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Earl and Pearl Checking the Little Things. · Travel With A Purpose

• 0:05
  Speaker: Hello, fellow Stow Jurers.
• 0:07
  Speaker: I'm your host, Dave Light, and welcome to Travel with a Pope, a podcast designed to keep Swedurners and friends informed, entertained, and inspired.
• 0:24
  Speaker: It was a bright East Texas morning at Camp B, and Earl Traveler stood proudly beside the RV with his hands on his hips, grinning like a man who had personally invented road travel.
• 0:36
  Speaker: They were excited about moving on to a sure enough sojourn.
• 0:41
  Speaker: It was their first after being officially welcomed into the Sojourner family at Camp B.
• 0:47
  Speaker: Earl, he announced confidently, we are rolling out in record time.
• 0:52
  Speaker: I've got everything under control.
• 0:54
  Speaker: Earl, who had been married to Earl long enough to know those words usually meant entertainment was imminent.
• 1:02
  Speaker: She adjusted her glasses and asked everything?
• 1:06
  Speaker: Absolutely, Earl said, giving the RV a dramatic pat.
• 1:11
  Speaker: Check the tires, top the fuel, clean the windshield.
• 1:15
  Speaker: We are road warriors.
• 1:18
  Speaker: Well, Pearl climbed into her seat, wearing the expression of a woman cautiously boarding a moving sermon illustration.
• 1:26
  Speaker: With great flourish, Earl fired up the RV.
• 1:30
  Speaker: So far so good.
• 1:32
  Speaker: They waved goodbye to everybody, pulled out slowly, and made it approximately seventeen feet before Pearl heard an odd scraping sound.
• 1:42
  Speaker: Pearl, Pearl said, did you forget something small?
• 1:46
  Speaker: Earl stopped, stepped out, and discovered the power cord was still plugged into the campsite pedestal.
• 1:55
  Speaker: It was stretched tight like a bungee cord of embarrassment.
• 1:59
  Speaker: Jay was standing nearby with his coffee in his hand.
• 2:03
  Speaker: He called out Well now, Earl's trying to take Camp B's electricity on the road.
• 2:09
  Speaker: A few chuckles drifted across the campground.
• 2:12
  Speaker: Earl unplugged it with a sheepish grin.
• 2:15
  Speaker: Minor detail, he said.
• 2:18
  Speaker: Then round two began.
• 2:20
  Speaker: This time they made it all the way to the check in shed before a loud clatter erupted from above.
• 2:26
  Speaker: Thunk.
• 2:27
  Speaker: Bang flap, lap, flap.
• 2:30
  Speaker: Earl slowly turned her head.
• 2:33
  Speaker: What was that, Earl?
• 2:35
  Speaker: I don't know, Earl said.
• 2:38
  Speaker: Pearl climbed out, looked up, and it was the antenna.
• 2:43
  Speaker: Sure enough, Earl had forgotten to lower the old antenna, which was now waving like a surrender flag after clipping a low tree branch.
• 2:53
  Speaker: Well, Earl said, adjusting his cap.
• 2:56
  Speaker: We probably weren't going to watch TV anyway.
• 2:59
  Speaker: Earl gave him the look.
• 3:02
  Speaker: After securing the antenna, they tried again.
• 3:06
  Speaker: This time they actually reached the Camp B gate.
• 3:09
  Speaker: Victory seemed close.
• 3:12
  Speaker: They drove in peaceful silence for nearly five glorious minutes on Cook's Road.
• 3:18
  Speaker: Then Earl smiled sweetly and asked, Earl, did you remember to latch the refrigerator?
• 3:25
  Speaker: Her eyes widened just as they heard the unmistakable sound of a pickle jar making a tragic life choice.
• 3:35
  Speaker: From the back came a crash, followed by suspicious rolling noises.
• 3:41
  Speaker: Pearl sighed.
• 3:43
  Speaker: Miles dove for the bed.
• 3:45
  Speaker: Miss Gypsy looked as though she was reconsidering her travel arrangements.
• 3:51
  Speaker: Earl pulled over and Earl opened the fridge to discover what could only be described as a salad based rebellion.
• 3:59
  Speaker: By the time everything was cleaned up, Pearl was laughing too hard to be annoyed.
• 4:05
  Speaker: Earl, she said, patting his shoulder, at this rate, we may never leave Texas.
• 4:10
  Speaker: Earl grinned.
• 4:11
  Speaker: Maybe so.
• 4:12
  Speaker: But think how prepared we'll be when we do.
• 4:15
  Speaker: And so, with the power cord unplugged, the antenna lowered, the refrigerator latched, and dignity only slightly dented, Earl and Pearl finally rolled out.
• 4:27
  Speaker: A little later than they planned, a little wiser than before.
• 4:32
  Speaker: And with Pearl's new pre-departure checklist officially taped to Earl's steering wheel.
• 4:38
  Speaker: It read keys, cord, antenna, bridge, and pride.
• 4:44
  Speaker: Because it can't be even the smallest oversights can become part of the adventure.
• 4:50
  Speaker: Because when we're rolling down the road, even the smallest oversights can become part of the adventure.
• 4:58
  Speaker: Well okay.
• 4:59
  Speaker: So this was a humorous look at what happens to all of us.
• 5:03
  Speaker: We get excited about pulling out and heading to a sojourn or home and overlook some of the small things.
• 5:10
  Speaker: That reminds me, by the way, not overlooking the small things is also biblical.
• 5:17
  Speaker: It isn't always the big things in life that derail us.
• 5:21
  Speaker: It's the little things we might overlook.
• 5:23
  Speaker: Certainly that applies to prayer, Bible study, and our relationships.
• 5:28
  Speaker: Simple neglect might seem not to be a big issue.
• 5:32
  Speaker: But you know, God's word offers some reminders.
• 5:35
  Speaker: In Luke chapter 16, verse 10, we're reminded that if we're faithful in the little things, we'll be faithful in the larger things.
• 5:42
  Speaker: Galatians 5 9 tells us how a little leaven affects the entire lump.
• 5:48
  Speaker: And a very interesting statement is made in James chapter 3, verses 4 and 5.
• 5:55
  Speaker: James says, Look at the ships also, though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.
• 6:08
  Speaker: Small actions, like a rudder, have massive consequences.
• 6:14
  Speaker: James is talking about our mouth can get us in trouble, but the principle of something small affects bigger things is still true.
• 6:22
  Speaker: Just like we have an RV checklist for departures, we need a daily spiritual checklist.
• 6:28
  Speaker: Have we prayed?
• 6:29
  Speaker: Have we opened God's word?
• 6:31
  Speaker: Have we spoken kindly to others?
• 6:33
  Speaker: And very importantly, have we thanked God for the blessings He showers on us that we might overlook or take for granted?
• 6:42
  Speaker: They may seem small, but they are very important.
• 6:47
  Speaker: So the next time you're preparing to pull out with your rig, don't be like Earl.
• 6:52
  Speaker: Take a moment to appreciate the simple discipline of checking the little things.
• 6:56
  Speaker: And before you start your day, run through your spiritual checklist to make sure our life is in line with God's will.
• 7:04
  Speaker: And when we do that, we enjoy the journey.
• 7:08
  Speaker: Well, thank you for listening to this podcast.
• 7:11
  Speaker: I invite you to subscribe and share it with others.
• 7:14
  Speaker: I'm your host, Dave Leighton, and remember we glorify God as together we travel with a purpose.
• 7:21
  Speaker: Happy sojourning.