By: Denny

Me getting onboard for the last time.

After 50 years of being a truck driver, I retired on June 1^st, 2021. I never thought I would make it this long when I first started driving, because I wasn’t looking that far ahead. I was just excited to be living my dream, seeing the country, and enjoying the moment. In the back of my mind there was always a thought that an accident could happen at any given moment or mile that could end my career or my life. I never would’ve made it this far if I allowed myself to dwell on that. I just kept pressing on mile after mile doing what I loved to do. I have so many safe driving and other awards that I don’t have room to display them. I still have every logbook I’ve ever filled out packed away in boxes. Before the implementation of onboard electronic logs, I had driven over 1 ½ million miles. I’m sure I passed the 2-million-mile mark, but I don’t have paper logs to prove it. For me, it never was about the miles or awards. It was about being and doing my best and returning home safe, and for that I’m thankful that the Lord protected me. My dad was also a truck driver and I surpassed him both in miles and years driving. I learned a lot on my own through experience, but I never forgot or ignored the fundamentals of truck driving he instilled in me during the years we drove together as a 2-man team. My success as a truck driver can be accredited to practicing those fundamentals every mile of every trip. I always wondered what, where, and when my last mile would be like and how I would feel. I can honestly say it was no different than the millions before it. My last employer was Rost Transport in Marshfield, MO. I drove the truck down there, parked it in the lot, shut the door for the last time, and handed them the keys. I looked back once to say goodbye to 50 years of a job well done and knowing my dad would’ve been proud of me. People have asked me in recent years when was I going to retire. My reply has jokingly been that when I get in my truck and fire up that diesel and I don’t get a rush of adrenaline as diesel fuel flows through my veins, then it’s time to quit. I never wanted trucking to be just another job that I had to do to earn a paycheck. Looking back, I must admit that the early years were more exciting than these last years. Partially because I’m older now, but also due to the way people drive these days. Truck drivers used to be respected and they also showed respect to others on the highway, but drivers these days are a different breed of cats. It seems that they drive any way they want to and ignore the rules. People drive too fast, follow too close, don’t signal, don’t look past their hoods, and get angry so quickly. (and that’s just on the street I live, LOL) They have an “It’s all about me, get out of my way” attitude. Lately, I don’t even like driving across town, let alone taking a trip. So yeah, it was time to hang it up and call it a day.

In comparison, the Bible has much to say about the Last Days. Jesus foretold the conditions on earth before His return and for those who know His Word and are paying attention to current events, we may be closer than we realize. The Apostle Paul in writing to Timothy (2 Timothy 3) goes into detail about the condition of people’s hearts and attitudes in the Last Days. Compare what he wrote to any daily news reporting and it’s not hard to conclude that we are living in the last of the Last Days. Yet, despite all that Paul exhorts Timothy to fight the good fight by sticking to the fundamentals as the means to overcome and endure to the end. He told Timothy to beware of those who would turn away from Biblical truth to follow their own desires, not enduring sound doctrine. He could very easily be referring to many Christians and churches today who have rejected or exchanged truth in favor of social justice, political correctness, and liberal ideology.

There have been many times over the years that I have had to ask people for directions. For instance, I would call a shipper ahead of my arrival so I would get a good idea where I was headed. It isn’t easy to turn a semi around if you make a wrong turn. It amazed me that people who drive the same route to work every day can’t tell you how to get there. I would often ask for specifics such as: street names, highway #s, number of miles or blocks, or what lane I needed to be in. Most importantly I wanted landmarks like railroad crossings, rivers, bridges, parks, underpasses (especially in Chicago), water towers, etc. Those things are easy to identify from a distance and don’t change or can’t be moved. Of course, now a days everyone uses a GPS app which can really get you lost. I wonder how many Christians who attend church every Sunday, couldn’t tell an unbeliever how to get to Heaven if they were asked. That’s something to think about. Proverbs 22:28 says: “Do not remove the ancient landmark which your fathers have set”. In a recent session of Congress, Gregory Steube (R) Florida simply read from the Bible about what God’s will is on the subject of all this sexual identity agenda we are being forced to accept. He was interrupted by Jerry Nadler (D) who stated, “God’s will is of no concern to this congress”. So that’s where we are in America today. The landmarks of Biblical values and morality this nation was founded upon have been moved or obliterated by a political party and their voters who have rejected truth and sound doctrine. I knew that my last mile of truck driving had come, but Jesus said no one knows the day or the hour of His return, and many in that day will be surprised to find Heaven’s door closed to them.  As I mentioned above, it isn’t easy to turn a semi around after making a wrong turn. Likewise, it won’t be easy to turn this nation back to God. The responsibility lies with every individual who professes and confesses that Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior to engage in this spiritual battle. Our job is not to win an argument, but rather win souls, for in so doing we change the heart of a nation that has lost it’s way. It isn’t enough to identify or complain about the situation, but as it says in James 1:22 “Be doers of the Word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves”. Yes, God desires the United States to turn back to Him, but more importantly He wants broken lives to be healed, sinners coming to a knowledge of God, and lost people saved. When the church arises to it’s purpose and calling, God will move and revival will come.

If my dad were alive today, he would congratulate me on making it to 50 years of truck driving. However, at the end of my life’s journey in serving the Lord, the words I want to hear Jesus say are, “Well done good and faithful servant.” How about you?