VW – Solano Writing

When I was a young kid in Fresno, my dad would pile us kids in the VW bus and head out of town many Sunday afternoons.

When we’d come to an intersection, he’d ask which direction to go.

Sometimes we’d end up in the mountains. Sometimes we’d pass miles of fields before turning back.

It was about the adventure.

That idea stuck with me.

My early teens in San Mateo (on the San Francisco Peninsula) were spent exploring the area by bike. My wanderings took me as far as Half Moon Bay and Fisherman’s Wharf.

The people and places fascinated me.

Then I got a car.

That old wagon took me all over the area. I learned all the back roads between San Mateo and Santa Cruz.

I was able to explore the natural beauty of the mountains and coast.

When I moved to Virginia at 16, I could not afford to explore much in my gas guzzler, but our neighbor’s land bordered the National Forest.

I would explore on foot for hours.

Decades later, the exploration bug still bites me regularly.

I’ve driven coast to coast several times.

My favorite trips were when I took the time to explore.

I don’t mind flying but if driving is a practical option, I’m all over it.

Last year, to get to a writer’s conference in Wheaton, IL, I drove the old Lincoln Highway from Cheyenne to Wheaton.

Old Lincoln Highway somewhere in western Nebraska

I took three days to cover the distance that I had to cover in one on the way back.

I loved it (the three-day part that is).

This summer, we are heading to Oregon.

Most of the family is flying.

I’m driving.

I’ll take three days to explore the country between here and there (along with my youngest daughter).

If course, it helps that we’ll be saving airfare and a thousand bucks on renting a minivan out there.

But those benefits are just my justification to take the time to explore.

We plan on taking the old highways when we can, going to places like Steamboat Springs in Colorado, Promontory Point in Utah, Mount Lassen in California, and Crater Lake in Oregon.

If I’m lucky, I’ll drive through Yellowstone on the way back.

If you have suggestions for other places to check out between Denver and Portland, let me know!

I plan on posting video from this and last summer’s trip on my soon to be refreshed YouTube channel this summer.

Be sure to join me there.

In the meantime, comment below about your greatest adventures.

I once owned a diesel VW Rabbit. It was slow, but I could drive a thousand miles on a single fill-up.

Until that one day.

It started overheating. I added water. It kept overheating. I made it home, spewing white smoke behind me. Then I made it to the mechanic. The bill was staggering. You mechanics know why.

First, I added water when I should have added coolant. Worse, I added it when it was hot. I ignored the owner’s manual and the advice of experts and it cost me a new engine head instead of just a gasket. Lesson learned.

The designer of that engine knew what I needed to do.

How many times do I ignore the instructions of the Designer of my life?

Yes, I believe that Someone designed me.

I know that many reject that idea.

Some see God as a strict judge with a bunch of rules designed to control us. I can understand since that image has been perpetuated by religious people for centuries. If that was an accurate picture of God, I would probably reject that too.

But God is a Dad!

I have four kids. I’m far from perfect but my love for each of them is deep.

I’m not a very strict dad, but what rules I enforce, I do for their good. When my kids try to do things their own way, I feel for them. I know that they’ll have to deal with the consequences. Sometimes I have to intervene with some tough love. If I were to catch them intentionally hurting others, I would probably be angry at them.

How do you think God, who created the universe, would raise his children?

Wouldn’t He give His kids rules designed to help them grow into healthy adults that fit into this world?

When His kids wander away, don’t you think God’s heart breaks?

How would you feel if your kids denied that you even existed?

Jesus referred to God the Father as “Abba”. That means “Daddy”. That’s the kind of God I believe in. He loves us enough to provide commands designed for our good. He is fiercely protective of His kids. Try to harm them and you might experience the fierce side of His love.

No one obeys His commands perfectly. When you mess up, God made a way for you to be restored.

If you reject Him, He allows it. But that breaks His Daddy heart.

How do you see God?

Do you believe He exists?

Is He a strict judge?

Is He an egomaniac?

Or, like me, do you see a loving Daddy who wants the best for His kids?

If that’s true, how do we respond to that? Let’s talk about it.

Tag: VW

Road Trippin’

A Father’s Love