a 24 hour car ride

For Spring break this year 3 friends and I decided to drive to Florida for a mini vacation. The money we would save in gas would be worth the long drive we reasoned, and now that we're back, I would still say it was a good decision. Despite the sore butts, slightly cramped conditions, gross fast food, and bad radio station music, the trip was highly successful, and I would do it again in a heart beat.

While in the car I had a plethora of time on my hands to pass. Instead of being bored, I accepted it and used it for my peace of mind. Not only was able to have several good conversations with my traveling companions, I also found the time to reflect on the wonderful world around me and God's role in it.

At one point I blocked out the noise of the ride and talked to God. I thanked him for the wonderful trip that we had, for my friends, for the decent driving conditions, and just for being present in my life. Often times I am so busy that I do not have time to have full conversations with God and our discussions are limited to hasty thank-yous or one-minute requests. God deserves better than this and this looong car ride was the perfect time for me to reflect on life and my role in it.

Now, i did not come to any epiphany or grand conclusion, but it was wonderful to be able to settle back and just talk to God. I had forgotten how relaxing it could be and it was great to reconnect. I felt so at peace by the time I was done.

The trip also reminded me of God's ever-presence. Although it may have been hard to admire the South Carolinian landscape while flying down I-95 at 90 miles per hour, we still noticed the small things. I saw marvelous bridges, goregous shooting water fountains, awe-inspiring rock-faces, miles and miles of open lush greenness, and massive cloud-free blue skies; I could feel the warm sun, spy the twinkling stars, hear the tapping of the warm rain on the wind-shield and sense the warmth and comfort of friendship, and, in it all, I found the omnicient ever-present power of God.