http://danielml.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.cgi? http://www.eblah.com en http://danielml.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.cgi?m-1260964475/ http://danielml.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.cgi?m-1260964475/#num1 "He will give His angels charge over you"

Yesterday morning.  Riding along on the sparkling pavement.  It seemed alright.  I wasn't slipping around for the most part.  I don't have my studded tires with me in Michigan, so I was rolling on slicks.  I was moving briskly with a nice tail wind.  East on Leonard past Ball I was really feeling my pace.

Swish.  My back wheel slides out from under me - sideways.  I'm falling to the left and backwards - I'm unclipped like lightning fast and sliding along the pavement 15 or so feet.  Weirdest thing - I didn't feel myself hit the road.  All the cars that I thought were around me - front, left & behind - gone.  The best I can figure, angels caught me and flew me to a safe place.

I hopped up and off the road so fast.  I can't explain it with my own ability.  Yesterday morning God had my back -- big time!  The pavement was soft as a pillow.  Not a scratch on me or a scuff on my clothes!  Incredible!  The worst my bike suffered was a misaligned handle-bar/front wheel.  I put the wheel between my legs and jerked the handlebar straight.  I was praising God all morning ... that and feeling an intense adrenaline rush.  There's not a bruise on me!  If you've ever fallen off a bike onto pavement, you know this is at least unusual.

I know God and His angels rescued me yesterday morning.  How super awesome!

That being said, I'll be a bit more careful with sparkly pavement from now on.   And I took the bus most of the way home in the falling snow and sub-freezing temperatures last night....]]> Wed, 16 Dec 2009 06:54:35 danielml http://danielml.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.cgi?m-1259518823/ http://danielml.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.cgi?m-1259518823/#num1
"You know, you don't have to ride your bike in the rain," she said.

"I know I don't HAVE to," I said with a huge smile.

A look of shock mixed with terror sharply contrasted her kind expression from earlier.  "You mean you WANT to ride your bike in this?!  You know it's not so bad getting help from people!"

"I know.  I get help from a lot of people.  That's why it's so important to me to do things for myself when I can.  Thank you for your offer, though."

"Well, don't get yourself sick out there."

Big grin from me, "Don't worry, I won't get sick, just a little wet."  I went on to explain the nature of my gear and how I wouldn't be getting too soaked anyway.  

A couple minutes later another friend accosted me saying, "Daniel!  Tell me you're not riding in this rain!"

"I'm riding in this rain!"

"But it's RAINING!!!"

"It's a beautiful rain! I love the rain!"

The rain was cool and invigorating.  I didn't have my rain pants or shoe covers with me so my pants and shoes got a touch soaked.  When I ride through a brisk and pouring rain my thoughts flow like rivers.  The rain ... a symbol of God's providence in making things grow.  A symbol of God's protection from the "raging storms of life."  Water is used for baptism.  It clears the air.  It nourishes us and quenches our thirst.  I like to hold my head up and look at the sky during a strong rain.  It is like bathing in the world's waterfall.  It is like being baptized by the sky.  Some days, the rain mixes with tears - and I allow myself to cry.  It forms small streams at my head and turns to mighty rivers at my feet.  It washes away my aches and pains.  The puddles make me giggle.  The sound of squishy socks in shoes makes me smile.  There are a million little wonders you can't experience every day in a ride through the rain.  Best of all is returning home or to some other familiar warm place.  Stripping away my assorted and annointed things and replacing them with warm dry clothes.  Hanging the wet ones to drip in the shower, brewing a pot of fresh coffee and letting my body warm with the comforts and graces of God's provision ... a roof, a shelter, something warm in my stomach and clothes.

These things are treasures to me.]]> Sun, 29 Nov 2009 13:20:23 danielml http://danielml.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.cgi?m-1218556164/ http://danielml.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.cgi?m-1218556164/#num1   This morning's training ride was really fulfilling.  I didn't push myself too hard, and waking up before dawn in the cool of morning was exhilarating.  I'm beginning to love the quiet of early morning.

I just completed work on http://rocketrek.com .  John Herrington is a former astronaut who is taking a diaganol cross-country bicycle tour to promote math and science in schools.  He's a pretty cool guy and I am proud to be part of the project (even as just a web-programmer).  Check out his site and send him good vibes and prayers for his travels.  I think what he's doing is admirable.  

keep rollin',
daniel

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]]> Tue, 18 Mar 2008 21:25:29 danielml http://danielml.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.cgi?m-1197761563/ http://danielml.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.cgi?m-1197761563/#num1
I'm thinking I want to continue training over the rest of the winter and I want to take another long trip this coming spring/summer.  I'd like to continue riding at least 10 miles per day and maybe 30-40 miles on the weekend; but, we'll see.  Maybe once my bike is out of the shop, I'll post some pics of all my cool new gear.  School keeps me really busy and that's why updates are few and far between.]]> Sat, 15 Dec 2007 18:32:43 danielml