Back in the day when I was hopelessly lost (1974), one book that I thought to be important was:
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values by Robert Pirsig. This was a text in which he explores the Metaphysics of Quality. The book describes, in first person, a 17-day motorcycle journey across the USA, in which he tries to decide if there is anything such as quality. Yipes, the blind leading the blind.
Now in the glaring light of Jesus Christ, I am learning lessons in every quarter of my life, including scuba diving and cycling. I'll save the scuba lessons for another day, but road biking has become a major pursuit now that I can't compete in b-ball and tennis as I once did.
So, I'm learning lessons on the bike. Often I ride alone due to schedule, but really, cycling is a team sport and best enjoyed in that setting.
One great lesson from riding with others came when I understood the concept of drafting. That is the principle illustrated in nature by geese in a V. What a pleasant surprise the first time I 'got on the wheel,' of a rider ahead in a paceline. It was like hooking up my bike to be towed by vehicle! Saving 30-40% of energy, 'drafting' is staple of pro riding. Check out Levi's teaching,
'Slipstream for Your Soul,' for a nice message on this analogy.
http://freshlifechurch.com/messages/2samuel/2samuel0801.mp3
When you are rolling in a paceline, you can see some sweet spiritual lessons:
1. You can do more as part of a group than individually. Suddenly, you are part of something bigger and more effective than yourself. That's what the church is in relationship to the Christian.
2. You don't want to let your teammates down. When you are about to 'bonk,' it's easier to push yourself when other cyclists are depending on you. So, you draw on more than you thought you could deliver. This is where the Holy Spirit comes in, He is the power.
3. When the team is really rolling, 'magically', you feel part of a living organism.
I remember watching Lance and US Postal on the Tour, when they would roll through a stage like a machine, smoothly changing riders at the front, it was a thing of beauty to behold. The church is the most important institution in the world, we should fire on all cylinders and function like a team.
Finally, isn't cool how geese evolved to use the V for drafting while they fly?
Alivia, my little princess outside the Strand in Montana.
Daniel really surprised me with this one! He showed up with Leanne (Cruela de Ville) at the
Jesse (The phantom) with his bride to be- (just 60 days away) she'll be Mrs. Lusko.
Downtown Whitefish, just outside Montana Coffee Traders. Not all the time I would have liked for biking, busy weekend with the radio station and all. So ministry comes first, but Levi and I found time to spin around the village.
Interview with Crystal Lewis for Riptide. We were also able to hang out with her horses.
Jaxon and an 8 foot Grizzly. Amazed and confused.
I was able to combine several projects in Montana this weekend. So Larissa, myself, Daniel, Leanne, Heidi and even Jaxon took off for the Flathead Valley. We did some key interviews for Riptide and then on Sunday, we signed on the new Fresh Life radio station KFLF. We even added some content for Shattered that will be included in the final cut. Above is the KFLF studio just after we went on the air. Levi is documenting on his Iphone and Alivia is waiting for her chance to go on the air.
Larissa and I stayed at the Whitefish Lodge right on the lake. I love this area, mellow mountain ski town. My kind of place.
Daniel, Levi & Heidi- good to see them hanging out.
Catching up:
I've been going to Santa Fe for 20 years. Great getaway, and only 45 miles away. We exit I-25 on St. Francis drive and go the to plaza for food and vibe. Wellllll, after all these years, I wandered over to a Catholic church, and who knew, the church, the street and the patron saint of Santa Fe is... St. Francis of Assisi, the cool monk who loved chipmunks. In fact, the first, and one of the few decent Christian films I've seen is, Brother Sun, Sister Moon, it is about the good saint. Okay, our Catholic friends are a little whack with the dead popes laying around the Vatican (really) and all.
