The year was 1987, the bike was the 1987 Suzuki RM250. Once again, change was on the horizon. If you read the previous post, you know 1986 was a very difficult year on multiple fronts. There were times of depression and unclear thinking to overcome. I am so thankful God was kind and gave me great grace during that time. The thoughts began to clear and life began to emerge again. Some very kind providences brought a girl into my life I had known from back in high school. This quickly moved from friendship to a lifetime commitment. It was on an outing to Chickasaw state park we made two big decisions, we decided on marriage and the purchase of a new bike. How much difference a year can make! The bike came and went, but the girl remains till today, and we intend to ride this race together till the end.
I had left the Suzuki brand and ridden Husqvarna for three years, this return to Suzuki was a real home coming. The bike was great right out of the crate, loved the way it handled, and the power delivery was very manageable. It really was an easy bike to ride. My riding results immediately began to improve and the joy of riding was once again alive. Julie enjoyed bikes also so we purchased her several bikes over the years and enjoyed just riding together. Our boys got the benefit of that as well and picked up on the riding during their young years. They would eventually grow out of it, but Julie and I never would. Though we got away from it for a few decades busy with work and raising a family, we find ourselves in retirement now and riding again!
This brings this blog series from start to finish, well, not really. But it does bring us from where it all started to today as I sit here typing. Of course, it reveals only glimpses, moments of memory, for all manner of life events fill in the gaps. I have written down what I have so that you may know a little about the journey. When life begins for us, we have no idea what paths it may take. Some of us find easier roads than others to travel, but no one finds a road without bumps. Some roads are so bad, our journey ends early. Some are really rough all the way to the end, but somehow we manage a long journey in spite of all. If we see others who seem to have found a smother road, it is not for us to envy, but only manage the road we have been given for the glory of God. The rougher the road, the more grace that is required, and that is a treasure not easily purchased. I must reference Joni Eareckson Tada again, who at 17 was out enjoying life, while diving into water with some friends, hit her head and broke her neck. She has now been paralyzed for over 50 years. I heard her say once, she would not give the grace she had received over the years for the ability to walk again. There are not many of us who can understand that. But we can know when the hard times do come, they do not come without purpose.
Life is a blast, but know it is a brief blast, and mostly filled with every day mundane things. Cherish the mundane, for it is that backdrop that makes those momentary blast shine all the brighter. I hope you find some entertainment in reading these, more than that some encouragement, and perhaps even be strengthened by them when hitting some of those hard bumps. I'm not sure what I will do with this blog now, perhaps I will continue it from time to time with a story or two, well see. Guess it depends on the road and how rough it gets.
David
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