On the Road With Jesus
A television program in my childhood captured my attention, and I always looked forward to seeing the next adventure. It was called “On The Road With Charles Kuralt.” It aired from 1967 to 1980 and featured Kuralt traveling in a motorhome nearly 50,000 miles (80,000 km) across the lower 50 states in search of stories and people that might have otherwise gone unreported. It usually featured some interesting locations and individuals. I remember thinking how cool it would be to do that.
Growing up, I always enjoyed adventure – from climbing trees, riding bicycles, fishing, and camping with the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, to the times when Mom would declare that we were going camping, loading up the car with our camping gear. One year we went on a great road camping trip, touring as far as Georgia from Chicago. Seven of us and our dog crammed into our 1971 Ford Torino, loaded to the gills. It’s a wonder the rear bumper didn’t drag. I guess the “wanderlust” was instilled in me by her. Her dream was to tour the country in a motorhome when she retired. Unfortunately, her dream wouldn’t be realized in her lifetime. However, the seeds of her dream had been planted in me. She would have been so thrilled to see her firstborn son and “daughter by love” fulfill it.
Our mini motorhome
During the height of the COVID-19 crisis, we purchased an older mini-motorhome in decent condition from my portion of her estate. Some call it our “Covid-camper.” I prefer to call it God’s Missionary Motorhome. We dedicated it to God’s glory, knowing that He would share with us the joy of sowing the seeds of the gospel, sharing words of comfort and encouragement wherever we traveled, with whomever was receptive. As we travel, we claim God’s promise, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart: and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV
We have made some great memories and met some wonderful people while on the road with Jesus, and I want to share just a few of the stories from our most recent trip. This trip, we decided to tour Florida.
During our checkout of the Collier-Seminole campground, near Naples, Florida, I met Chuck* at the dump station – where you hook up, dump, and rinse your onboard sewage tanks. He pulled up behind me as I was finishing up. I asked if he was checking in or checking out. He told me he was moving to Koreshan State Park, in Estero, Florida. I told him that was also where we were heading and shared some more of our itinerary, only to discover that we would be at a couple of the same parks at the same time. I told him that maybe we would meet up at the next stop, gave him a thumbs up (because it’s not cool to shake hands at the dump station), and drove away.
I didn’t see him at the next park, but I did at the following one. We would see him riding his bicycle around the campground and wave to each other. A couple of times, he stopped by when he noticed we were outside, and we struck up a small conversation. I could sense a pain or sadness in his countenance, though he, as we all do, tried to hide it. I wouldn’t press to discover the issue.
On the day we were leaving, he moved to the campsite across from us. I noticed that he was sitting in a chair reading a book. That’s when the Holy Spirit nudged me. I felt impressed to say goodbye and share a copy of the Great Controversy, explaining how it changed my life and what the book contained. He immediately took the book and then did something totally unexpected: he gave me a hug with tears in his eyes. He wanted to exchange contact information to keep in touch. Since then, we have been texting each other about our journeys, sharing pictures. When he learned that we would be in his vicinity on our journey home, he even invited us to stop by. Due to the threat of severe weather again, we were unable to do so.
I didn’t realize that he was a lonely, hurting soul. In our texting, I discovered that he is a fairly recent widower, having lost his wife a couple of years ago, and he is still grieving. He revealed to me that the pain of losing his wife caused him to walk away from God, but a cousin helped bring him back to the Catholic church. I offered to help him in his grieving process and stay in touch with him with an occasional text message. We just never know how God can use a casual contact, a smile, and words of encouragement, or even a timely placed book.
Pastor William and I
Further on in our journey, our itinerary had us passing through the Tampa area. That’s when we arranged to meet up with Pastor William Earnhardt. My wife and I met him for lunch at the Olive Garden restaurant in Tampa. It was a delightful visit as if we were old friends, with good food and fellowship. Somehow, over the chatter, laughter, and food, two hours had whisked by. Before leaving, we had prayer with and for each other, as well as the obligatory photo-op. It was a stop well worth making.
Our final Florida stop – or so we thought – brought us to Fort Pickens Campground, part of the National Seashore on Santa Rosa Island, near Pensacola Beach, Florida.
We had just finished setting up when I checked my email, only to discover that the park would be closing the next day due to the threat of severe weather, which was expected to pass in a couple of days. We had to scramble to find an alternate campground about an hour’s drive away.
