The World According To Chris Brewer

NOTE: This is my account of day 2 of my roadtrip.

Today sure doesn’t seem like I covered too much ground…thanks to Montana being a huge state. I drove 600 miles across Montana and about half of North Dakota….I think I could have gone a couple more h0urs but I just decided to play it safe.

It rained most of the morning, but still I have to say I-90 across western Montana is one of the most beautiful drives I have ever taken. It started clearing up near Homestake Pass past Butte, and was absolutely beautiful until I split off on I-94 to take a more northern route, but still keep bearing east.

I could have taken I-90 across to Sheridan, Wyoming, and just cut through South Dakota and eventually hit Chicago, but I had a weird idea about a friend who I knew from high school going to college in a small town in North Dakota. So me being the crazy guy I am, I split off and took I-94.

I never found my friend in North Dakota, but taking I-94 proved to be a good choice. Something happened that gave me complete peace and calmed my nerves for the rest of the trip. I pulled into a truck stop/gas station to gas up for what I think was only the third time on the trip (I’ve only spent $68.43 on gas so far, according to receipts), and when I was about to leave, something caught my eye. There was an older man fueling up his semi truck, and upon a closer look, I saw that his truck had a painting of three crosses on the sleeper cab, with text underneath it saying, “Who do you say that I am? My Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.” For some reason, just seeing that gave me complete peace and I knew everything was going to be just fine. I felt compelled to go over and tell the man that the art on his truck blessed me, and I did. We ended up chatting something like this:

Me: “Hello sir…I saw the painting on your truck and I wanted to let you know it blessed me…I’m a believer too.”
Trucker: “Thanks man, I try to be a good witness….I notice the Bible on your dashboard too. Oregon plates, huh? Far from home?”
Me: “Long story. I’m moving. I keep the Bible on my dashboard during the trip to remind me Who is with me.”
Trucker: “That’s real neat. I’m on my way across the country myself…gotta make it to the East Coast in a few days.”
Me: “Awesome…I’m headed there too. Virginia.”
Trucker: “So since we’re believers, you mind takin’ a minute and we can ask the Lord to provide us traveling mercies and a safe trip?”
Me: “I could really use that, thanks.”

And right then and there, on the truck stop island of the gas station right off I-94 in Miles City, Montana, two men in very similar situations touched the throne of God.

I drove on, with the North Dakota border being at least another 70-80 miles away, with tears welling up in my eyes every couple of minutes. I never even bothered to get the trucker’s name, but just the same I felt like I had known the guy my whole life and he was a dear friend. I know tonight before I go to bed, and for months and years to come, I will still be praying for the trucker I met in Miles City, Montana. And for some reason, I know he is going to be doing the same for me.

Onward ho…into North Dakota. The Badlands are beautiful….but it rained again and the road is probably the smoothest road I have ever traveled. Not a good combo for me and a car I am unfamiliar with. I drove on…and it got dark quickly. Once I passed the city of Dickinson, the only thing I could see were wheat and grass fields as far as the eye could see, until I reached Bismarck.

10:25 PM and I pulled into a hotel on the east end of Bismarck. The woman at the front desk told me it’s a good thing I stopped here, because “there’s a whole lot of nothing from here to Fargo.” I don’t want to drive that at night…besides my body is tired of sitting, and now just wants to stretch out and get some rest.

Can’t call Mom and Dad tonight without accepting roaming AGAIN. When I reach Minnesota things should get better in that department.

Goodnight for now, tomorrow’s journey promises to be interesting.