Lawrence County has treasures that often go overlooked.

I’m sure we all see the river, rails, roads and landscape.

We know how beautiful our region looks in the full bloom of spring and summer. My travels throughout Lawrence County over the past few months have given me an in-depth look at the culture and fabric of the region.

We have three treasures that often go unmentioned or unnoticed. These treasures I want to reveal here for all to think about.

First, the people of Lawrence County have deep faith. In a day when the presence and operation of faith seem minimized by others around us, the folk of Lawrence County quietly but firmly speak of their faith in an open and honest way.

People of this county pray with you and pray for you. Churches, worship centers and places of faith provide people with strength to meet the challenges we face everyday.

I am happy, yet humbled, to meet men, women and young people of deep faith who live, thrive and work in Lawrence County.

The second treasure we hold here in our county is family. I smile as I talk to individuals who speak of cousins, brothers, uncles, aunts on this ridge or in that hollow.

We have big family ties in Lawrence County. Some may see this as a detriment to our region, but I know that these family ties make us strong. My grandmother always said, “Blood is thicker than water.” She meant that family members stick together during crisis, trouble or challenge. In today’s challenging times, Lawrence County will endure because we are family.

Finally, and probably most importantly, we have a future.

I’ve spent time with students from all of the county schools and I know that our future shines brightly in their lives. We have scholars, entrepreneurs, writers, scientists and engineers in the ranks of our educated youth.

Our young people excel in academics, sports and volunteerism. We must reconstruct our county so that we no longer export our greatest resource, our young people.

We must continue our efforts to keep and expand employment opportunities here so that our youth need not depart to other places for their livelihood.

Lawrence County holds great, hidden treasure. You can’t see the faith, family or future unless you take the time to look deep into the eyes of the young people, our county highways and hollows, or the citizens who call our county home.

Yes, we pray, have family dinners and look toward the future with hope and confidence. We will not be ashamed of our past, surrender to our present or fear our tomorrows.

Our county holds great riches … we all need to take the time to look and discover the treasures.

David M. Lucas, Ph.D. is a professor at Ohio University Southern.