Over the years, I have loved my quiet times in the saddle. Sometimes I just enjoy the time. Sometimes though, I am reminded of truths that like the stories of The Teacher, are really about much more than the ride.
The mountaintop can be cold - We often equate valleys with bad times and mountaintops with good times. Sometimes though this is true, the journey to the top requires that we risk not being safe and comfortable. We must trust our preparation and whatever guidance brought us to this point to get us through or know when we need to take a pause.
Our normal view rolling on the mountain road might be excellent. Sitting on a guardrail might be better. - Oftentimes, we know what to expect on those mountaintops. We love the view as we come around each curve. We enjoy the changes of light and temperature as we curve around the edges of the mountain. But, it can be the perfect silence that really reaches us.
When someone else has major input on the route, every crest and curve hold surprises. - Just as I love the surprises I find when I am touring a new state, when I remember that life is an adventure and God has a plan, I can eagerly await the surprises around every turn.
A long lonely road doesn't have to be scary. - When you see a sign that says, "No Gas for 126 Miles" that can mean you need to turn around and head for that last town. Or it might mean that you will be just fine. You need to know how much gas you have in the tank. Sometimes we have the strength and energy to handle life. Other times we need to be more careful. We need to know the difference.
Bad things WILL happen. - The question will always be how we handle it. Whether we just drove our motorcycle through a deer or slid through a field on our back, we have a choice to get back in the saddle or become stranded because we're paralyzed by fear and pain.
These are not revelations or new things. But they are lessons I learned or at least remembered in the saddle.