There is a country song about dirt roads. The song talks about growing up in a small town and cruising fown old dirt roads. I heard it the other day and it made me smile.

During my first mission trip to South Dakota, we did the tourist thing and visited Mount Rushmore. A friend had recommended going to the Crazy Horse carving, saying the site was much better.

Following GPS, we tried to go from Rushmore to Crazy Horse. We missed the immediate turn. So, the GPS system kept trying to reroute us. And kept wanting us to turn down some dirt roads. With 3 vehicles of kids that was not gonna happen.

Perhaps my mindset was shaped by a trip down Eagle Mountain Road in southern Illinois in a rental car. Honestly, I was fully expecting to have to buy the car.

Nowadays, I no longer worry about dirt roads. Out here, dirt or gravel roads are an everyday experience.  It it really a trip if the  Jeep Gladiator is not coated in mud and dust.

Dirt roads are short cuts.

But often, they can lead to incredible places. Wind Cave National Park is an example. The back roads are not overloaded with tourists. And exploring Badlands NP has some incredible views only available on dirt roads.

On gravel roads, you do need to watch for animals on the road. Little ones like horses, cows, elk, and fluffy cows.

Each day, I am blessed to see the beauty of God’s creation.

It is proof that God loves us. God loves you. So do I.