Musings along the road

Traveling through Michigan and now again in New York we have encounter "roadkill" of many kinds, some to graphic to describe. But I came across one "beautifully flatted muskcrat." It appeared to be quite dried and just ride for mounting and framing. My I could use it as part of the art display at the dedication services of my church, Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church. But how would I get it home? I dismissed the idea.

I discovered that one of the stressors of the ride is trying to keep up with other riders who are either much younger or much stronger riders, some of whom have traveled all the way from Seattle. I need to remind myself that the pace that best fits my abilities and riding style is what is best for me and let the other fly on bye. And not celebrate too much in my heart when I find someone that I can pass on the ride.

Today I realized that I would groan internally and sometimes externally whenever I would crest a hill and observe another hill coming up. I discovered that the groaning didn't help to resolve the issue--I still had to climb the hill. I remembered a word of wisdom from one of my colleagues "It is what it is, just deal with it."

One of the neat things about this ride is that every night they give us the map for just the next day. So much of our lives is spent trying to look ahead a whole week or month or year or more. Learning to live one day at a time and not think beyond tomorrow's journey can help to relieve stress each day.