Today is a dress down day at the high school. In order to get the students fired up for this weekend’s football game, it is blue and gold day! So I took full advantage of the day, wore jeans and a CCHS shirt and rode my bike to work this morning. I am basically taking any opportunity to ride, as fall is fast approaching and riding days will soon be few and far between.
The morning air was crisp and cool and felt icy on my face, as it should for a perfect autumn morning. It was in the upper 40’s or low 50’s, when I left the house before 6:30am. It was sufficiently dark, but the morning moon was glorious. It was a shimmering lavender sliver set against the deepest, darkest of navy skies. It was quite magnificent to behold. And I am sure I would not have noticed it quite as much had I been driving my car.
As I drove along Sunset Boulevard on my way to mass, I watched the sky change from deep dark blue, to dark purple, to cobalt, to dark lilac, to mauve, to pink. The horizon line was a bold, deep crimson, and just above it orange and gold. It was brilliant. I thought about how blessed I was to witness dawn’s awaking like this.
Things just look different from behind motorcycle handlebars. Things just feel different perched atop two wheels. I feel more in touch with my surroundings, more connected to nature, and if I am being honest, closer to God – particularly on rides like this – rides where I can take in everything around me. Rides where I can clear my head, rides where I can talk to God, rides where I can just be. There are no deadlines, no conflicts, to concerns, no egos, no betrayal, no misrepresentation, no anger, no fear. There is just you, your bike, and God all around you.
I had considered skipping mass this morning because I was tired. I had not been feeling great for the past week and thought that a late leisurely morning might be what I needed. But a sense of obligation, and my own personal need to spend time with Christ, drove me out of the comfort of bed and set me on my morning routine. Not only was I blessed with an incredible moon and remarkable display at dawn, but as I walked into mass I saw one of our former football coaches and teacher, who taught me when I was student in high school. He was one of those teachers who always challenged you, who held you accountable, and pushed you to be the best version of yourself. I had not seen him in years, probably close to a decade.
I don’t normally disturb people before morning mass, I don’t want interrupt their prayer time. But I felt called to go over (even though coach was praying the rosary), tell him good morning, tell him how wonderful it was to see him and give him a hug. So that is exactly what I did. I don’t know if I needed that, if he needed that or if we both needed that. But there was something about that moment, about the whole morning that gave me clarity and perspective.
Riding a motorcycle gives you a different perspective and a new appreciation for things. It is difficult to explain unless you have experienced it. I certainly didn’t understand it until I began riding, but it has certainly changed the way I view things. My perception of life, of love, of relationships, of people has changed a lot. Riding gives me the opportunity to reflect on those changes, talk to God about them, to seek answers, and to be more introspective. Riding has also fostered a greater attitude of gratefulness. There is so much for which I am thankful, today for the magnificent morning sky, for seeing a favorite coach and teacher, for the opportunity to pray and celebrate daily mass with my larger family, for the ability to ride and connect with everything around me, for my husband and son who encouraged and fostered that joy of riding, for the chance each day to live my best life, often times in small unseen ways – like riding to mass and work perched atop two wheels thanking God for changing my perspective.
So today maybe take a walk, ride your bike (motorcycle or mountain), take a drive down a back road, call that friend you haven’t spoken to in a while, say hello to the stranger in the grocery store, ask the cashier at the drive thru how their day is going. Today change your perspective, you might be surprised by what you see. And please pray for me and I will continue to pray for you.
Tattoos, Motorcycles, Beer, Bourbon and Faith 