I am in Virginia this week. I am writing this article from my room at an Airbnb outside of Amherst (a community north and east of Lynchburg). Jill and I decided to take a little time off and come see Lauren and Brad (daughter and son-in-law) and the grandkids, Killian and Selah Belle.

We left Sunday afternoon after church. It is a two day trip. We usually try to get about halfway and stay the night. We then get up the next day and finish the drive. It is over a thousand miles regardless of the route you take, so we split it into two days.

There is the direct route that takes 1-40 across Arkansas and Tennessee and then goes north on 181 to their house outside of Lynchburg. We have taken a southern route on US 64 highway in southern Tennessee and at Chattanooga go north into Virginia and to their house.

But, recently our fa- vorite route is heading to northeast Arkansas, cut across the boot heel of Missouri and then enter western Kentucky going east into West Virginia, crossing the state west to east. We then hit Virginia and it is a quick jaunt to their house ‘ (about 100 miles). All total the trip is over 1100 miles.

I know this is not the fastest and shortest route but… WOW…it is sure beautiful. We go through several mountain ranges, cross the Arkansas River, the White River, the Mississippi River, the Tennessee River, the Ohio River and James River just to name a few. We enjoyed the view from the valley looking up and the top of a mountain looking down. We went across farmland that had corn, soybeans and rice planted as well as hay fields that had just been mowed, raked and baled. We saw cows lowing on the hills and horses frolicking in the fields. Kentucky had several horse farms with the wooden fences, some painted white, some black and some not painted at all.

Crossing the mountains is always a treat. We crossed the edge of the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas, Allegheny and the Cumberland Mountains in Kentucky and the Blue Ridge Mountains in West Virginia, then the Appalachian in West Virginia and Virginia. Beautiful scenery but the roads may be somewhat curvy and more time consuming.

And then, we get to the place we are staying with a balcony view of the Appalachian Mountains to the west. Let me just say, the sunsets are beyond description.

My point to this is not to be a travel guide or run competition with Rick Steves. No, the point is sometimes it is good to get off the main road and enjoy the view of a lesser traveled road. Sometimes you need to slow down a little and quit missing all that God has put around you. Yes, there are times when you need to get from point A to point B ASAP. But, every once in a while.. .slow down!

Each time Jill and I travel we notice something different and note a place that would be fun to stop at or go by to see. We travel down some of the roads and behold something new, beautiful, breath-taking and comment, “Now, there is something you won’t see on the main road!”

If God took the time to create it maybe we should take the time to behold it! After all, when He finished it, He did call it GOOD. I have gotten to the point that there is a lot to see in this world that I have already missed. I think I need to take time and not just see the roses but smell them too. How about you?

Now I want to get one last picture of the sunset.

Slow moving Preacher, Bro. Tim