumwa.

As I pulled out of the parking lot, the house and the painting it inspired made me think deeply about stability. There is a certain peace that comes from the major elements of life remaining essentially the same, day after day and year after year—a stability born of hard work, consistency, and agency. The fact that the house still stands, and that the painting remains an enduring symbol of “Americana,” stirred something within me. The stern faces of the man and woman in the portrait prompted me to reflect on the stability that has eluded me for the last five years.

Wood painted American Gothic in 1930 and entered it into a competition at the Art Institute of Chicago, where it was awarded third place and has remained ever since. For decades, the painting has served as a quintessential representation of Midwestern American farm life.

Yet, despite its association with stability, the painting emerged during a period of immense upheaval. Completed at the onset of the Great Depression, American Gothic gained notoriety almost instantly. Between 1930 and early 1931, reproductions of the painting appeared in newspapers across the country, from the Cedar Rapids Gazette to the New York Times.

At a time when families were losing their livelihoods, homes, and farms, this image quickly achieved iconic status. Interpretations varied, and not all were positive, but I imagine the stern faces and stark lines offered a sense of grounding for many. It may have reminded those facing uncertainty of a time before the economic downturn—a simpler era where life was well-ordered and, above all, stable.

This human longing for the familiar is a timeless theme. I recently finished the Book of Numbers, which describes the Israelites wandering in the wilderness after the Exodus. In chapters 11–15, the people complained to Moses and Aaron about the hardships of their journey. Echoing through their grievances was a desperate longing for the stability they once knew in Egypt:

“We remember the fish we ate in Egypt for free, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic.” Numbers 11:5 (CEB)

“So they said to each other, “Let’s pick a leader and let’s go back to Egypt.” Numbers 14:4 (CEB)

In their search for comfort, they forgot the pain of subjugation; they simply craved the known.

Just as the Israelites looked back, so too did many during the Depression. An estimated two to three million people left Midwestern farms for cities during that era, and I imagine many looked at Wood’s painting with that same sense of nostalgia. It likely provided a mental anchor, helping them endure a time of profound despair.

I still feel as though my own period of instability has not yet ended, and more challenges likely lie ahead. However, I am coming to realize that stability is not always the ultimate good. Struggles and uncertainty, while stressful, serve as reminders to reach out and trust in God. This dependency and trust can be more life-giving than the lethargy that often accompanies a perfectly stable life. As Paul wrote during a particularly difficult time, God’s grace is sufficient, and His power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Cor. 12:9). 

-Oliver Ferguson