Dirt Roads and Cheesecake

Sometimes God refreshes our souls not through grand miracles or mountain-top moments, but through the simple gift of a day well spent — a drive with someone we love, a shared meal, or the laughter that fills the space between directions gone wrong and desserts gone right. This week’s guest post by Dr. Jerry L. Woodbridge is one such story. May it be inspiration for you to pause and reflect on the hidden blessings throughout your day. ~Sarah

Dirt Roads & Cheesecake

by Dr. Jerry L. Woodbridge

The day before Mother’s Day in 2018, Mom and I set out towards Florissant to try out a new restaurant called The Iron Tree. It has received rave reviews on the local Facebook page, and we are always looking for variety in our limited mountain dining options. Entering the restaurant, we found some amazing desserts teasing us through the glass storage case. After sampling an appetizer of gourmet roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon bits and blue cheese, it was determined to be well worth the 25-minute journey up the winding mountain road. Mom enjoyed her beer-battered fried fish, and I devoured a unique flavor in my brisket sandwich, topped with coleslaw. With full tummies, we left Iron Tree with a promise to return to try out their desserts.

Next, on our itinerary was Eleven Mile Canyon. When we observed an Eleven Mile sign posted next to the convenience store, I was directed to turn left on the road tightly built between two Lake George businesses. The paved road quickly became a grated, Colorado red dirt road that made my Jeep jump and vibrate, chattering with every washout. Our path wound upwards and then downhill as most mountain roads do. I surmised this rugged road would surely test the new Grand Cherokee Jeep and its driver. After a few dusty miles, Mom thought we should turn back, as this road seemed unfamiliar. But by now, I was enjoying the adventure of not knowing where I was going and was ready to explore, just like my Mom, the road warrior. When in new places, getting lost is often the best way to learn the layout of a new area. So, we continued and turned right at several forks in the road, as signs indicated we were heading towards Eleven Mile State Park and Reservoir. As a water girl, I was excited to find a potential waterway to bring my kayak.

Eventually, we found a sign that confirmed we had arrived at Eleven Mile State Park, and there was the reservoir to prove it. We observed a few fishermen and campers parked by the water and felt the whoosh of other automobiles passing us by to unknown destinations. So, Mom was right; we had taken the wrong road, but by that point, we were committed to continuing our journey of discovery, which included grazing with wild donkeys, antelopes, and buffalo.

After basking in our new discoveries and snapping pictures with my cellphone, we could prove we had been there. Suddenly. I began to feel a little nervous because I did not know exactly where we were. We had not come across a welcome station or public restrooms on this road adventure. So, I turned on the navigation and pressed the Home button. I was relieved that “Gertrude”, what my Mom calls all GPSs, gave directions to turn left at the next intersection and then 2 rights to get back to the main road. Somehow, our dirt road travel had taken us a few miles west and downhill from a familiar landmark, Wilkerson Pass. As we began the ascent and passed the closed rest area at the top, and headed home, Gertrude indicated home was 35 miles away.

Mom and I decided, since we were going to be passing through Florissant again, we would stop back at “The Iron Tree” to sample their desserts. The now-familiar restaurant’s glass storage case taunted us once again with homemade treats, such as caramel-drizzled bread pudding, strawberry cake with cream cheese icing, fresh-from-the-oven brownies and scones, and two slices of fluffy strawberry cheesecake. Mom and I selected the two cheesecakes and used the facilities. The cheesecake melted in our mouths, but the large slices proved our eyes were bigger than our stomachs. Half of our desserts went home with us to enjoy later.

While we never made it to Eleven Mile Canyon, we agreed it would be a trip for another day. I really enjoyed the day of dirt roads and cheesecake, because I got to spend time with my Mom away from the house and work responsibilities. The unexpected discoveries are what make the road less traveled worth it. Who would have thought we would come across wild donkeys? Mom also enjoyed our time since I had been away on a trip to Indiana for several weeks, so it was our way of reconnecting and getting back in sync with each other.

“He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.”

Psalm 23:3

It takes a lot of grace to care for another person. I (Jerry) am working on a devotional called Grace Notes for Caregivers: 21 Devotions for the Road You Didn’t Plan—But Chose Anyway, which will be available after it undergoes formatting.

Like Jerry’s story, life’s dirt roads can feel uncertain, even bumpy, yet they have a way of leading us exactly where we need to be. Along the winding paths and unexpected turns, God reminds us that His guidance isn’t always about efficiency — it’s about intimacy. He’s less concerned with how quickly we arrive and more interested in who we become along the way. Even when the path feels dusty and unfamiliar, His presence refreshes, His grace restores, and His love leads us home.