Since my knee injury, I have stopped running and I reverted to mountain biking. I have not ridden in quite a while since I wore out my old bike. My brother, Marvin, who lives in Seward, Alaska, is an avid mountain biker and has recently bought an e-bike. Marvin rides challenging trails and the e-bike makes the sport much easier. About three years ago, Marvin bought a top of the line Specialized mountain bike. Since he now has an e-bike, he gave his other bike to me (I owe him big time). It is like new and rides wonderfully.
I took Cali with me this morning and we ventured on an old fire road. The road winds its way through the Lytle Creek Mountains. It is quite remote and not many people use it. The road works perfectly for Cali and me since she can run freely without a leash. The road winds its way far from the highway and I was a bit reluctant to take it since I have not ridden it in a few years. I was thinking, “Is it too hard for Cali? Will I meet mountain lions? Will Cali run off with a pack of wolves? Perhaps, I will meet an angry band of outlaws stashing away millions of dollars’ worth of gold coins.” I took the challenge. I prayed for protection and Cali and I took off on our adventure.
It did not take long for me to regain my confidence with my favorite route and all anxieties immediately left. Cali had the time of her life exploring all the bushes along the way. Going down hill was a blast. Cali was able to open all four barrels (those of you who remember carbureted cars will understand four barrels) and race down the road. It was a joy to see her have so much fun. After the run, I thought about my prior fears. I would have missed a wonderful time.
Psalm 34:4 states, “I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears” (NLT). How many times have you missed a fun opportunity due to anxiety, worry, or fear? I would challenge you to face your fears and punch through them. Who knows? God may lead you to the freedom of the hills.
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