Things that just make you go Wow.

It has been a week where I have just had to sit back and be overwhelmed at the way God weaves people in and out of our lives in his way of showing us his Love and his presense isn't far from us.  It is a week that can be summed up in a song by Todd Agnew called "Grace like Rain."

People from my past that show up at times when I am searching most for rhyme or reason to what is going on in life. Where I find myself searching my heart to see if I am on the right path.  That place where doubt and fear lay just below the surface.  Until I am called upon to act on the behalf of some one else that is going through far worse than myself or my family is.  Most who read this know I am counselor to wide array of what society casts out.  I love it.  It brings out a fire inside that when that flame is firing I just know that God is ever present fanning the flame.  This was a week where he pretty much put the fan on full blast.  In doing so he brought out people from that have been in my life over thirty years. To people that are just new friends in the making.  With each I can see Him there.  The purpose he has exudes from these people. 

I put out a request for people to help someone.  The first person to contact was that person that has known me since about second grade.  Without hesitation she stepped up.  Within minutes of that.  Some one else that is facing a lot of uncertainity for her families future.  Sends an e-mail.  "I will cover the whole ticket.  Where do I send the check?" Then more and more people come forward to offer what they could to make sure that some one can have a better life.  I was overwhelmed.  I sat there praying the day after all this happened gratitude was all I could offer.  As I rode my bike through the canyons to have my own moment in his presense.  My heart swelled.  As I saw the smile of my bride. The laughter of my kids as they could see Dad finally getting his strength back. 

I rode by the beach looking out over the waves as they made their way in.  Almost like I was on auto pilot.  Until I looked down and realized I was hitting about 110 mph.  PCH is not the place for bat out of hell speed when you are talking to God and looking at the beauty he created.  My arm popped.. Let me re-phrase that. My elbow popped with such a crashing sound that I heard through my blairing music and the screaming sound of my bike.  I planned to take a long ride and just enjoy the Coast. 

Plans changed rather quickly as I wasn't sure if I put my wieght into my right arm if it would hold my fat ass up.  So what did I do??? I was at a point I could turn around and go back up the coast to take a small winding road to get home.  Or I could make a left hand turn and go up Mulholland to Decker to Hidden Valley Road then home.. The simple choice would be to turn around and just do PCH.  Well sometimes I am not the brightest apple in the bushell.  I made the left.  Not only that.  For some unknown reason I went into canyon running mode.  Tucking into my bike.  I just hauled ass.  Into the first right hand corner, I said a little prayer... Something like "Don't make it hurt to bad." My my whole right side of my buddy hanging off the bike knee outstretched, elbow tucked in until the apex of the corner where it has to become part of the physiology of the bike to make the physics of speed on a hlf inch patch of rubber stick to ashphalt at a speed of 90 mph. 

The elbow held out.  I whispered a Thanks for that one.  The reply I got was.. "Attack it, I want to play today."  A little explanation here.  The voice I hear at these moments is that of my partner.  In his 70 year old voice that is one of the most Godly men I know.  As I climbed higher into the canyon.  I attacked it.  I pushed myself and my bike like I hadn't done in a long time.. Well two days.. This time it was different.  It was just a pure dance.  I hit every mark like I had all of sudden become Valentino Rossi.  Not a single car the entire time came by. As I hit the straight to the intersection of Decker.  I dropped to Fourth gear and Punched it.  The front wheel rising. I stood up to ride the one stunt I can do.  Taking it back up to sixth gear as i pegged the throttle.  To the point my rev limiter kicked in.  I dropped the front wheel and locked the rear brake to have a little fun making skid marks.  When I turned onto Decker.  All the questions I had been asking had answers.  My mind cleared.  My heart that was pumping something fearse.  For those readers that don't live local to hear.  Go too Google maps and type Decker Canyon California.  Actually click on the title. Follow the road.  From where it intersects with Mulholland traveling north to Westlake Village. 

The entire time between the time I turned left until I turned left again into Hidden valley was 5:00 minutes.  Another two minutes to get through Hidden Valley.  When I got home Theresa was home sick and I spent time just being with her.  She hates when I tell anything about how fast I went.  She just said "Wow. That was a quick ride." I replied my elbow popped.  Came home has quick as I could.

The remainder of the week was just blessing come forth from another.  To the point Igot to make a whole bunch of people laugh on facebook because of my wild antics in humor.  Happiness and Love are two words that should always go hand in hand.  This has been the week where the words were lived out of many hearts.

I pray that Lord willing the weeks to come will build upon this. To all those people that come into my life when I am searching Gods greater purpose.  Thank you for showing me he is here and alive and well within you.

S/F
Smokin Chaplain