This post will feature no great event, like being pulled over by cops with drawn guns, like Chapter 36 of God, a Motorcycle, and the Open Road. No heart stopping fear like in Chapter 3 when this hippie biker strolled in a redneck bar. But it has something likely better—an example of how to discover God touches in everyday life.
The pics above will introduce you to Steve, our pastor and a good friend. Our church’s new biker group, Cross Point Riders, scheduled a putt after our men’s breakfast down to the coast and back, about 100 miles. Steve came over to see us off, and hopped on a bike for a photo op. In the first pic, he tried the tough biker stare. The second shows his normal smile.
We pulled out of the Temecula Valley on De Luz Road to Fallbrook, then down North River Road to Oceanside and the coast. 20 miles or so found us in Del Mar, our turnaround point through Rancho Santa Fe and skirting Dixon Lake where we grabbed lunch, before heading north on the historic Highway 395 back home.
The God touches? Our first shady road wove through a stream six times, under the canopy of sycamores and oaks, then we crested a hill with marvelous views of flower and crop fields. The scent of salty ocean water cleared our sinuses, and we passed ranches with horses romping. God’s gift of a beautiful world touched us. We appreciated the order in a universe that could produce motorcycles to best enjoy it. And our route was a good 20 degrees nicer than the 95 in Temecula.
I call that worship—seeing and appreciating God’s touch. Good stuff. Lunch didn’t match that. I think we offended our waiter by asking for separate checks, and it went downhill. Two of us had been there multiple times, but it might be a long time before a return. The food took at least half an hour to arrive—and then all at different times. Ruben, the last to be served, bit into his beef taco, only to discover some sneaky white meat. Chicken. Ten more minutes for that to get replaced. And yes, we kept our attitudes positive, left tips well above normal. A chance for another God touch: do we respond with His grace or our frustration? Thankfully, the former.
The best lesson of the day? Life has ups and downs. A marvelous world. A surly and slow waiter. Do we choose to let the garbage bog us down, to steal our joy, or do we do our best and move along? Look for the God touches that bless you. Look for the chances for you to be the touch of God in the life of someone who needs it.
Kick Starting the Application
Think of a recent time that started good and went south. Which lasted the longest in your memory? What might that reveal about yourself? How often do you seek out God touches, or even look for them? For chances to be a God touch? You might want to memorize some key phrases of Philippians 4:8-9, “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise…Then the God of peace will be with you.”