Blog Traveling yesterday—without GPS

How many of us get frustrated when our GPS doesn’t lead us where we thought it would or should lead? Years ago, when we were visiting our daughter in Omaha, our GPS told us to turn left. We were on an overpass at the time. Another time, we were taking our older grandkids back home to Indiana. It was late afternoon, we were tired and needed to find a place to stay. We got lost.

Our GPS directed us to a Holiday Inn. Only at that location was an empty lot. Husband Keith was ready to throw the useless GPS out the window. We found a place. but only after stopping—more than once—to ask directions.

 GPS navigation has gotten better since then, but after some of our experiences, we’re a little hesitant about fully trusting our GPS directions. Nevertheless, we’ve found using the GPS on our phone or in the car a time-saving device. Especially for me since I never received the directional gene, I am thankful for that piece of equipment in the car.

 I was thinking of how it used to be when I grew up in the fifties and sixties. My father was a minister, and we were called every few years to a different pastorate. I loved it when we moved to Lance Creek, Wyoming. I was all about cowboys, cowgirls and horses. I loved western hats and boots. I was elementary age and could wander the hills behind our house. Dad liked to visit those with some tie to our church. It was the only Evangelical church in town and had become a church of all denominations.

 Some of our contacts lived far from the church and only made it to town once in a while. Still, Dad took his ministry seriously and would visit the far-flung ranchers when he could. At times he allowed me to ride along. We took roads, then little more than paths over dry and sometimes not-so-dry creek beds. I was completely lost.

All I saw was cattle, cactus, sagebrush, and ground cover. The ranchers and families were so happy to have a visit. Dad listened, shared, read appropriate scripture, and prayed. It seemed very few ventured out to these distant ranches. But Dad did because he cared.

 It wasn’t until recently I wondered how in the world he found these ranches tucked far away from roads and towns. He might have some sort of map though I didn’t see him use one. Of course. he had no GPS. Yet he found these ranches. If he had gotten stuck out in these places, no one would ever have found him.

 Today we complain when our GPS drops out. I am thankful my dad was willing to go the extra mile without all our technology to reach out to isolated families. How many would risk that today? I realize I need to be thankful for the location technology we have and not be so ready to complain. How about you?

Published in Kearney Hub 7/27/23 as How we got there—without GPS

© 2023 Carolyn R Scheidies
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Photo by Maël BALLAND on Unsplash