In Good Faith: Is New York our Nineveh?

Key Takeaways:

• A brief business trip to Poughkeepsie led to a journey into New York City.
• The travelers were Midwesterners experiencing Manhattan’s magnitude for the first time.
• The late 1990s backdrop adds a pre-digital element to their discovery.
• The concept of “Nineveh” from the article’s title hints at a faith-based reflection.
• The story was shared under the “In Good Faith” column by Jim Benson.

Setting Out from Poughkeepsie

On a business trip to Poughkeepsie, N.Y., in the late 1990s, Jim Benson and two colleagues wrapped up their final meeting of the day. The decision was made to seize the evening and explore New York City—an opportunity they found both exhilarating and a little daunting.

A Train Ride South

They boarded a train bound for Manhattan, leaving behind Poughkeepsie’s calmer pace. The short ride offered a glimpse into the density and energy that awaited them downtown. As fresh-faced Midwesterners, even those few miles of track separated their familiar world from an environment humming with possibilities.

The Midwestern Lens

“Corn-fed” is how Benson recalled their roots, an affectionate nod to life in America’s heartland. The tall buildings, the constant motion, and the sense of grand scale stood in stark contrast to everything they knew back home. This moment, the author suggests, was not just about sightseeing but discovering how place shapes perspective.

A Question of Nineveh

Borrowing a question from the Book of Jonah—“Is New York our Nineveh?”—the article’s title hints at a deeper spiritual or moral consideration. While the details of that reflection remain locked behind the article’s paid plan, the question alone sets a tone. It suggests that journeys to new places can prompt self-examination about beliefs, purpose, and openness to the unfamiliar.

In the end, the train ride that night offered more than a change of scenery. It became a memorable, transformative moment for three colleagues from the Midwest—one that continues to raise questions about faith, perspective, and the power of stepping into the unknown.