Random Summer Moments

The summer is always an enjoyable time of year, it's warmer, the days are longer, we're outside more, seems so much is going on and usually all at the same time. A couple of weeks ago I took a little time off and took part in the summer activities.

Went to two baseball games with my son, one professional, one high school. The high school game was the better of the two. Maybe because a bottle of water at that game was a buck, same bottle 24 hours later in the major league park was four bucks. Maybe it was because it cost more to park at the stadium then we paid for the tickets. Maybe it was because our team won. To be fair, there's no dog like a stadium dog, that's worth the extra money.

Things that make you go hmm... moment of the day. Went to the hardware store to refill the propane tank for the grill (outdoor oven, that's a different topic altogether)they had me remove the manufactures label wrapped around the tank. New regulation requires them to visually inspect the tank for, are you ready? A flammable decal. Yep, seems someone in government discovered propane is flammable and we need to get the word out. I am happy with the new decal they put on my propane tank, I feel safer.

Went to some great bike races on Downer avenue in Milwaukee and in downtown Waukesha. The races took place on a closed course of city streets, one lap was approx. one mile. These bikers fly, speeds in excess of 45 mph, the cool thing is in the pro categories these riders are Olympians, former Tour DE France riders, world class athletes right here at home and it was all for free. Great way to spend an afternoon.

I was so inspired I entered a 20k time trial. Big time racing here, I had to purchase a one day race license, so I think that means it was legally ok for me to go fast(I think it made me faster). I had the same hmm... feeling when I picked up my flammable decal.

I ride a lot and I carry a spare inner tube, a tire changing tool, co2 cartridges to inflate the new tube in case of a flat, I have never used my emergency kit. So applying the wisdom lesson just taught at my church, I removed my kit so my bike would be lighter and I would be faster. I convinced myself that the 10 ounces would be crucial to my performance, never mind the 200 lbs I weigh, and the 18 lbs my bike weighs, that 10 ounces had to go. Hmm... can you believe 22 minutes before I was scheduled to race I got a flat? I'll skip the frantic phone calls to my wife who was at church sending off the high school students on a mission trip, I won't mention the repeated unanswered phone calls to my oldest who was soundly sleeping through all my attempts to reach him. Instead, I'll focus on the race director who not only gave me a tube, but he put it on for me, and got me to the starting line with seven minutes to spare. I raced, I finished, it was fun.

Proverbs 4:6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.

Race day I turned my back on wisdom, fortunately not everyone did. I learned a lesson that day, it's good to reach out and utilize the wisdom of others when we need to. Like the prepared race director, others are waiting to help.

I can't wait until I have the chance to repay the favor to a stranger with a flat.