Thursday, July 24, 2014

Colorado


After several days of decompressing at sea level I began to review the photos and events of the past week spent in the rarefied air of the Colorado Rockies. 

Bikers pedaled their way up and down every highway and byway, every hill and dale, and every mountain pass and peak…and there I was…gasping for air as I passed them with a simple twist of the throttle.  They say you are only as old as you feel…so why do I feel like I’m ninety.  I’m beginning to question my sanity and my riding ability.  I can barely get my leg over the seat, my fingers have difficulty buckling my helmet, and my back begins to ache after a few hours in the saddle.  But in spite of all my physical shortcomings I enjoyed chasing my son some 1253 miles across Colorado’s majestic landscape on my thirty-five year old classic “air head” BMW.  Up the Million Dollar Highway, through the Black Canyon, over the Blue Mesa, Independence Pass, Loveland Pass, through the Eisenhower Tunnel, up Mt. Evans, over Squaw Pass, and up Pikes Peak in pursuit of Jason’s more capable red Honda ST 1100. 

I share the sentiments of Katharine Lee Bates who after visiting Pikes Peak wrote the poem “America The Beautiful”.

O beautiful, for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea.
O beautiful, for pilgrim feet
Whose stern, impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America! God mend thine ev'ry flaw;
Confirm thy soul in self control, thy liberty in law!
O beautiful, for heroes proved
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America! May God thy gold refine,
Till all success be nobleness, and ev'ry gain divine!
O beautiful, for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years,
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea!








Thank you Lord Jesus for a safe and exciting trip...it is good to be home.
Amen

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Pain And Shame


I shuffled to the kitchen where the microwave displayed 4:16 am on its bluish green LED, rummaged through the cupboard and retrieved a couple of naproxen.  As I drew a glass of cold water from the dispenser my thoughts were of my grandmother and how much I was beginning to appreciate her constant complaining about her little aches and pains. The twinge from my sciatic nerve, the Plantar Fasciitis stab in my heel and the sharp jab from the torn meniscus in my knee made me wonder…wonder just how in the world did Jesus do it.  How on earth did he do what he did…and never complained? 

I shuffled back to my warm cozy bed confident in the thought that all was going to be OK.


Dear Lord Jesus,

Sometimes I think I am insane.
When life and living become a strain
It seems so hopeless and in vain
When I grumble and complain.

All because I am so vain
Filled with pride and disdain.
Causing you so much pain.
What is it I hope to gain?

The meaning of why you were slain
I understand in my shame
Only because of my tiny pain
That sends the message to my brain

So this I ask you once again
In my life please remain.
I pray my love will not wane
For in my heart YOU must reign.

Amen.