less like a bike ride......more like flying

I continue to be nothing short of enchanted by God's presence. When i say this i'm not referring to corporate worship. Although that is a vital part of my life, it's not the place of spiritual fulfillment for me. About a year ago i started finding my TRUE relationship with God while simply taking walks around my neighborhood. With my iPod in my ear, i just walked. And walked. And walked. And stared. I stared into the night sky wondering how insane and ultimately ridiculous it was that the guy who fashioned each one of those extravagant stars into place had His eyes focused on me. And each night i realized that it was because HE is so extravagant! I thought about how i might be technically upside down in space. Only, God holds me there, not with gravity, but with his might and mercy. It just felt SO RIGHT to walk the earth with just me and God.

After about a year of "no time for it", my life, as expected, became so devoid of a clear image of what God looked like. I found myself looking "up" and finding only an image of Him that i tried to come up with. Gosh it was annoying! It was kinda like living in Louisiana, breathing through a hot wet rag every time you walk outside. So anyways, my father and i found an old bike in his shed behind his house and decided to clean it up. We replaced the chain and readjusted everything. My dad suggested that i use it on campus---mostly likely NOT going to happen! But i brought it home and decided one night to test it out around the neighborhood. Immediately i was brought back to that wonderful oasis of tranquility and awe that had been lost for some time. My iPod turned to "Your Love is Extravagant" by Casting Crowns. BAM. love. done. It was AMAZING! He was literally RIGHT THERE! I would pedal really fast so that every now and then i could stop pedaling and feel like i was flying! I've found no time or place where i was closer to God! I highly recommend such an experience. My God is one who is sovereign enough to form mountains and arrange stars but also intimate enough to firmly grasp the handlebars of our lives, stopping everything in its tracks, and whisper, "i love you."