Hey Dad,

It dawned on me last night as my children slept and I sat on the porcelain throne that I'm a hypocrite. That's right. There's no denying it; I'm a hypocrite. I say I trust in God, but my actions prove otherwise. My son Abe (7) pointed it out.

To bring you up to speed, I'm still at home as of today. The Familyman Mobile never left the launch pad, and we're trying it again today. Anyway, I've been acting that anxious-grumpy way you get when you feel the weight of the RV on your shoulders and everyone around you seems oblivious to all that needs to be done in order to assure that things will go smoothly.

Actually, I dread hitting the road, and it shows. Last night, Abe passed me in the hallway, hugged and kissed me, and looked into my face questioningly.

"Dad, do you like the old RV better than the new one?"

That seemed like a funny question. "No way!" I said, "I like the new RV a ton better."

"Then why don't you seem happy to drive in it? You were always happy when we drove in the old one."

It wasn't until later that I realized that I was a hypocrite. Abe was right. I was happy when we started out in the old one. I knew that RV. I had worked on it, driven thousands of miles in it, and felt secure in it and me (notice I didn't say in God).

The new RV is untried and untested, more complicated, and it has had some launch pad difficulties. It is harder to trust in—and I don't feel like I know what I'm doing. But, while sitting on the throne, I was reminded that I'm not to put my trust in RVs, myself, or anything else. I am to put my trust in God … and quit my bellyaching.

After all, it was Jesus who said, "Who of you by worrying can add a single mile to your RV?" (RV translation).

Dad, from a recovering hypocrite, let me ask you, "As you face what you're facing, who or what are you trusting in?" You know you're not trusting in God if you've got a knot in your stomach right now. That's a byproduct of misplaced trust.

So maybe you need to do what I'm trying to do. Stop worrying, pray, and put your trust in God, not RVs—you know what I mean.

You 'da Dad,

© 2008 Todd Wilson. Used by permission.

[04/04/2008]

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