The late, great Paul Harvey said, “What's mainly wrong with society today is that too many dirt roads have been paved.” Radio legend Harvey was partly famous for his, “The rest of the story” broadcast. Perhaps you’ve heard it? He was recently categorized as “the most listened to man” in America.
So what did he mean about dirt roads? The county in which I live, and its surrounding counties still have plenty of dirt roads, but they do seem to be fewer and fewer. My mother in law lives off of a dirt road…I picture the rocks, gravel, pine trees, and miscellaneous squirrels and country dogs that meander daily on her dirt road.
Harvey said, “There's not a problem in America today, crime, drugs, education, divorce, delinquency that wouldn't be remedied, if we just had more Dirt Roads, because Dirt Roads give character. People that live at the end of Dirt Roads learn early on that life is a bumpy ride.”
That it can jar you right down to your teeth sometimes, but it's worth it, if at the end is home...a loving spouse, happy kids and a dog. We wouldn't have near the trouble with our educational system if our kids got their exercise walking a Dirt Road with other kids, from whom they learn how to get along. There was less crime in our streets before they were paved.
Criminals didn't walk two dusty miles to rob or rape, if they knew they'd be welcomed by 5 barking dogs and a double barrel shotgun. And there were no drive by shootings. Our values were better when our roads were worse!
Mr. Harvey so poignantly said, “People did not worship their cars more than their kids, and motorists were more courteous, they didn't tailgate by riding the bumper or the guy in front would choke you with dust & bust your windshield with rocks. Dirt Roads taught patience. Dirt Roads were environmentally friendly, you didn't hop in your car for a quart of milk you walked to the barn for your milk. For your mail, you walked to the mail box.”
What if it rained and the Dirt Road got washed out? That was the best part, then you stayed home and had some family time, roasted marshmallows and popped popcorn and pony rode on Daddy's shoulders and learned how to make prettier quilts than anybody. At the end of Dirt Roads, you soon learned that bad words tasted like soap! (I have a specific childhood memory of my brother on that example…)
Most paved roads lead to trouble, Dirt Roads more likely lead to a fishing creek or a swimming hole. An old dirt road might lead to your “home place” or a cabin in the woods.
At the end of a Dirt Road, Harvey stated, "The only time we even locked our car was in August, because if we didn't some neighbor would fill it with too much zucchini."
He went on to say...At the end of a Dirt Road, there was always extra springtime income, from when city dudes would get stuck, you'd have to hitch up a team and pull them out. Usually you got a glass of lemonade…always you got a new friend...at the end of a Dirt Road!
That it can jar you right down to your teeth sometimes, but it's worth it, if at the end is home...a loving spouse, happy kids and a dog. We wouldn't have near the trouble with our educational system if our kids got their exercise walking a Dirt Road with other kids, from whom they learn how to get along. There was less crime in our streets before they were paved.
Criminals didn't walk two dusty miles to rob or rape, if they knew they'd be welcomed by 5 barking dogs and a double barrel shotgun. And there were no drive by shootings. Our values were better when our roads were worse!
Mr. Harvey so poignantly said, “People did not worship their cars more than their kids, and motorists were more courteous, they didn't tailgate by riding the bumper or the guy in front would choke you with dust & bust your windshield with rocks. Dirt Roads taught patience. Dirt Roads were environmentally friendly, you didn't hop in your car for a quart of milk you walked to the barn for your milk. For your mail, you walked to the mail box.”
What if it rained and the Dirt Road got washed out? That was the best part, then you stayed home and had some family time, roasted marshmallows and popped popcorn and pony rode on Daddy's shoulders and learned how to make prettier quilts than anybody. At the end of Dirt Roads, you soon learned that bad words tasted like soap! (I have a specific childhood memory of my brother on that example…)
Most paved roads lead to trouble, Dirt Roads more likely lead to a fishing creek or a swimming hole. An old dirt road might lead to your “home place” or a cabin in the woods.
At the end of a Dirt Road, Harvey stated, "The only time we even locked our car was in August, because if we didn't some neighbor would fill it with too much zucchini."
He went on to say...At the end of a Dirt Road, there was always extra springtime income, from when city dudes would get stuck, you'd have to hitch up a team and pull them out. Usually you got a glass of lemonade…always you got a new friend...at the end of a Dirt Road!
Where is your dirt road? Is it metaphorically your church home? Your family? Your Bible? Do you have a REAL dirt road that takes you back home? Where is the road taking you on this week’s journey??
As I contemplate those questions for myself, I think of the old Denver song, "Country roads...take me home...to the place I belong!"
Look UP my friends!!
Look UP my friends!!
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