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Doug's Weekly Words

July 28th, 2009

In This E-mail
Doug's Weekly Reflection
Blest2Bless Thoughts
Weekly Update
Preparing for Sunday
Shout Out
Prayers

The Tour has passed-
Sunday was the final day for the Tour de France.  Team Astana drank Champagne as they rode into Paris, Lance settled for 3rd place, no small feat, and Cavendish went on to win a record setting 6th stage, but he fell short of the Green Jersey.  The rest of us are left with no biking to watch, and it means that we may want to do some biking of our own.

I am a big fan of biking when I get the chance.  I find it to be good for my mental state and my physical state.  I think it is good for the environment and the air quality.  Lastly, in these days of higher gas prices, it is better for my pocketbook.  As I think of biking, it allows me to begin possibly theologizing too much, which is often dangerous.  If you are willing though, I would like to inflict you with some of my biking thoughts.

Lazy- the thing that keeps me off my bike the most these days is sheer laziness.  When I am not in the habit of biking there seems to be a large obstacle to actually getting on the bike.  I often find this true in my spiritual life, the biggest obstacle to living out my faith the way that I know that I am called to is laziness.  I get out of the habit, and then the momentum to get back on track is tougher.

Rationalizations- The other obstacle to health in my life is excuses.  I can think of a variety of different rationalizations that would make it a bad idea to bike on this particular day.  They all seem to make a bit of sense, but break down in the light of day. It is excuses in my discipleship as well that get me off track.  I can manufacture a whole array of excuses to avoid be obedient to God's Word.  All of these make sense, and they can be argued strongly.  In the end though, they only serve to leave me further from the man that Jesus calls me to be.

Hills- The great tour riders are the ones that live for the Hills.  They hear the word Alps or Pyrannees, and their blood begins to run and their mouths salivate.  I hear hill and my knees begin to knock and I start to dry heave.  I see the hill up the road, and my spirits can begin to drop. 

Here is the good news though.  Once I get up on the vast monstrous hill, it is not as bad as it looked.  Once I find a cadence I can just continue pumping my legs and getting up the hill.  Sometimes I will put my head down and find myself atop the hill much quicker than I every expected.

Hills cannot be avoided in Bellingham, this isn't Kansas, nor can they be avoided in life.  Often we turn a life corner and there is a hill that we did not expect or forsee.  The hill is not the enemy, it is just part of the course.  The danger on the hill though is to stop pedaling, because it is virtually impossible to start again on a steep hill.  And then the Psalm comes to- I look to the mountains- from where does my help come?  It comes from God.

He is the one who can power us over all the hills and valleys in our journey.  He is with us always, and he will never leave us or forsake us.  So the next time you jump on your bike I invite you to theologize as well and tell me what comes up- There are lessons in all that we do.

In His Cadence,

Doug B.

Blest2Bless-BlestLife Practice this season is Hospitality.  Invite someone over for dinner this week that you usually would not have over.

Blest2Bless-One up Your Giving.  We are seeking as our world tightens, to loosen our grip and give away our money and time.