Over the past twelve years, I’ve driven over 100,000 miles on my tours in this great country of ours. And there are several things that have “hit” me.

-Way too many people lose out because they choose to fly.
-Most people are in a hurry.
-We don’t stop and “smell the roses” enough.
-We’ve let life “run” us.

The first one is a biggie. The second one causes the first one a lot of the time. This in turn, enables the third point. And the fourth point? Well, it seems to be the root problem.

Last weekend, we were invited to be on the Hour of Power and we filmed at the Crystal Cathedral. A beautiful, beautiful place in the LA vicinity. So, we took off from Colorado and headed west.

Let me tell you, if you haven’t driven across Utah on Interstate 70 – you need to do it. It’s amazing. National Parks like the Arches National Park – beg you to stop and take the time to look, wonder, and soak in the glory of God’s handiwork. There’s not a lot of towns or places – in fact, there’s one stretch of 100 miles with “no services” – and another stretch of more than 60 miles with “no services” – but if you’re worried about that, you’re missing the point. Completely.

Driving across parts of Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Illinois, Iowa (you get the point) can be quite “dull” to most people. But have you ever stopped to see what’s growing? Instead of flying past all the farms and ranches, take a gander at the livestock – the different breeds, and all the varieties of corn, soybeans, and other crops. We’re fed because of those farms. And that’s someone’s livelihood.

The reason I’m bringing all this up is because it’s the heart of America. Her people, her land, her crops, her beauty.

Take a minute to soak up the beauty around you. Whether it’s the ocean, the mountains, the desert, or farmlands… Remember how wonderful it is to live in a free country. To see the majesty and glory of the Rockies, to smell the salty air of the ocean, and to feel the wind and cold of an icy snow storm.

And maybe next time, you’ll take a road trip and thank God for the work of His hands.