Lessons From The Road

Lessons from the road

I went on my first motorcycle vacation a few weeks ago. Ron and I were heading up to Traverse City Michigan from LaPorte Indiana. It was a Tuesday morning and we were packing up to go. It was a beautiful and a hot morning. I quickly decided to not take my heavy motorcycle jacket and grabbed a lighter street coat.

We started up the coast of Lake Michigan. It was so beautiful with the sun shining and light traffic. We were just north of South Haven that I started to get cold. We were in the trees and the air was damp and the breeze on the bike was chilly. We pulled over and I put on my red leather jacket and we set off. We stopped and got gas and headed up 31.

The road was grooved and the wind kicked up in a fierce way as we changed directions. I found my coat working like a sail. The wind rushing up my arms and pooling in my coat. Combined with the grooved roadway I found myself in a precarious situation surrounded by big trucks and not able to go the speed limit safely. With my heart pounding and Ron far ahead I decided to pull off in the rest area and change into my rain gear jacket.

With wrists securely fastened and no longer a little red sail it was much better. Yet the wind continued to push and pull at me. I found that fighting the wind didn’t help. It wasn’t strong enough to blow me over. With a little adjustment I was fine. What I really needed to do was relax into the wind. I needed to trust that I was safe, the weight of the bike, the laws of speed and gravity. The wind wasn’t going to change, but I could change how I dealt with it. I eased off my grip on the bars and settled into the pace and direction of the wind and took what came. I prayed and relaxed.

It became a fun trip with beautiful weather and the glorious landscape of Northern Michigan. It was a trip of physical perseverance as exhaustion set in miles from our hotel destination. But I learned a great deal on that first day of my first motorcycle vacation.

The right gear and tools are essential. We may balk at the price of equipment, but the correct equipment is important. As Christians we need the right equipment as well, and we need to use it. I learned that trying to force change on the unchangeable, or that I which have no control over is useless and exhausting. As Christians we must realize that we do not have the control, but only God and our will or response to his grace. We cannot force our way through, but we need to relax, loosen our grip, use our gear properly and see the beauty around the buffeting winds of life. Emboldened with the promises, and word of God, strengthened through the Spirit we ride. Life hits and slaps at us, but when wearing God’s grace, his armor, and his love we ride through.

I pray for all of you that you loosen your grip and claim the promises of God. Trust in his love and grace and seek the beauty that is ever present. Life will push and pull you, but with the right gear and trust in the power of God you will enjoy the ride.

Sabbath Blessings, Ann

Red Poppies

My brother David posted on Facebook a picture of my brother George and me. The first thing that caught my eye was the red poppy hiding in the red of my sweatshirt. It is funny when we think of our childhood and the little things that stick with us all our lives. I still adore those red poppies and as recently as last month proudly wore one at the LaPorte County Fair.

As a young Girl Scout I remember planting poppies on one of the banks along the roadway in Southern California near Palos Verdes. This was a tribute to our veterans and a community beautification project. As children we were encouraged to embrace the beauty of our country and support those who fought to protect our freedom and way of life. I remember wearing a POW bracelet until Lt. Bernard Tally Jr. returned from Vietnam.

Last week while at the grocery Liam asked if the gentleman before us was a soldier. Dressed in camo pants and cap this unobtrusive man was selecting bread. I encouraged Liam to ask if he was indeed a soldier. The man replied that yes he was at one time, but was now retired. I could see the lines and age upon his face. Liam smiled at him his sweetest five year old smile and said “thank you”. The man’s face softened and he smiled.

I think of all we teach and all we neglect to teach our children. We often teach them to be polite, to understand etiquette and generally show all the social graces. We often neglect however to tell them why.  It is more than the proper way to behave. It is because we are all God’s children. We are all loved and adored. We are all set aside as holy and special. Manners are a way that we show respect and share the love of God to others.

So as I see the red poppy on the sweatshirt of one year old me, I look back and think of all the important things my family and society taught me as I grew up. I think of all the little red poppies of respect and honor, of love and grace, of peace through Christ that I wear within myself. I think of Liam and my responsibility to teach and encourage the red poppies to grow within him to be that special smile in the world that shares the love of God.

Ann