Struggle Bus: The Van. The Myth. The Legend is more than just a memoir; it is a source of amusement, reflection, and a testament to having faith. How did your Craigslist ad for a van manifest into this inspirational book?

I learned long ago that one of the best “ice breaker” questions to get a group of people to start talking/interacting is this: “Tell me the story of one of your scars.”

Scars are painful in the moment but often provide a lifetime of stories—sometimes painful, sometimes hilarious, sometimes both, always memorable. It dawned on me that our viral Craigslist ad was essentially a long list of our van’s scars. I thought it would be fun to tell all the fun stories (in gory detail) of our van’s many scars—as much to preserve the stories for our family as to give others something to laugh about. I think my ridiculous little book did just that.

I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?

The stories of our kids’ medical issues were easily the hardest things to write about. Even though there’s a dose of humor in many of the stories, reliving the moments brings back sort of an echo of the extreme parental fear, panic, and dread each of those moments created. I physically winced retelling many of the stories. That said, I think it was oddly therapeutic to write about all our moments—good and bad. I’d recommend it to any parent.

What is one piece of advice you wish someone had given you when you were younger?

I can’t remember where I heard this quote (and I’m probably butchering it…sorry), but there’s some truth in it:

“In your twenties, you’re constantly worried about what everyone else is thinking about you.

In your forties, you stop caring what others are thinking about you.

In your sixties, you realize that no one was thinking about you the whole time.”

Basically, I wish I would have spent less time caring so deeply what other people think. Of course, young Josh Wood probably wouldn’t have listened had anyone given him the advice to stop caring so much about what other people are thinking. I will never be smarter than I was at 20-years-old. Oh, to be young and stupid.

What is one thing you hope readers take away from your story?

First and foremost, I hope readers take away the peace, hope, joy, and genuine fun that faith in Jesus infused into the messes of my life. Additionally, I hope parents both A) embrace some new ways to engage with their kids…and engage their families as a whole with the world around them; and, B) feel some grace and solidarity for not being the perfect parent. Life is too short and too hard to hold yourself to an impossible standard. Embrace the messes of life (both self-inflicted messes and those out of your control), stumble forward, and try to laugh along the way.

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