Everlasting Joy

I'm a mountain biker.  I am quite passionate about it.  I'm not the fastest, or the most skilled, or even the most willing to risk life and limb.

When I ride, I view it as an opportunity to talk to God and to listen to Him.  Don't get me wrong: it isn't that I enter this perfect Christian state of prayer; plenty of times my mind is on other things, such as "Look, a bunny!" or "Branch!  Duck!  Parry!"  or "I'm really tired" or even "Wheeeee!!!"

I had a ride that was much of that last one.  I was having such fun.  Pure enjoyment.  I started wishing it would never end.  But I knew it would, either the joy or the ride.  That's when it rang clear: I should be seeking my joy from a source that is never ending.

In Romans 14:17, the Bible says, "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."  I would say it is also not a matter of riding my bike.  In 1 Timothy it says, "For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come."  I really am not as godly as I want to be, but I sure see it's value.

So, here I am, laying it out there for those four people who stumble across this blog due to a typo or some other bizarre reason: I am going to be seeking godliness by making sure that my mountain bike is a tool, not a source.  I will have fun on my rides, but those rides will not be the source of my Joy.

The real question: Will I keep blogging for more than one month?  The last time I blogged for more than a month was six years ago, and that one had an obvious ending.  I tried to revive it, but it kept waning.  So, we'll see what happens.  I think I'll keep at it this time, God willing.