Complimentary Story
May 2026Two damaged lives, a yellow truck, an open road, and a life we never could have imagined.
Last month, I said I was ending our series about our life on the road, but I was asked if we would share what life has been like since we stopped traveling.
We had left the “work-a-day” world in 1992 and returned in 1999. We shared many of the experiences we had during those years in the past 45 articles. It was God that led us down a path that got us to leave the security that we had in our jobs and lifestyle and it was again God that put an end to it all and brought us back to the world we left. I use the word “world” because there is a vast difference between our lifestyle on the road and the lifestyle that we returned to.
Before 1992, I worked in almost every level of the Machine Tool Industry. I started in a machine shop in the late ‘60s and worked my way through production machining, tool room, lower management, training machinists, teaching CNC programming, and setting up a new shop to create specialized repair parts.
When we returned, we had no idea how we would provide for ourselves. This is where, once again, God stepped in and opened a door that I did not even know existed. I had spent enough time in management that I understood (even though it is not necessarily legal) age is a qualifying factor when being hired. I was past 55 at the time. I had a very broad background in machine work and I applied several places, but I received no replies.
A man I had known for many years stopped to visit and told me he had talked to man he knew that had a small shop and that I should go see him. That door was opened and I was able to get back into my old trade.
We were still living in our truck and no one was interested in renting us a house. It appeared we were not the kind of people that would be very dependable based on the fact that we walked away from all the things you are supposed to acquire and there was no reason to think we would not do it again (I can understand that thinking).
The shop that I went to work in was within an Amish/Mennonite community and there was a farm house that had been rented by families within the community for many years. That farm house was empty and when I talked to the owner, he made it very clear that he wanted someone from the community to live there and we were not on his list of candidates.
Once again, God intervened and no one attempted to rent the house. It took several weeks before the owner stopped by the shop and offered it to us. We can only thank God for making it possible.
Now that we had a house to move into, we faced one more big hurdle. We had been living in our truck for seven years and we had no appliances or furniture. In Malachi, God invites believers to bring their tithes into the storehouse, promising to open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing so great there will be no room enough to receive it.
While we were selling on the road, we did our best to set aside 10% of our gross sales to give back to the Lord. We were not in church very often, but we did try to follow God’s Word the best we could. Once again, we were in need and God did open His storehouse.
For $100.00, we were offered a stove, refrigerator, kitchen table and chairs, living room furniture, and bedroom furniture! And it was all delivered. It was not the greatest, but it was certainly useable and God provided it all at a price we could afford. (Malachi 3:10).
There was another huge blessing He provided at the same time. This is not meant to be gross. For the first time in several years we now had hot and cold running water, a bathtub, and a flush toilet. Consider what it would be like to do without these things for a long period of time and you will get the idea of how much of a blessing it was to be able to enjoy them again.
God had taken us on a very unusual journey for the last seven years and provided everything we needed over those years. A few people understood the life we had lived, but most people viewed us as irresponsible (that’s a good diplomatic way of putting it). We were certainly taught, first hand, that if you allow God to lead your life, it is worth living.
In a few weeks, God took us from where He had led us and restored us back into the “normal” world. We were once again in a position to start rebuilding the life we had left, but this time we had a very different outlook on what is important. We had learned that if it was truly a need, it would be provided. (Philippians 4:19)
This transition all took place in 1999. Next month I will share what our lives have been like for the past 26 years of trusting Him.
“For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, ‘Fear not; I will help thee.’” (Isaiah 41:13 KJV).
Email:
harry@virtually-forever.com
