Gratitude Day 593

Luke 12:27 – Think about the lilies. They grow and become beautiful, not because they work hard or strive to clothe themselves. Yet not even Solomon, wearing his kingly garments of splendor, could be compared to a field of lilies.

He was like a kid in a candy store. But it was outside with the roar of a motor and not something to eat.

Hubby Rick has spent the last number of months searching for a motorcycle. He has this little laptop that he uses. No question, cycletrader.com has been the most used tab on his laptop for MONTHS.

He’s looked and looked and looked some more. I keep reminding myself that for Rick, the hunt is just as much a part of the journey as making the actual purchase. If Rick wanted to spend hours and hours looking for a cycle, well, so be it.

A few times, we tied in motorcycle shopping with something else we were doing. Rick would dutifully ask me what I thought of a particular bike. I refrained from indicating my preference for a couple of reasons. First, it really needed to be his choice. It’s his bike. Second, I want to be able to pick out any future living room or den furniture that I want; not what someone else wants.

Multiple times, Rick located his #1 pick on the internet, only to arrive at the showroom and discover that it had already been sold. After this happened a couple times, I suggested he call in advance. Nonetheless, it happened again this past week. With warmer weather, Rick knew he needed to decide soon. Before another round of bikes were off the market.

On Thursday, he asked if I wanted to ride with him to look at a bike. With other things already planned for the day, I bowed out. This brought up a couple hurdles. Rick’s flip phone does not have GPS. The car plug-in GPS I used years ago couldn’t locate the actual location. Finally, I ran off directions from MapQuest so he would have something to go by. When he took the trailer with him, I knew he was more than serious.

A few hours later, I heard a rumble outside. And then a louder rumble. I was planning on going for a run and decided to swing by our backyard first. This is when I saw my incredibly happy husband sitting on his new-to-him cycle, listening to it cackle just like a motorcycle should. I anticipated that he would want to take me for a spin. We agreed to do this after I ran, and he got some fresh gas for the bike.  

The sun was nearing the horizon as I climbed on the back of the bike. Both dressed in warm coats and gloves, we knew this wasn’t going to be a terribly long ride. As we pulled away from the driveway, I remembered an earlier motorcycle ride that we took. About 22 years ago, on our very first unofficial date, Rick took me for a motorcycle ride.

It was summer. I was the new pastor at the church where Rick grew up and was the current council chair. Immediately, folks from the two churches I was serving began trying to set us up. What they didn’t know is that we went for a motorcycle ride one summer afternoon just a few weeks after I started serving the churches. Rick borrowed a bike from a friend. We took a scenic route, rode a car ferry and ate a late lunch at Culver’s. After we sat down to eat, Rick shared that we had passed his eldest son, who was going the opposite direction. Rick expected Nate to drill him about who the lady was riding bike with him.

And he did.

As we took a little trip around the country block this week, both Rick and I remembered that first cycle ride, so many years ago. I sat carefully on my seat, making sure that I didn’t get too close to him. Rick drove like a grandpa, making sure we would be safe. He never acknowledged his son’s truck when he passed us. We couldn’t tell anyone about our adventure because pastors are not supposed to date members of the congregations that they serve. It’s a huge conflict of interest. After one motorcycle ride, we were both still trying to individually determine where this relationship could go.  

After we were married, Rick had a motorcycle that he drove back and forth to work one summer. That is, until a racoon ran out in front of him one morning while it was still dark. Thankful that he didn’t hit the racoon, Rick sold this cycle, thinking he had outgrown motorcycles.

Until now.

Before Rick bought the bike, we established some ground rules. I was very clear about my preferences: no interstate driving, no driving after dark, no hot-dogging driving. This time around, every time he goes for spin, he must drive like a grandpa, whether I’m on the back seat or not. And yes, we are going helmet shopping.

Today’s “Decrease for 40 Days Lent 2021” is about cleaning out your closet. This motorcycle story has absolutely nothing to do with cleaning out your closet. All I can say is this: Rick bought a new-to-him motorcycle this week. This week, I bought new running shoes. Maybe next week, I’ll clean out the closet.

For joy that comes in all shapes and sizes, I am grateful.

Blessings –

Dianne

Holy God – Does a motorcycle have anything to do with Lent? I know; it’s a stretch. What I thank you for is how this journey has brought so much happiness to Hubby Rick. Where he finds joy is different from where I find joy. And this is OK. I pray we can all find a little joy in our lives today. Amen.

Stop by diannedeatonvielhuber on Instagram today for a few more thoughts about today’s Lenten topic.

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