Saturday, October 20, 2012

Andrew's First Attempt at a "Century"


Well, doggone.  I signed on to update my original post from this morning and somehow deleted it. Computers! Beh!  The long and short of my original post was that I took my eldest son this morning to meet with a mentor-friend.  It wasn't just "any" meet-up though; it was a meet-up to cycle... cycle one hundred miles.  After my own training for an Olympic triathlon over the past two months and counting, I have a whole new respect for his accomplishments to date. To date, he has ridden 60 miles (with the "big boys" going in excess of 30 mph!), but he has never attempted 100 miles.  I'm so proud of him for stretching himself further and further.  Between his passion, his talent, and his training, he continues to set his bar higher and higher.

Soar, son, soar!
I am SO proud of you!

Before the ride
After
This face says, "I am SPENT!"

Love this young man to pieces!


Saturday, October 6, 2012

True Friendship

Fair weather friends, it would seem these days, are a dime a dozen.  Too often I have sat with a lone individual who has been abandoned by both family and friend. It seems there is an epidemic of "fair weather" disease in our culture today. 

Has the well-know fact that it requires BOTH rain and sun to yield a harvest been forgotten?  I think it has.  Actually, I have enough evidence to prove that it has.

Recently I came across this online poster:

Does this cause you to flinch?  Do you think it harsh?

Question: Do you recall The Little Hen Story?

Many people want to partake in another's harvest, yet one must ask, "Where were they when the fields needed plowing? Where were they when the seeds needed planting?  Where were they when the weeds needed plucking?  Where were they in time of drought and in time of flood?"

Yet when the harvest has been brought in from the field, far more "friends" appear than were present through the long days in the field.

Have you found this to be true in your own life?  I have.  Many have.  Ergo my observation; we have an epidemic on our hands.

The Bible says, "Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?" Proverbs 20:6.

Many proclaim their Christian love towards one another, but very few walk it out in BOTH  sun and rain. 

I trust this has hit you between the eyes because frankly I grow increasingly more disgusted at the "fair weather" disease.  May we all remember God's Word, that people need faithfulness far more than they need to hear a hollow, "I love ya."   

I would be amiss in ending this pointed blog post without sending out a heartfelt "Thank You" to those in my life who have stayed strong and true through both the rainstorms and the sunshine days of my life.  YOU get God's true character.  "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13    

Real friendship.... God's idea of friendship ...  isn't about our comfort or our growth.  It's about personal faithfulness and sacrifice regardless the "weather"... regardless the convenience.... regardless the risk to our reputation..... regardless

Think about it, and  then do your part to end the disease!