Stay Ahead of the Pain

Tim Riter March 9, 2026

Last year featured a total knee replacement for my left knee, Experienced friends and medical folks offered advice about exercises for strength and flexibility, and the most helpful: stay ahead of the pain with the doctor’s schedule for taking oxycodone. Or, don’t show your toughness by waiting until you can’t take the pain, but follow the doc’s recommendation for time intervals.

Three months later, Rich and I cruised through CO to Taos, NM. I had some concerns and applied that mantra to the ride. My bike has 5 different positions for my legs, and in addition to standing on the pegs. Typically, I would ride…

Hanging in There: Fruit of the Spirit #4

Tim Riter November 7, 2022

Coworkers have been resigning, causing our boss to make unreasonable demands to take up the slack, so we start reading the help wanted ads. Someone in church offends us by a chance comment, and we're ready to start looking. Again. Our mate treats us like last week's leftovers, and we wonder how a divorce would affect the kids. Some jerk darts in front of us on the freeway, we slam on our brakes, and are ready to quit being Mr. Nice Guy. Fortunately…

Sometimes You Win, Sometimes...

Tim Riter March 8, 2021

Some locals claim the upper Sacramento River, right under the I-5 bridge in Dunsmuir, may yield the best trout fishing in California. Pines creep right down to the water’s edge of the gorgeous stream, yet leave enough space to cast and still not get hung up. Too often, at least.

Wild blackberries give ample reason to study the river, and large boulders in the 20-yard width provide holes for the trout. The rumble of nearby freight trains adds a sense of timelessness.

I’m not sure about the quality of fishing, but I did come to doubt the fisherman’s rationale, “The worst day fishing beats the best day working.” I’d caught…

Give Comfort

Tim Riter February 24, 2020

While in San Diego two years back to celebrate our anniversary, Sheila twisted wrong and broke a vertebra. The pain pretty much immobilized her, even getting out of bed caused too much pain, so she lived on the living room couch. The surprise arrived when Allie, our cat of 12 years, never left her side. She sensed something was wrong, and stayed on Sheila’s lap or snuggled up against her. I suspected Allie would continue that, but once Sheila healed, Allie went back to her normal cat ways. But about two weeks ago…

Earthbound

Tim Riter December 3, 2018

God created us as physical creatures in a physical world, and that’s good. I love the slow melting of dark chocolate held in my mouth. The cleansing experienced riding the motorcycle. The joy of embracing my wife. These, and so much more. But we also face physical frustrations. How do we balance them?

Sometimes You Win, Sometimes...

Tim Riter February 2, 2015

I’m not sure about the quality of fishing, but I did come to doubt the fisherman’s rationale, “The worst day fishing beats the best day working.”

I’d caught one and lost another when...

Flashes of Glory

Tim Riter October 27, 2014

In a lifetime of following Jesus, with a plethora of peaks and valleys, of feasts and feathers, I’ve learned that managing expectations determines the level of faith frustration or satisfaction. Unrealistic hopes, when birthed, tend to result in disappointment with God—a jaded been there, done that experience.

Here’s that lesson learned.

Only when riding east to work

Unconventional

Old Faith, New Following