The Daily Ride
My wife and I have a new wonderful habit.
Every day at 5:00PM we shut off our computers, feed our cats, and then go for a bike ride.
Fortunately, we live in a beautiful community with lots of trees and wonderful wildlife. On any given day we will see ducks, swans, turtles, and birds of many varieties. It’s amazing what each new trip brings us.
This week we were privileged to see a swan baby. It must have been born in the past week. Swimming within a foot from its mother reminds me of how I want to be closer to God. The baby swan is completely dependent on its mother for food and protection. The father is always near and seeing them together always warms my heart.
Our destination every day is the beautiful butterfly garden. It is a 1 ½ mile ride to this garden and is always worth the trip.
Arriving at 5:45PM the heat of the day is starting to wane enough to allow the breeze to relieve us. When we arrive, there are always monarch butterflies waiting to be photographed. Their beautiful wings display the majesty of our Creator. The markings remind me of the perfection of these magnificent beings.
Our visit to the butterfly garden is never complete without sitting on the beautiful bench at the north end of the garden. Here we can watch the blue jays, the red-bellied woodpeckers, and the red cardinals come for their late afternoon snack at the bird feeder. It is awesome to see and hear the variety of friends who come and visit us there. Sitting on the bench, my wife and I feel like we are courting again. Even after nine years of this beautiful marriage we learn many new things sitting here. Time seems to stop as we contemplate the gratitude for being able to experience this every day.
After drinking in the serenity of this beautiful place we ride on.
We circle around another corner and meet a friendly iguana. In Florida iguanas are very common. There is a discussion around whether iguanas are good for the environment here, but the fact remains that they are amazing creatures. When I look upon them, I am looking at a descendant of a time long gone. I am transported to a prehistoric age. It is a time before cars, humans, and cities. They are survivors. I respect that.
When I ride by bike with my wife, I feel a wave of gratitude that my life has been slowed down to the point that I am able to take these daily rides. The portals of time have opened to allow me the space to do this. I didn’t make this happen. God did.
I said out loud recently, “I need more time to get out and ride by bike and explore my beautiful neighborhood.” I’m grateful that I’m getting my wish.
This is a time of great renewal and regeneration for me and our planet.
I share this story of my daily bike ride, because I want to inspire you to find something that you love to do. What have you been putting off? What have you been delaying? What can you do today that will make your heart sing?
I can’t wait to hear about your adventures!
Every day at 5:00PM we shut off our computers, feed our cats, and then go for a bike ride.
Fortunately, we live in a beautiful community with lots of trees and wonderful wildlife. On any given day we will see ducks, swans, turtles, and birds of many varieties. It’s amazing what each new trip brings us.
This week we were privileged to see a swan baby. It must have been born in the past week. Swimming within a foot from its mother reminds me of how I want to be closer to God. The baby swan is completely dependent on its mother for food and protection. The father is always near and seeing them together always warms my heart.
Our destination every day is the beautiful butterfly garden. It is a 1 ½ mile ride to this garden and is always worth the trip.
Arriving at 5:45PM the heat of the day is starting to wane enough to allow the breeze to relieve us. When we arrive, there are always monarch butterflies waiting to be photographed. Their beautiful wings display the majesty of our Creator. The markings remind me of the perfection of these magnificent beings.
Our visit to the butterfly garden is never complete without sitting on the beautiful bench at the north end of the garden. Here we can watch the blue jays, the red-bellied woodpeckers, and the red cardinals come for their late afternoon snack at the bird feeder. It is awesome to see and hear the variety of friends who come and visit us there. Sitting on the bench, my wife and I feel like we are courting again. Even after nine years of this beautiful marriage we learn many new things sitting here. Time seems to stop as we contemplate the gratitude for being able to experience this every day.
After drinking in the serenity of this beautiful place we ride on.
We circle around another corner and meet a friendly iguana. In Florida iguanas are very common. There is a discussion around whether iguanas are good for the environment here, but the fact remains that they are amazing creatures. When I look upon them, I am looking at a descendant of a time long gone. I am transported to a prehistoric age. It is a time before cars, humans, and cities. They are survivors. I respect that.
When I ride by bike with my wife, I feel a wave of gratitude that my life has been slowed down to the point that I am able to take these daily rides. The portals of time have opened to allow me the space to do this. I didn’t make this happen. God did.
I said out loud recently, “I need more time to get out and ride by bike and explore my beautiful neighborhood.” I’m grateful that I’m getting my wish.
This is a time of great renewal and regeneration for me and our planet.
I share this story of my daily bike ride, because I want to inspire you to find something that you love to do. What have you been putting off? What have you been delaying? What can you do today that will make your heart sing?
I can’t wait to hear about your adventures!
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