2 Time

  Teach us to number our days so that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 (NIV)     

It has been said that a mountain biker’s ride is not measured in miles, but instead, in hours and minutes. As far as that goes, there’s no better way to make time fly than while riding down a smooth single track on a mountainside in Colorado,  or while on a gnarly trail which includes steep up-hills, technical downhills, sandy creek beds, fast single-tracks strewn with unanticipated roots, loose, broken granite, gravel, and grassy hills in Arizona or Utah.  The mountain bike trail beacons its riders, over “baby-heads” (small boulders), down into rutted-out gullies, through mesquite and cactus forests, and back again. 

Mountain bikers are always asked how far they rode–and most of the time the answer is something between six and eleven miles. Rides may vary between a good hour, or three. When it comes to mountain biking, time spent on a good trail with great friends is what defines the ride. What is gained is experience, skill, and camaraderie.  Whether it is the six mile loop of *Brown Canyon, the 11 mile *John Cooper tour on Perimeter Trail (both in AZ),  or 22 miles of *Leif Erickson Trail (OR),  time spent on a mountain bike will determine the outcome of the ride, and the rider’s sense of success.

For me, time on my mountain bike always prompts prayers, gratefulness, thoughts of God’s beautiful and diverse creation, and how much practice I need on my bike! 

Father God, I worship you.  It is your hands which possess my times; the time I spend doing everyday things, eating, sleeping, working, playing.  You know when I get up, when I fall down, you know all about me.  Prompt my heart to hunger and thirst after you; add a desire to prioritize my minutes so I will spend time with you—and let my measure be qualitative, as well as quantitative.

Challenge 2:  Settle it in your mind that your life and your mountain biking are gifts.  Every ride, every trail, was handed to you to do with as you choose. Take the time to show gratitude today, and think about how you can give back a little for the much you have been given—and then go out and do it!

*Brown Canyon, Cochise County, AZ

*John Cooper Tour, in memory of John Cooper.  Perimeter/Carr/Miller Canyon loop, AZ

*Leif Erickson Trail, Portland, OR

Before you leave: Be encouraged to leave a comment. Let me know you stopped by, if you’ve ridden any of the trails mentioned, or experienced the same need to prioritize minutes spent in your day. Thank you for visiting!