You can’t alway anticipate how things are going to go, but you should read the signs. Sometimes they tell you to take a different approach or change your plan. 

The other day I didn’t read the signs – or should I say, I just ignored the signs – and that made for a very interesting event. 

I went for a bike ride and was looking forward to trying a new section of the trails I ride. I had heard that this new section had some tough features on it – lots of loose rock and off-camber paths.

It’s early in the year, I’ve only ridden twice so far, I’m still out of shape but, hey, what could go wrong? 

I had already gone to the bike store and picked up some new cleats for my shoes after noticing that my shoes have unclipped from my pedals at unexpected times. 

With my new gear I drove to my mountain biking club, “The Farm”. And here is where I kind of ignored the signs. 

When I got out of my car I realized I didn’t have my padded biking shorts on. I had forgotten to put them on and just put my shell shorts on. … I had thought they were a little loose fitting; now I knew why.

I had a decision to make: do I forget about my ride, change my ride to a shorter, simpler route, or continue on with my plans to ride the new section? 

I decided to continue on. 

This proved to be a mistake on several levels. 

About 7 kms into the ride, my chain broke. I could have backtracked and walked my bike the 7 kms back to my car, but I had a replacement chainlink with me. 

I decided to fix my chain and complete my ride which was about 11 more kms.

It took me a while to put the chain back together … I had to remember how to restring the chain around my sprocket cassettes and the rear derailleur.

As I was trying to snap the link into place, I gashed the back of my hand on the front sprocket.

I had no bandages with me so I poured a little water on my hand and shoved my glove on before it started bleeding again. 

Those new cleats I bought earlier worked great, but a couple of times on some rocky terrain, I didn’t clip out in time and fell, scraping my left arm. 

And riding without biking shorts, well, I have a new appreciation for them and it’s not because they make riding easier on your butt … but that’s all I’ll say about that. 

I did make it all the way around. It’s a great trail, but I think I’ll get into better shape before I ride it again.

Here’s the thing: There are lots of signs that we don’t have unlimited time left on this earth – perpetual tension in the Middle East, increased natural disasters, climate change, and now a virus that’s different from any other. World troubles like these were written about in the Bible. The Bible even says that near the end people will have to take a mark in order to buy basic things, and now it’s easy to see how that could come about. These signs, and many others, are to help us make wise decisions for how to prepare for what will come. Jesus came and died for your sins to prepare you for all that will happen, including your death. Read the signs and place your faith in Jesus Christ. 

That’s Life!

Paul

Question: What sign have you ignored lately? Leave your comments and questions below.

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