Most men slumbered as I rode through the night, heading no place certain.
My sole companion was a full harvest moon, lighting my path with an eerie reddening glow.
While cutting through the ebony veil of night, cool midnight dew misted my visor.
As the miles rolled farther behind me, and the rhythm of the engine kept time, my mind was released like a thoroughbred out of the gate.It ran past memories of days once lived, and the faces of childhood friends long since forgotten.I reflected on dreams yet birthed and plans incomplete. Of strangers l will encounter and spaces I’ve still to explore.
At times the thoughts of past mistakes hit my soul like a hot desert wind buffets ones face.
I reflected on my sons, and how quickly they have grown, I wondered what these uncertain times holds in store for them.
I sang songs of worship to the Almighty, and recited prayers of thanksgiving in the cathedral of the starless sky, and was reminded once again of the many blessings which fill my days.
Most men slumbered as I rode through the night, heading no place certain.
A spectacular day will soon be breaking and I am grateful. Samuel Longfellow, the younger brother of famed poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, must have felt the same way the morning he penned these words…
The summer days are come again;
Once more the glad earth yields
Her golden wealth of ripening grain,
And breadth of clover fields,
And deepening shade of summer woods,
And glow of summer air,
And winging thoughts, and happy moods
Of love and joy and prayer.
The summer days are come again;
The birds are on the wing;
God’s praises, in their loving strain,
Unconsciously they sing.
We know Who giveth all the good
That doth our cup o’erbrim;
For summer joy in field and wood
We lift our song to Him.
Listening to Michael Jackson’s “You are not alone”
I can honestly say I have never been a huge Michael Jackson fan, yet I can’t help but to grieve the apparent emptiness of his life. It seemed no matter how much he searched for true happiness it was always beyond his grasp. No matter how large the crowds, he was still alone. A man who had it all, yet seemed so sad! His death serves to remind me that there is much more to life than the surface things I so often give my attention to.
This week I received a very special gift from my wife. As most spouses, she is always concerned about my safety when I am touring, and believed I could use a little extra protection. Her gift was not a new Nolan helmet, or TourMaster riding gear, but rather a beautiful St. Christopher necklace.
Not much is known of St. Christopher, this most popular of the 14 Holy Helpers, but tradition teaches he was taught the ways of Christ by a hermit. As part of his Christian duty was stationed near a river where he assisted weary travelers to the other side. Thus becoming the patron saint of all that travel.
It was a fantastic gift, and one I will always wear!
A man was being tailgated by a stressed out woman on a busy boulevard. Suddenly, the light turned yellow, just in front of him. He did the right thing, stopping at the crosswalk, even though he could have beaten the red light by accelerating through the intersection.
The tailgating woman was furious and honked her horn, screaming in frustration, as she missed her chance to get through the intersection, dropping her cell phone and makeup.
As she was still in mid-rant, she heard a tap on her window and looked up into the face of a very serious police officer. The officer ordered her to exit her car with her hands up.
He took her to the police station where she was searched, fingerprinted, photographed, and placed in a holding cell. After a couple of hours, a policeman approached the cell and opened the door. She was escorted back to the booking desk where the arresting officer was waiting with her personal effects.
He said, ‘I’m very sorry for this mistake. You see, I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn, flipping off the guy in front of you, and cussing a blue streak at him.’ I noticed the ‘What Would Jesus Do’ bumper sticker, the ‘Choose Life’ license plate holder, the ‘Follow Me to Sunday-School’ bumper sticker, and the chrome-plated Christian fish emblem on the trunk; naturally…I assumed you had stolen the car.’
Priceless.
Posted on January 2nd, 2009 by rick | 6 Comments »
This is a time in our western civilization when we are becoming more fragmented and disconnected as people.
Oh, we say we are more connected than ever before with our cell phones and txt-ing and emails and blogs and on and on it goes.
But the truth is we are still separating ourselves from others at an alarming rate of speed.
It might be that a new job opportunity moves us away from home. Or we work longer hours and hours that take away our opportunity to be with people we care about. Maybe we feel like people are busy with their own lives so we don’t fit in with them any longer.
Whatever the reasons, we are simply coming to the place where there are less and less significant people in our lives on a daily basis.
Doctors are saying that this is one of the reasons we are increasingly living with low level stress in our lives. That leads to physical ailments, emotional problems and relational breakdowns.
It also leads to spiritual deadness.
Paul reminds us in Colossians 2:19 that we are joined together in Christ’s body “…supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.”
The ligaments and sinews and some translations include “Joints,” are the connecting points of the body of Christ. They are the places where two parts of the body meet together, where they “Relate.”
Since we as followers of Christ are part of Christ’s body, we are growing in Christ as we connect and relate to others in his Body. If we separate ourselves from others, then how can we grow in Christ?
Indeed, if we are cut off from his body we will die.
So these days I’m thinking about whom I am connected to. Who do I have relationship with, who do I invite into my life and share life experiences with?
I need friends in my life who will walk with me and challenge me and grow with me because that is what causes me to grow.
Who are the people in your life who have access to your heart? Maybe spending some time cultivating relationships is the best and most spiritual thing we can do for a while?
Build something eternal and gracious and life giving in your relationships. Start by calling somebody up and go out for coffee, and welcome them into your life.
Then pay for the coffee.
Posted on November 21st, 2007 by rick | 3 Comments »
Come Holy Spirit. . .
Cleanse what is soiled,
Refresh what is dry,
Heal what is wounded,
Bend what is rigid,
Warm what is frozen,
Guide what goes astray.
Posted on November 8th, 2007 by rick | No Comments »
