There’s not too many things I look forward to more than a vacation to the ski slopes in Colorado. As I’m sitting here writing this, that pre-trip feeling of excitement is coming over me. My imagination already has me smelling that fresh, crisp mountain air. I can hear the sounds of my boots snapping into my bindings. And I can see the line I’m going to take from top to bottom as fast as I can. Then I’ll cap off the night with a soak in the hot tub while listening to the crackling of the fire. But there’s one trip we barely made.

It was getting late at night and we were burning up the asphalt in eastern Colorado.

Winter Park or bust.

I decided to give my gauges a glance and I noticed the needle on my fuel gauge was leaning towards the “E.” This wasn’t good. And as soon as I saw a gas station I pulled off the interstate to fill it up.

But they were closed and they didn’t have 24 hour pumps. Most gas stations didn’t.

So I got back on the interstate and pointed the car west again in search of an open gas station. I had a new goal, a short-term goal. But it was long before my car started spitting and sputtering with the fuel gauge buried on “E” now.

I pulled over on the shoulder of the road thinking this was the end of my journey, at least temporarily. But after a few spits here, and a few sputters there, I was back in the fast lane heading west again. This happened at least two more times where I pulled over on the shoulder thinking I was done. I was sure I was out of gas. And I don’t have any other explanation other than ‘The Man’ upstairs was watching out for me that night. Because when I did eventually end up running out of gas it was on the off-ramp and I coasted into a gas station.

After filling the tank up with gas and emptying my tank, I was on the road again. And in a few hours I was tucked in my condo resting up for a few days of downhill adrenaline and fun.

As I thought about this story, I realized it relates to life in many ways. Often times we struggle and spend a lot of time and money searching for what it is we’re looking for. We hunt for that specific thing that’s going to fuel our passion and fill that desire.

I knew what I needed… gas. And if I had been paying closer attention to the time and amount of fuel in my tank, I wouldn’t have found myself in that (close to)dire situation.

And this is how a lot of people go through life. They don’t pay attention to the fuel gauges or any gauges for that matter. You have to keep track and gauge your finances, health and relationships. Otherwise you’ll find yourself stuck in the middle of nowhere, alone, with empty pockets and deteriorating health.

And when you’re not sure what it is you’re looking for, you go in all different directions. You take ‘off-ramps’ that you have no idea where they go or if they have what you’re looking for. Often times people aren’t clear about what it is they’re looking for so they just take any ‘off-ramp’ to see where it does go. And if they follow it too far it can be tough to find your way back. It’s like a detour that never ends.

The good thing about my trip is I did have a couple friends with me and another car following me. I had my ‘team’, so if I did run out of gas it would’ve been more of an inconvenience than anything. But believe me, I’ve paid better attention since then and it hasn’t happened since. Well, maybe once. But that’s because I didn’t want to stop and wake up my family.

As you’re going through life doing anything, big or small, you have to pay attention to the details, to the gauges. You have to stop and refuel from time to time. Maybe even get a tune up.

I know I struggled to find my passion and a I’ve tried numerous ways to find a way to live my dreams. But then I found this and I knew it was all going to work out. If you’re still struggling or just looking for that extra little spark, this could be what you’re looking for. And if it’s not, don’t stop looking, just keep spittin and sputterin down the highway till do find what you’re looking for. Because you know what happens if you stop and give up.