Part 72: Where All Journeys Grow

Chapter 7: Opposition

V2.0 – 10/02/2025

“Andrew. Andrew.” I heard a woman’s voice calling my name. I heard the roaring of an engine and the sound of heavy traffic. I heard the sound of light rain pelting a windshield. I felt a small, rough tongue licking my cheek. Thoughts and images of the past few days flooded back into my awareness. I lay on my side in the back cabin of a semi-truck racing down the highway toward a port in Virginia.

I threw up my hands and grabbed Marty by his little furry body and pulled the little creature away from my face and said, “I’m awake Marty, I’m awake boy.”

“Ah, how was your sleep?” Mildred asked as she glanced at me from the passenger seat of the big rig. She held a newspaper in her hands. The smell of fresh coffee drifted through the air.

“I slept deep. Thank you.” I replied. I sat up and gave Marty a good pat down his back. He barked at me and wagged his tiny tail. “Go lay down boy.” I told him and he did. He vanished under the pile of blankets content that he had helped his parents wake me up.

“Where are we?” I asked as I leaned forward to look out the windshield. I peered through the rhythmic motion of the windshield wipers driving back the rain and saw only cars and trucks ahead and to the side of us. I glanced at the speedometer and saw we were traveling at sixty miles per hour, a decent speed for the interstate. The sky outside was dark with clouds, but I could tell that daylight was above them now. The digital clock on the dash read 6am.

“We are 12 hours from the port now. We entered West Virginia a couple hours ago.” Herald replied glancing at me with a smile.

Mildred shook the paper, folded it up, and put it down by the side of her chair. She yawned and announced, “I’m going to try to sleep a while I think.”

“OK, Dear.” Herald replied to her, then said to me, “Trade seats with her now for a bit.”

“Of course.” I answered.

I shifted on the bed to make room for her to climb back. She was remarkably agile for an old lady, or she had done this a thousand times before. I climbed past her and sat down in the passenger seat and put on the seat belt. I glanced back to see Marty come out to greet Mildred and the two of them settled into a ball on the bed.

Herald held the steering wheel with both hands. He had a headset on one of his ears. He looked like a true trucker. I smiled at that. God was always providing for me in the strangest ways.

I turned my attention back to the road ahead of us. The rain was coming down harder now and the traffic was slowing down. I took the chance to quiet myself and closed my eyes.

I relaxed and listened for God’s voice. I felt His presence strong in the truck. I felt His peace resting around us. God didn’t speak but I felt His acknowledgement of me. I felt His love. The awareness that I was right where He wanted me to be flooded me. For a long moment I just enjoyed His overwhelming presence.

“Travel like this often?” Herald asked in the distance.

I returned my attention to the physical world around me.

“I’m never ridden in a semi-truck before.” I told him with a smile, “It is quite exciting.”

“Seems to me that God has an adventure ahead of you, son.” He observed gingerly.

“Oh, I’m quite sure of that.” I replied. I shifted in the large seat and rubbed my ankles to sooth the dull ache in them.

I realized I’d been wearing the same clothes since I left my house since I hadn’t had a chance to change. I smelt myself and recoiled away from the stench under my arms.

“I could use a shower.” I told him.

“We plan to stop at the travel center just this side of the Virginia border. You can take a shower there.” He offered.

“That sounds great.” I said enthusiastically.

I pulled my phone from my pocket and asked, “Mind if I charge my phone?”

“Go right ahead.” Herald said pointing toward the charging cable that danged from the dashboard.

I plugged my phone in and sat it in my lap.

“Why are you here?” I heard a voice whisper in my thoughts. “Why are you here?” It echoed itself.

“Go away. I won’t listen to anything you have to say.” I told the Dark One silently.

“Oh, you won’t listen to the important things I have to tell you?” He chided me.

I ignored him but he spoke on, “These people, ‘Sent of God’ I’m sure… The way ahead is so clear now is it? A port, a friend, a ship? Is that God’s big plan for you? Some journey across the sea to some… ‘unknown place’? So faithful you are. Aren’t you?…”

“Stop it.” I hissed at him.