Due to the approaching weather, the conditions were quite breezy. As we walked the new campground, we noticed a young mother with a 5-to 6-year-old daughter struggling with the wind to set up their tent alone. We pitched in to help her set up her tent. She thanked us profusely for helping, saying, “I don’t know what I would’ve done if you didn’t stop to help me.” It felt good to help.
A nesting Osprey, at Fort Pickens. The Osprey and its nest were huge.
After the threat of severe weather had passed, we returned to our reserved campsite at Fort Pickens campground. A couple of days later, a new neighbor moved into the campsite next to us. It looked like a youth group, with eight kids ranging in age from toddlers to teens, two dogs, and two adults packed into a travel trailer. We anticipated that these could be very noisy neighbors. We thought they were a church group because the father wore a t-shirt that read something about Jesus and camping. We watched in amazement at how well disciplined and considerate of others these children were. We were expecting yelling adults, fighting children, and barking dogs. None of that happened. Instead, we were blessed to see a Christian family interacting gracefully with each other while being considerate of their neighbors. It was a pleasant blessing. We wanted to talk with the parents and compliment them on how their children behaved and how they conducted their family. However, it seemed they were always busy loading up in their extended van to go places.
On our last day, we finally had an opportunity. We had just returned from riding our bicycles when my wife spotted the father walking with his toddler daughter. She inquired if they were a youth group, to which the father, with shoulder-length hair and kind eyes (reminding me of what I imagine Jesus to look like), chuckled and replied, “No, they are all ours.” Enrique* must have noticed my wife’s bewildered look, because he continued, “Four of our children are adopted; they are native children.” I noticed the tattoo on his left shoulder of angel wings, Psalm 91, and USMC. He was a Marine veteran. Yet he “commanded” his family not as a drill sergeant but very much like I envisioned Jesus interacting with children. We never met his wife as she was kept busy homeschooling the children and tending to their needs. He told us about how, after his military life, he became an excavator in one of the northern states near Canada. Every winter, they would close down the business and, as a family, go on an extended road trip to a warmer climate. Enrique* told us that they were nondenominational Christians who fellowshipped with the Baptists.
The next morning, as we were preparing to leave, I once again got the impression that we should share literature with our neighbor. We didn’t have any more books, but I felt impressed to share a couple of the Amazing Facts magazines – one on the Three Angels’ Messages of Revelation 14, and another on the rapture. Both are attractive and scripture-packed magazines. As I approached the power panel to disconnect our vehicle, I noticed Enrique* outside and alone. I called to him and told him that we were moving on and how it was a blessing to have been their neighbors for a few days. I asked if I could share a couple of pieces of literature that have blessed me in my Christian walk. He was receptive and appreciative. I briefly introduced the subject matter of the literature. Not surprisingly, he hadn’t heard of the “Three Angels Message.” I told him that I was a blogger and asked if I could briefly mention our experience with him and his family while protecting his identity. He gave me permission.
I told him that Jesus is coming soon.
He responded, “I sure hope so!” I said, “It’s this world’s only hope.”
To which he replied, “You know that’s true!” I look forward to seeing Enrique* and Erika,* and their eight children again and pray that they and we will remain faithful to our high calling.
My wife Jeannie and I on the white sand beach of Santa Rosa Island.
We are already planning new adventures and seeking new opportunities to share Jesus with others. Maybe on our next excursion, we will leave books in the lending libraries of the campgrounds we visit. Mostly, we just want to be available for Jesus to use us to spread the Good News and his love for mankind. We want to be “a servant to God, and a friend to man” as we “go on God’s errands.” He gets the glory, but shares with us the joy.
Being on the road with Jesus has been a great blessing and adventure. We have met many interesting and wonderful people whom we hope to meet again, not just in this life but in heaven. We have seen so many wondrous works of God’s Creation. What an awesome God He is!
Get on the road with Jesus, wherever you are. You don’t have to go across the country, or even across town to find people who need the Lord. Maybe you’ll find them across the street, or the backyard fence. What an incredible privilege it is to share God’s love with others!
When we go on God’s mission, all of God’s promises are for us, just as much as they were for ancient Israel:
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV
Until our next adventure, I’m Tim Heischberg, on the road with Jesus.
* All names are pseudonyms to protect the privacy of the new friends we made.
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