Living in northern Michigan, we spend a lot of time in the car.
First, we live about fifteen miles outside of town. That means that even a trip to the store involves substantial time on the road.
Second, we're about two or three hours from any major cities. That means that, from time to time, we head downstate for shopping or airports or restaurants. Even though we don't do that often, it's a major investment of time when we do. Normally, a trip downstate is a full day affair.
Today, we took Molly downstate. She will be making her way back to New York after a week at home, and she will be flying out of an airport downstate. To make that happen, we spent most of today in the car.
It's a good thing I love to drive, because we spend a lot of time on the road.
One reason I love to drive is related to what typically happens when we're in the car. Sometimes we listen to music, but usually we simply talk. And usually we end up talking about important things. Today, we talked about our faith, about our sense of God's activity in our lives, about lessons that we've been learning, about books that we've been reading, about future plans, about money, and about how we're feeling about things. When I was younger, I had no idea what family life would be like at this age. I guess I figured that my kids would want nothing to do with me, and that Julie and I would probably sit around and watch television.
Fortunately, that's not the life we got.
Rich interaction can happen at any time, of course. In our family, however, that sort of thing happens most often around the dinner table and especially in the car. Probably because of fewer distractions, those times lend themselves to deeper conversation. Obviously, conversation calls for attention, but it also requires time. And both attention and time are readily available on long drives.
I can't imagine how many miles we've driven in the past year. But I am certain that the hours in the car are about the best hours I've had.
As Julie and I drove home this evening (without Molly), we were already talking about the next driving trip that we would be taking.
Yes, we will talk some between now and then. But probably not as seriously as when we get back in the car.
Fortunately, that's not the life we got.
Rich interaction can happen at any time, of course. In our family, however, that sort of thing happens most often around the dinner table and especially in the car. Probably because of fewer distractions, those times lend themselves to deeper conversation. Obviously, conversation calls for attention, but it also requires time. And both attention and time are readily available on long drives.
I can't imagine how many miles we've driven in the past year. But I am certain that the hours in the car are about the best hours I've had.
As Julie and I drove home this evening (without Molly), we were already talking about the next driving trip that we would be taking.
Yes, we will talk some between now and then. But probably not as seriously as when we get back in the car.