Over 3,000 miles across the United States in a 1958 Chevy Belair… I traveled that journey three times in less than two year’s time. I was 9 when we began, 10 1/2 when we completed trip #3, always riding in the back seat behind the driver. The driver was my dad, my earthly hero, my Superman. At that time in my life he was still the biggest, strongest, smartest man in the whole world. I didn’t realize until I was older that he was only 5’8″ and had an 8th grade education. Of course even when I did find that out, it didn’t matter because my dad never failed me… not in any way that really mattered anyway.

So back to the journey, my parents decided to move from Boston to California… You know, swimmin’ pools, movie stars (for those who remember Jed Clampett). But the real reason my parents decided to uproot our family was because dad had bad ears and the cold weather caused him extreme pain. But after six months away from our huge family my parents got homesick… so we trekked back to Boston, bought another house, froze through another winter, sold that house and, yes, moved back to California. This choice was final…they chose California with its sunshine and ocean breezes, over freezing in Boston near my grandparents, 33 cousins and 20 aunts and uncles. My brother and I were not a part of the decision, but we were part of the journeys, moving, changes, and adjustments. In the process we lived in eight different places and attended six different schools within a two year time span. And though confused at times, I don’t ever remember questioning if we had done the right thing, or wondering how it was going to turn out. I simply trusted my parents.

As each road trip began, whether from east to west or west to east, I simply got in the car, back seat, driver’s side. Dad was always at the wheel, Mom road shotgun and my brother sat behind her. My mom was the navigator, with a map from AAA in her hand, and there was a compass on the dashboard telling us which way was north, south, east and west. Ah yes, the pre-GPS years.

Now my dad… he was deaf in his right ear and couldn’t hear well out of his left, so my mom would yell directions to him, or maybe it was AT him, “Wally, you need to take the next exit!” My dad would be silent… Then we’d hear more of a shriek, “Wally, the next exit! Wally, you missed the exit!”

My brother and I would be in the back seat singing the ol’ tune of “California here we come… right back where we started from.” My parents would argue about how to get turned around and back on the highway to find the correct exit before our car broke down or ran out of gas. We never did run out of gas, but we did spend an extra night or two in the middle of nowhere while waiting for some small town mechanic to repair our car on more than one occasion, one of which we got to stay in a motel with a pool… a real treat to a couple of east coast kids.

Eventually, we’d resume our journey, and regardless of the trials along the way, the rough road conditions, threatening weather reports or engine trouble, we arrived safely at our destination every time. And my brother and I always got in the car, sat back, relaxed and trusted my dad at the wheel, my mom with the map and the compass to show us the way.

My earthly father passed away seven years ago today, and though I miss him more than ever, I am so grateful for all the ‘pictures of God’ he gave me through his loving example. As I look back, this story is a picture of this journey we call ‘life.’ So often it takes us to unknown places… a little scary, a bit exciting, sometimes a combination of the two. Other times the journey takes us to familiar places, like going home. Along the way there are road blocks, detours, bumps in the road, poor weather conditions, break downs and delays. And then again, it can be like smooth sailing on the open road with a picnic lunch in the trunk. Either way, I can hop in the car, sit back and relax, and trust my Heavenly Father at the wheel, with the Holy Spirit as my Navigator and His Living Word as my compass (my GPS)…knowing I will always reach the destination He has mapped out for me. He has it all in control, He never fails, He has promised in His Word to never leave me or forsake me…and He never has. I can say with joy, I have NEVER been sorry for getting in the car and trusting my life into His most capable hands… He’s an flawless driver who not only knows the way, He IS the Way! Care to go for a ride?