Several of my recent rides have simply been rides to clear my mind and there were no revelations of anything I needed to write about. Yesterday started out the same way but the longer I rode, the more my mind wandered and this time it lead to another rambling by this grandma. I didn’t write when I got home but it’s now 1am and I can’t sleep so I write.
I started the day water proofing/staining a project my hubby recently finished. Once I got the first coat completed, the directions said to wait at least 2 hours, but not more than 4 hours, to apply the 2nd coat. What was I to do in that time? Ride of course 😀
It was one of those days where the longer I rode, the more I didn’t want to stop. It was one of the longest rides I’ve taken recently. (My hubby was probably thinking I got lost. ) The weather was sunny but cool and there was a little wind but nothing that was too bad. It was simply a great day to ride, with proper layers for warmth.
The past 2 days were filled spending time with both of our families and plenty of food as we celebrated Thanksgiving. The ride started out with thoughts of that time together and of my beautiful little granddaughter and her first Thanksgiving.
After a while I started noticing the trees, the snow white cotton all baled and wrapped in bright yellow plastic, and the rolling hillside with all the colors of Fall still apparent. I noticed there were evergreens as well as the many different other trees. There were some that had lost all their leaves while there were others that were still yellow, brown, orange and many different shades of red. Some were light red and others looked bright like they were on fire. Others looked like blood and some were a burnt orange color. There were also some green shrubs with pink flowers. Every tree had it’s own unique appearance and each had it’s own story as to what it could be used for.
We are like those trees. Some of us are like evergreens; always visibly full of life and constant. Others of us are like the colorful trees; full of cheer and trying to brighten the lives of others. Then there are those of us who are like the trees that have lost all their leaves. They are dormant, waiting for Spring to arrive when they will come back to life visibly. When we’re in the dormant stage, we can feel as though there’s no purpose and we are just always waiting on things to change so we can feel alive again. This can be a time for inner growth and a time to reflect on things we may want to change.
I also noticed as I rode over bridges and along the river, how the water sparkled as the sun hit it. The water and sun are basically the same year round, yet how we view the water can depend on the weather. If it’s hot out the water can look refreshing to jump into. If it’s cold out, that same water looks like it would be potentially life threatening if we were to jump in. The situations we find ourselves in can be viewed the same way. How we interpret what we think and see is based on where we are on this journey called life.
I also noticed the houses while I was riding. There were some that were old and run down, some that were very large and “showy “, others that were very simple and small. Some had paved driveways, others had dirt or concrete. Some had stone or brick pillars at the entrance of the driveway and some even had gates made of wood or wrought iron. One even had a black metal gate that was shaped like a tree with a stone pillar on either side holding it up. All of the houses, like the trees, have their own story to tell.
We are also like the houses. On the outside they are simply buildings we live in. They become our homes, based on what’s on the inside. No matter how beautiful they may or may not look on the outside, without love on the inside they’re just structures. We can look many different ways on the outside too, but without love on the inside, we’re just bodies. We can be short, tall, skinny, fat or anywhere in between. This does not make us who we are. We are often judged by how we look, but it’s what’s on the inside that matters most. The majority of you reading my ramblings have no idea what I look like. If you’re forming an opinion of me, it’s by what you’re reading that comes from my heart. If you were to know what I look like, you might read this differently based on what you think I might be like because of my appearance. We often judge others based on appearances and don’t give people a fair chance because of our preconceived perceptions.
How many of you have experienced people who think negative thoughts simply because you’re a biker, or because you have a tatoo or a birthmark or any other number of differences. I know having read posts by some of you on Facebook, you feel you’re judged because you’re a woman who has decided to ride her own bike, not on the back with your friend or spouse. Appearances are not who we are. What and how we ride is not who we are. Our minds and hearts make us who we are. Just like the trees, we all have a different purpose in life. Just like the houses, who we are on the inside determines how useful our “outer structure ” is. How we choose to live and treat others is who we are.
We can choose to be like the evergreens; visibly full of life all the time, or we can choose to be like the rundown houses; just waiting for the final days to come.
I recently came across a quote I want to share:
“I choose to live by choice, not by chance; to make changes, not excuses; to be motivated, not manipulated; to be useful, not used; to excel, not to compete. I choose self-esteem, not self-pity. I choose to listen to my inner voice, not the random opinion of others. I choose to be me.”
To that I’ll add that I know nothing is impossible. We can do and be whatever we set our minds to.
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Ramblings of a Christian Grandma Biker 