 |
| From this spot the mountains can be seen just over the tree tops but because of the approaching storm, the mountains are not visible at all. |
Sunday morning Isaac asked me to take him on a bike ride. He had been wanting to get out on his bike for some time now so I took him on a quick ride through the neighborhood. Although we only rode for a little more than half an hour, we covered a good amount of distance; I was impressed anyway. Since the beginning of July I have been telling Margaret that I was going to start biking to work; but for one reason or another I couldn't ride the bike because I needed to use my service van. That morning after my ride with Isaac, I was so pumped that I decided to drive the van to the office, leave it there and then bike home. I figured I would leave the van at the office from now on so when I need it, it's there. So, that night I did it; I loaded up my laptop and bike, dropped off the van and laptop at the office and then road the bike home. Going at a pretty good pace, it took me thirty minutes to get home. I noticed that, for the most part, the trip was up hill.
On Monday morning, my first day to ride to work, I left with about forty five minutes to get there. I arrived with plenty of time to spare. It felt good to ride to work. Coasting down the hills breathing in the cool, refreshing morning air. It was a great way to start the day.
At lunch I ran to the store and picked up a backpack for my laptop and all of the other stuff that I normally carry with me. As I transferred the stuff from the old bag to the new backpack I realized that I carry a lot of stuff around. As a bi-vocational pastor I find it a necessity to have some of my study material with me at all times, just in case I have an opportunity to study wherever I'm at.
Around three o'clock in the afternoon I heard some comments from down the hall about the weather and how dark it looked over the mountains. "Storm's moving in from the mountains! We're going to get dumped on!" shouted one of my coworkers. In all of my zeal and excitement to bike to work, I did not consider the weather. I went outside to look at the sky; it was dark. I began to get nervous.
At lunch I ran to the store and picked up a backpack for my laptop and all of the other stuff that I normally carry with me. As I transferred the stuff from the old bag to the new backpack I realized that I carry a lot of stuff around. As a bi-vocational pastor I find it a necessity to have some of my study material with me at all times, just in case I have an opportunity to study wherever I'm at.
Around three o'clock in the afternoon I heard some comments from down the hall about the weather and how dark it looked over the mountains. "Storm's moving in from the mountains! We're going to get dumped on!" shouted one of my coworkers. In all of my zeal and excitement to bike to work, I did not consider the weather. I went outside to look at the sky; it was dark. I began to get nervous.
Being the analytical person that I am, I typically don't jump into things without first thoroughly thinking them through; at least that's how I see myself. Looking back on my life, however, I find it interesting that some of the biggest life decisions that I've made, were made on a whim; without thinking too much about them. Most of these decisions I don't regret, and in fact, if I had stopped to analyze them at the time (or listened to the advice of others), I probably would have made different choices that would have taken my life in a whole other direction. So I embraced my not-so-thought-out decision to ride my bike to work, I put my goal before me and I determined to ride home--rain or shine.
As the workday was quickly coming to a close several folks offered me a ride. I declined. I also kept my mind from the thought of leaving my bike at the office and driving the van home or calling Margaret to pick me up. At this point, nothing was going to keep me from my goal. I strapped on the twenty pound backpack, climbed on the bike and began to make my way home.
Having made this trip twice within the past twenty four hours, from the office to the house the night before and from the house to the office that morning, my legs were already fatigued. I had only gone a couple of blocks from the office when my thighs began to burn. This is when I discovered that my gears are in need of a major adjustment; my shifting was limited for the entire ride home. As I pushed ahead, up hill and against the wind, the extra weight from the backpack became an ever-present reality. If this wasn't enough, I could see the dark gray clouds begin to cover the foothills as they quickly advanced in my direction. I was becoming discouraged.
In my mind it became a race; I had to beat the storm to the house but I had to keep a much slower pace than I did the night before. I prayed as I peddled; asking for endurance and the strength to make it. Once I started to feel a slight drizzle on my forearms and my face, I began to look around for places of refuge in the event that it started to "dump" on me. As I made my way through the bike trail I saw several people huddled under trees or standing beneath underpasses with their dogs. I was sure at any moment the rain would begin to fall on me and I would soon be drenched; my computer, Bible, books and everything else in my backpack. Every now and then a big raindrop would hit my face or my arms and I'd think, "This is it! It's going to pour!" but it never did.
Once I past the halfway mark I looked up to see that the mountains were becoming visible again. The dark clouds cleared up and I never felt the full impact of the storm. I finished my ride home in a cool, misty breeze. When I arrived at the house everyone was surprised that I wasn't drenched because the neighborhood had been "dumped on." I gave thanks to God and I was glad that I didn't give up but rather pushed myself as I was riding into the storm not knowing what to expect.
I feel like I am riding into a storm right now. I can see the dark clouds ahead and it's approaching fast but I have to remain resilient and stand my ground. It's tempting to look around for places of refuge to run and hide but I need to be looking to God for my refuge and my strength. I'm not sure what the outcome is going to be; I don't know what's going to happen when this storm passes or if I will even make it through the storm, but whatever happens, I know God is in it. I just hope I am faithful in this test in order to glorify His Name.
~
As the workday was quickly coming to a close several folks offered me a ride. I declined. I also kept my mind from the thought of leaving my bike at the office and driving the van home or calling Margaret to pick me up. At this point, nothing was going to keep me from my goal. I strapped on the twenty pound backpack, climbed on the bike and began to make my way home.
Having made this trip twice within the past twenty four hours, from the office to the house the night before and from the house to the office that morning, my legs were already fatigued. I had only gone a couple of blocks from the office when my thighs began to burn. This is when I discovered that my gears are in need of a major adjustment; my shifting was limited for the entire ride home. As I pushed ahead, up hill and against the wind, the extra weight from the backpack became an ever-present reality. If this wasn't enough, I could see the dark gray clouds begin to cover the foothills as they quickly advanced in my direction. I was becoming discouraged.
In my mind it became a race; I had to beat the storm to the house but I had to keep a much slower pace than I did the night before. I prayed as I peddled; asking for endurance and the strength to make it. Once I started to feel a slight drizzle on my forearms and my face, I began to look around for places of refuge in the event that it started to "dump" on me. As I made my way through the bike trail I saw several people huddled under trees or standing beneath underpasses with their dogs. I was sure at any moment the rain would begin to fall on me and I would soon be drenched; my computer, Bible, books and everything else in my backpack. Every now and then a big raindrop would hit my face or my arms and I'd think, "This is it! It's going to pour!" but it never did.
Once I past the halfway mark I looked up to see that the mountains were becoming visible again. The dark clouds cleared up and I never felt the full impact of the storm. I finished my ride home in a cool, misty breeze. When I arrived at the house everyone was surprised that I wasn't drenched because the neighborhood had been "dumped on." I gave thanks to God and I was glad that I didn't give up but rather pushed myself as I was riding into the storm not knowing what to expect.
I feel like I am riding into a storm right now. I can see the dark clouds ahead and it's approaching fast but I have to remain resilient and stand my ground. It's tempting to look around for places of refuge to run and hide but I need to be looking to God for my refuge and my strength. I'm not sure what the outcome is going to be; I don't know what's going to happen when this storm passes or if I will even make it through the storm, but whatever happens, I know God is in it. I just hope I am faithful in this test in order to glorify His Name.
~
2 comments:
hooah!
Post a Comment