“Just one more thing… I may not be able to stop this truck or its owners but… there are plenty of other people who will listen when I speak…” He sang his threat to me.

What happened next happened so fast that I barely had time to register it. The instant the Dark One had stopped speaking the cars in front of us slammed on their breaks.

All was madness.

Herald yelled, “Hold on!” as he slammed on the breaks.

I threw up my arms and braced myself against the dashboard in front of me. Mildred slid from the bunk and landed solidly in the floor of the cabin, Marty’s tiny body in her wake.

The semi slid across the wet asphalt of the interstate slowing to a stop just barely stopping before hitting the van in front of us. All the traffic had stopped in a matter of seconds. Solid red taillights glowed eerily in the pouring rain as far as I could see ahead of us.

“Try getting to the port now.” The Dark One whispered with an edge of satisfaction in his voice.

“Must be an accident up ahead.” Herald said.

He flipped a switch on his CB and spoke into his headset, “What goes on boys?”

He listened for a moment and replied to someone over the radio, “Got it. Let’s hope it’s cleared up soon. Anyone hurt?”

He nodded his head as he listened, then said, “Well that’s good. Thanks for the update.”

He pulled his headset from his head and turned to check on Mildred. She had pulled both herself and Marty up off the floor and back onto the bunk. She was holding the shivering little dog in her arms. He was looking around wildly. I could tell he was shaking.

“You alright?” Herald asked his wife reaching his hand to touch her arm.

“I’m fine.” She replied with a smile, “Just a few bumps. I think Marty is just startled as I am.” She gave the small dog a hug, then asked her husband, “Was it an accident? Was anyone hurt?”

“They don’t know yet. Some cars up ahead slid on the roads and collided. Pile up. We won’t be moving for a while.” He replied looking at me with a frown.

“Let’s pray.” Mildred suggested.

So, we prayed.

It was nice to pray with others. We prayed for safety and healing for those involved. We thanked God for His protection. We prayed for our families. They prayed for me and my journey.

“Amen.” Herald said. He looked up at me and asked, “Any insights into what God wants from you now?”

“Haven’t asked Him yet.” I said.

“I’m feeling your journey with us has come to an end.” Herald said gently.

“I was feeling that same thing just now myself.” Mildred agreed.

I looked at both of them and knew that it was true. But what now? I turned away from them and closed my eyes. I listened.

God whispered, “Look up.” And I did.

Out the window, a short distance ahead of where we sat on the interstate was a gas station sign glowing through the sheets of rain.

“Go there.” The Holy Spirit whispered to my spirit.

“To the gas station?” I asked.

“Yes.” The faint reply.

“Ok.” I answered.

I took a deep breath and turned back to look at the couple. They sat staring at me with smiles.

“What did He say?” Herald asked me.

“How did you know I was talking to Him?” I asked.

“I felt it.” Herald replied. Mildred just sat nodding with a smile.

“Go.” Herald suggested. He reached down and pulled a large black jacket from a compartment behind his seat. “Take this.” He said handing it to me. “It will keep some of the rain off of you.”

I took the jacket and asked, “Are you sure?”

Herald nodded and then reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. He pulled some cash from it and handed it to me. I took it and said, “Thank you both… for everything.”

“A drink of cold water, son.” Herald replied with a grin.

I nodded to him. I gave Mildred a smile and patted Marty goodbye. I heard the rain outside slow a bit. I pulled on the jacket. It was heavy and warm, made from some waterproof material. I pulled on my backpack and put my phone back in my pocket.

“Wait, one more thing.” Herald said.

He took a piece of paper from the dash and wrote something on it then handed it to me. “This is my friend’s name and number. Get to the Port of Virginia. Find him. He will help you get where you are going.” He said.

“God told us you would be taking a ship. So, maybe our friend can help with that.” Mildred added.

“Thank you.” I told them.

I put the piece of paper in my pants pocket and braced myself. I opened the passenger side door and stepped down into the pouring rain. With one last nod to Herald I shut the door. Battling the pouring rain, I walked toward the gas station in the distance.

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