One of the key purposes of my recent seven week trip was to look up family members I’d heard about but never seen. I have a keen interest in accumulating old family pictures and histories.

While in Washington, I spent a couple of days visiting cemeteries and visiting with some of these fine folks. I spent two nights in the same motel. That was a bit unusual for me but kinda nice.

After my first night, I came out in the morning to look for some breakfast. Hey, even Greyhound buses need fuel. I know, I know, so do V.W.s. (g) When I rolled Sparky onto the parking lot, there was a young man standing near my truck. I said, “Good morning”. He said, “Someone broke into my truck last night.” Now, his truck was sitting right next to my truck. I quickly looked to see if I’d suffered the same fate. Thank the Lord, Tonka 02 was still in one piece.

As I began empathizing with “Jack”, he said that it could have been worse. Whoever did the dastardly deed hadn’t stolen anything, just smashed the side window. Without warning, Jack looked at me and said, “What are you doing on this trip?” I told him that I work for Jesus. Well, as you might suspect, my remark opened a huge door. Jack told me that he used to work for Jesus. When I asked him to tell me more, he said that he’d once sold religious books door to door.

He’d answered my question. Now he asked me to explain what I meant by working for Jesus. I began explaining that I was on the road singing songs my Grandma used to sing in churches, schools, etc., wherever I was invited. This led to about an hour of conversation about my relationship with God and how it came about. I gave him a CD of “Grandma’s Songs”. As he read down through the titles, a little bitty tear crept out of the corner of his eye. Seems he’d gone to S.S. and church with his grandmother and recognized most of the songs.

How did our visit ultimately turn out? Jack stood on that parking lot and asked Jesus to come into his life. Pretty nifty, eh? You see, sharing my faith with folks whom the Lord brings across my path is a key purpose in my life wherever I am. In Matthew 28, Jesus said that as we go, we should be His witnesses…

I imagine that many of my readers have similar experiences to share. Just click on the “Contact Us” tab at the top of the page or use the “Leave a Reply” box below and share your story with me. I look forward to your e-mail and will answer you promptly.

– Boy, PapaJ! I’ll tell ya, this just makes me think how GOD is like the RV and we are the little car. Through the umbilical cord, (His Son Jesus Christ) other people see how we act and carry on in life. GREAT story. Wonderful food for thought!!!! I’ll bet you’re so relaxed to be home and sleeping in your own bed again. God bless ya, and I can’t wait to hear some of the neat stories about your trip.

– What a great story! You are such a comfort to me, especially when I’ve been in much pain like I’ve been for the last 3 weeks. Such a cute story. Glad you are back safe and sound.

    In response to your great story. I look at God as being the “BIG RV”. He is always the ONE who is working so hard in my life to make me be a more good & faithful servant to Him. He pulls all the weight, I just hang on for dear life! I try to pull my weight (believe me, I have a lot to pull), but I fail so many times! I get so upset at myself for failing Him so many times, and He just keeps on letting me hang on for the ride to eternity, never to let me go. I’m so thankful for such a loving God, that even though I very seldom pull all my weight, He is still there, always. Who could ask for anything more? We who know Him are so very blessed. May I learn to never take Him for granted, HE IS LORD!

    I saw a church sign as I passed a church on my way home from work today. It said, “The best thing in life, is not THINGS! Thought you would like!

– Great! a new article. Mmmmm…….The thought that struck me is that I was that powerless car (the motor isn’t even ON!) & I could not see what lies ahead. Had to trust the Motor home to lead and keep us on the road. If the car got detached while going down the road, it would ditch & crash. (Ouch!)

    It is like that with God, isn’t it? We know He is leading, but we can’t see the road ahead and what is in store for us, whether in smooth pavement, or holes big enough to swallow half a car or at least break an axle.

– It’s great to hear from you again. While you were away, I took a little trip to Indiana for my 30th high school class reunion. It was fun to see old friends…what was even better was getting to see my mother and sisters and nieces and nephews. Now to the “pushing” part of the story. As I visited with my siblings I sensed an undercurrent of disagreement, and I offered to write a letter to all of them to facilitate a more open dialogue/communication. The letter went out last week. Now it’s time for the followup phone calls. Yes, I’m in the hot seat, but I’m looking forward to encouraging my brothers and sisters to talk things out (as opposed to squabbling). So, pray for me…I feel like that car behind the RV…yet I know the peace that passes understanding…thank God!

– So many times we feel that we are pushing a tremendous load and, in fact, are doing it remarkably well when, in reality, the Lord is pulling us lovingly down life’s road and we’re just along for the ride! Whatever success or achievement we enjoy is through God’s grace alone.

    Just read your “Push You, Pull Me …” message and two thoughts occurred to me.

    Both vehicles are feeling quite full of themselves, but what happens if “the driver” isn’t behind the wheel. Without the driver (Jesus) to direct and guide our lives, we wouldn’t get to our destination. In fact, we would likely end up a ditch somewhere … and that would happen whether the RV was pulling or the little car was pushing. Without “the driver” they would never arrive safely anywhere! Our lives are like that, too. People are in such a hurry … to get where? With Jesus in your life, you know where you’re headed and you know you will get there. That’s not to say there won’t be problems along the way like flat tires (family crisis), run out of gas (discouragement … that one afflicts a lot of us …) even mechanical difficulties (health and financial troubles). Sometimes, we miss our turnoff and head a long way in the wrong direction, but then we consult our map (the Bible) and our driver (Jesus) helps us turn around and gets us back on the right road. In fact, the more we consult our map, the Bible, the less likely we are to make those wrong turns or to travel for very long on the wrong road.

     But that brings me to my second thought. Even the driver would be ineffectual if he didn’t have … “the Key”. The Key puts everything together. It provides the Power that enables the driver to move this “mountain” of a vehicle. And our key … our Power … is the Power of God. He is the Key. He is the one who sent His beloved Son, Jesus, to us to direct our paths. He gave us the Bible as our road map and He wants us to reach our destination. What destination, you may ask? … why, He wants us to come Home. After our travels here on earth, He wants us to come Home to be with Him forever.

      I certainly want to make sure that I make that destination … don’t you?

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