Episode 34 - RV Stories With Scriptural Thoughts

Every Sojourner has an RV story or two, or three, or more.  In this episode I share a few RV stories that have a scritpural application.  I invite you to think about your RV story and how perhaps God is giving you an insight into life and faithfulness.

Transcript

Hello fellow Sojourners.  I’m your host Dave Laton and welcome to Travel With A Purpose, a podcast designed to keep Sojourners and friends informed, entertained, and inspired.

If you spend time around Sojourners, you quickly learn something: RV life is full of stories. Some are funny. Some are frustrating. Some are unforgettable. And many of them carry quiet lessons about patience, preparation, humility, and trust.

Today I want to share a few RV stories and the spiritual lessons they remind me of, because sometimes the road teaches us things we might otherwise miss.

The first story is something we’ve all experienced.  It’s when the GPS was wrong.

We were traveling to Winnsboro, Texas on a Sojourn.  We hadn’t been there before so we were relying on our GPS.  There were signs along the way directing us, but I kept listening to the GPS.  

At one fork in the road it directed us to the right.  That’s were things went wrong.  The road clearly was not intended for an RV and it seemed we were heading away from our destination.  Then the road narrowed and we were heading towards a cotton field.  All of a sudden, the road ended in a barn lot.  Fortunately, I was able to back up and turn around.  

It was obvious, I should not have trusted the GPS.  That moment reminded me of something spiritually important. In life, we have a lot of voices giving us directions—culture, media, opinions, trends. They often speak confidently, just like that GPS. But confidence does not equal accuracy.

Scripture reminds us in Proverbs 3:5–6:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

Sometimes we follow our own directions and find ourselves on roads that were never meant for us.  The wise traveler learns to trust the right guide.

Here’s a story about the unexpected breakdown.  

Ask any long-term RV’r and you will eventually hear a breakdown story. A blown tire. A dead battery.  A refrigerator that decides to quit at the worst possible moment.  And many other issues associated with mechanical devices.  We once even had our slide out hydraulic hose split leaving us unable to pull it in.

One Sojourner couple told me about breaking down on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere.  At first, it felt like a disaster.  But during the wait for roadside assistance, they sat quietly together watching the sunset over a field. The unexpected delay turned into a moment of peace they hadn’t experienced in weeks.

Later they said something surprising: “That breakdown might have been a gift.”

Life has a way of forcing us to slow down. Spiritually, we often resist interruptions. We like momentum.  We like control.  But sometimes God uses unexpected pauses to get our attention.

Psalm 46:10 reminds us: “Be still, and know that I am God.”

Sometimes the most meaningful moments happen when our plans stop, and God’s presence becomes clear.

One last story.  This one is about a long climb.  Perhaps you know what I’m talking about if you’ve traveled in your rig through mountains.

We were traveling through the mountains in Pennsylvania.  We had one area near Scranton where it is a long climb.  The engine was working harder.  Our speed slowed down.  I had to travel in the far-right lane to let other traffic go around.

But we kept going, slow and steady.  And then we reached the summit.  Not only did our engine work easier and our speed pick up, but the view was also breathtaking. We could see the city laid out below us and we could see for miles.  

The same is true in life. There are times that feel like long climbs. Struggles. Uncertainty.  Loss. But scripture encourages us in Galatians 6:9:

“Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

The climb can be difficult. But the view from faithfulness is worth it.

Here’s a closing thought.  As Sojourners, we understand something about life.

The journey matters. The people along the road matter. And sometimes the most meaningful lessons come from unexpected places—wrong turns, helpful neighbors, breakdowns, and long climbs.

Every mile holds a story.  And every story can remind us of something deeper. That God is guiding. He is present. And He is working even when the road ahead feels uncertain.

Thanks for listening to this podcast.  I invite you to subscribe and share it with others.  I’m your host Dave Laton and remember we glorify God as together we, “Travel With A Purpose”!  Happy Sojourning!