One year ago, I began this blog which I entitled, "Traveling A Long Time in the Same Direction". The thought behind the title was to encapsulate what my spiritual journey had been and what I hoped it would continue to be...following Christ. That hasn't changed. However, I think my title needs a subtitle, one that might read like this..."When God Takes You Off-Road".

Since my last entry, way back in November, I've been eating a lot of dust. That brings up a memory. A few years ago I was riding on the back of an all terrain vehicle with no shock absorbers over a ditch-filled, pot-holed, rocky parcel of land. I bounced around in the back of that truck like a golf ball in a tumble dryer. And that sucker kicked up so much dust I was cleaning it out my ears and nose for hours afterwards. That pretty accurately describes where my head and heart have been.

For those who think people follow Christ because it is the easy way out of life or that they just use God as a crutch, well, they don't know the Christ I follow. I would love to tell you that if you give your life to Christ it will be like a nice, smooth, newly paved road. It is anything but. However, even at my most desperate moments (I had one of those yesterday) I would not trade knowing Jesus for anything. I've a lot more to say on that but let me close with a poem that never fails to touch me...I wish I'd written it.

The Road of Life

At first, I saw God as my observer, my judge,

keeping track of the things I did wrong,

so as to know whether I merited heaven

or hell when I die.

He was out there sort of like a president

I recognized His picture when I saw it,

but I really didn't know Him.

But later on

when I met Christ,

it seemed as though life were rather like a bike ride,

but it was a tandem bike,

and I noticed that Christ

was in the back helping me pedal.

I don't know just when it was

that He suggested we change places,

but life has not been the same since.

When I was in control,

I knew the way.

It was rather boring,

but predictable...

It was the shortest distance between two points.

But when He took the lead,

He knew delightful long cuts, up mountains

and through rocky places

at breakneck speeds,

it was all I could do to hang on!

Even though it looked like madness,

He said, "Pedal!"

I worried and was anxious and asked,
"Where are you taking me?"

He laughed and didn't answer,

and I started to learn to trust.

I forgot about my boring life

and entered into the adventure.

And when I'd say, "I'm scared,"

He'd lean back and touch my hand.

I did not trust Him, at first,

in control of my life.

I thought He'd wreck it;

but He knows bike secrets,

knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners,

knows how to jump to clear high rocks,

knows how to fly to shorten scary passages.

And I am learning to shut up and pedal

in the strangest places,

and I'm beginning to enjoy the view

and the cool breeze on my face

with my delightful constant companion, Jesus Christ.

And when I'm sure I just can't do anymore,

He just smiles and says..."Pedal."

-author unknown