Being that we travel and perform throughout the majority of the continental United States, we are blessed to see the varied landscapes of this great nation. The diversity of vistas and habitats that God has provided for us here is truly a wonder. Sure there are beautiful places all over the world. I long to see the rolling hills of Ireland and the coral reefs off Australia. But here in the US we have a plurality of palatial panoramas. From the spacious skies and amber waves of grain, to purple mountain majesties above the… well, you get the picture. And it is not at all lessened by the fact that we view most of it through a dusty windshield, often decorated with little blessings lovingly dropped from above by the Lord’s high-spirited harbingers in the sky.

Through all these varied terrains there is one thing that I continually see. And that is the back end of our trailer trawling behind the truck ahead of us. It’s like that garden gnome on the Travelocity commercials - always the same gnome, just different locations.

Driving through Eastern North Carolina

It’s in all my pictures. Like the guy who can’t take a picture without his thumb being in the way. It’s etched in every memory I have of our trips. They’ll say to me, “Remember that church out in San Diego?” And I think, “I remember the trailer on the way out.” I have spent many, many hours staring at it. I know all it’s scratches and scrapes. I know the way the trailer door buckles in slightly. I sometimes see faces in it.

Traveling through West Texas at sunrise

It’s become like the Star of Bethlehem to me. I follow it on good faith, unceasingly. When it takes a wrong turn, I take a wrong turn (note that the Star of Bethlehem never took a wrong turn). When it makes an illegal U-turn at a busy intersection, I usually wait until it is safe, then make an illegal U-turn (which the Star of Bethlehem would NEVER do).

Crossing California’s Mojave Desert

And like the Star of Bethlehem, it brings good news. It is a symbol of all that we do, everywhere we go. Of everything that it takes for us to perform, bringing music to you and glory to the Lord. From sea to shining sea.

Somewhere in the middle of a torrential downpour