22 A Lion in the Streets—Facing Fear

Poison Spider Mesa to Portal Trail

The sluggard says, “There’s a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!”  Proverbs 26:13 NIV

  Caution! Danger!  “Don’t ride that trail—people have died out there!”  “It’s sick—when you’re at the top and you look down, people are the size of ants!”  One by one the cautions screamed at me, and one by one, I had to face them if I wanted to join in on the experience this famous trail-ride offers.  I am glad that cautions come, but I also appreciate that I don’t have to let them rule my mountain biking.  If they did, I would have never experienced Poison Spider to Portal, two trails with varied terrains including slick rock, steep up-hills, jeep roads, sandy washes (and I mean powdery sand), and desert cross-country.  From the top of Poison Spider, you can dangle your feet over a cliff which leads to the road; you can see the valley, the town of Moab, and the river.  The finishing touch was the final, and extreme technical single-track, Portal Trail.  It had to be the most technical ride I’d done so far in my riding experience. It whittled down to about a width of 3’ and a 300’ drop off on the side. The broken slate drops and boulders, and powdery sand section made the trail a challenge.  Riding Poison Spider to Portal Trail was fun, challenging, and a great place to not only test my skills, but examine my wisdom.  By the time my friends and I had reached the end (Hwy 279), and made it back to camp, I was glad to be alive, and all I could think about was the food I would eat and the Jacuzzi I’d relax in!

I look to you, oh Lord, to define my life.  I seek your wisdom, and your leading—I refuse to be tossed about by winds and doctrines that only cause me to be weak and fearful.  Lead me onto your path, keep me in the Way.

Challenge 22: Don’t waste your time heading rumors—kick them in the teeth!  Today, go out and spend time making great memories instead. And, as I’ve had to do, use wisdom!

Check out the photos courtesy of: “My Favorite Trail Photos 2011 link” for a beautiful view of the trail.